Short answer. The official source is the Corporations Canada federal corporation search. Start there, then check what a register does not show.
Where. Corporations Canada federal corporation search: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/business-corporations/public-disclosure-corporate-information
What you can see for free. Information about federal corporations is public: registered office address, names and addresses of directors, and some information about individuals with significant control (per Corporations Canada). This covers federally incorporated corporations only; provincial and territorial corporations are in separate registers.
Steps.
What the register does not show. A registry record does not verify business activity, creditworthiness or sanctions status, and it is not a news check.
What a Dutiful report adds. For Canada: for federal (CBCA) corporations only: profile, status, corporation and business numbers, governing act, incorporation date, registered office and annual-filing dates. Provincial companies, officers and owners are not covered. Plus a sanctions screen (OFAC SDN and UK Sanctions List) and a public news and web scan, with sources. Sample: /sample. Free coverage check: /?ref=guides.
Disclaimer. This guide describes publicly available registry information and is general information, not legal, financial or compliance advice. Registers change; check the official source before relying on it. A Dutiful report is best-effort research from public sources and is not a compliance certificate. Checked 19 Oct 2026.