Changes to Registry of Companies and Deeds Online

Dianne Whalen, Minister of Government Services, announced today a number of changes to the Registry of Companies and Deeds Online (CADO) including enhanced Internet search capabilities within the Registry of Deeds. Previously, a user would receive basic information including parties names, registration date and document type. The search now contains complete document details such as document date, consideration and related documents.

A new nominal fee of $5 has now been applied for online searches to the Registry of Deeds. Searches conducted at the office of the Registry of Companies and Deeds remains free of charge.

�After careful consideration, my department decided to implement this privacy safeguard for the Internet access to ensure that only those with a legitimate use of the system would continue with their search,� said Minister Whalen. �Last spring, there were a number of concerns raised by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner that the information contained in CADO was too accessible especially if someone wanted to use it for ill-use. The office suggested that we charge a fee for online usage which we considered and we have now implemented this nominal fee to reduce the possibility of data mining.�

Groups which access the Registry of Deeds on a regular basis such as professional search firms, law firms and appraisers have the option of purchasing a licence which will grant them unlimited access. They also have the option of pre-authorized debit as another payment option. Alternatively, they can also visit the Registry of Companies and Deeds free of charge during regular business hours.

Work continues to convert microfilm documents dating back to 1980 to digital to make them accessible online.

�The information contained within the Registry of Companies and Deeds is public information therefore we need to carefully balance the public�s right to know this information with a person�s right to privacy. That can be a complicated balance and I feel that we have achieved this balance,� concluded Minister Whalen.

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709)729-4860, 682-6593

2005 11 15                            2:20 p.m.