The Consumer Mandate: Why Verification Matters
The Canadian consumer landscape has fundamentally shifted. It is no longer enough to simply be Canadian; you must undeniably prove it.
Of Canadians are actively planning to avoid major U.S. retail giants in favor of local alternatives.
Source: Lightspeed Commerce, 2025
Of Canadians state that supporting local, domestic businesses is more important to them now than ever before.
Source: Interac Consumer Survey, 2025
Of Canadians agree that supporting Canadian-owned businesses is "more important now than ever before."
Source: Harris Poll Canada, 2025
Of shoppers actively seek out "Proudly Canadian" or ownership labels when making purchasing decisions.
Source: Horizon Media / AlphaPay, 2025
Mandatory Eligibility Criteria
To ensure the highest standard of verification and maintain the integrity of our Seal, all applicants must meet the following mandatory requirements.
100% Canadian Ownership
The business must demonstrate that 100% of its ownership is held by Canadian citizens.
Active Business Scope
The business must be an actively operating entity (Retail B2C or B2B).
Legal Standing
The business must be a registered Canadian business and be in good legal standing.
The 4-Step Deep Dive: Our Path to Authenticity
We've optimized the certification process to minimize your effort while maintaining maximum integrity. Applying is quick, easy, and fully digital.
Quick Application
Complete our simple digital application in minutes via the secure portal. Our system performs instant pre-entry checks to get you started immediately.
Easy Document Upload
Simply drag and drop your mandatory documentation (corporate filings, ownership agreements) into the Fulfillment Portal. Our system automatically secures your file integrity.
We Handle the Review
We do the heavy lifting. Licensed legal counsel in your province reviews your file using advanced data tools (OCR/Smart Fetch) to ensure accuracy without bogging you down.
Final Audit & Decision
A final system audit verifies completeness for Approval or Decline, getting you your Seal as fast as possible.
Verification Time: While the application takes minutes, the legal review and final audit typically take 2 to 4 weeks to ensure absolute accuracy.
What 100% Canadian Ownership Truly Means
Our background check is rigorous, verifying two key ownership pillars:
Shareholder Citizenship
Confirmation that all ownership stakes are held exclusively by Canadian citizens or entities, leaving no room for foreign beneficial ownership.
Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO)
Detailed analysis of all individuals or entities holding equity to ensure zero foreign control or undue influence.
Application Integrity & Entity Policy
Covers mandatory initial legal vetting and audit costs.
Required upon expiration for re-verification.
Per Business Entity
Please note that certification is granted on a per-business basis. If you own multiple companies, each legal entity requires its own separate application and audit fee. However, you may manage all your certified businesses under a single client portal account.