The Nova Scotia government has hired a company based in Ireland to make technology changes to the current 20-year-old Registry of Joint Stock Companies system.
Enterprise Registry Solutions Ltd. of Dublin has been chosen as the vendor following a competitive process. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Information Services Corp. (ISC) of Regina, Sask., a provider of registry and information management services for public data and records.
The Irish company will begin work to modernizethe information technology system immediately, Service Nova Scotia stated in a news release. The completion date is slated for sometime
in 2019.
The contract is valued at about $7.1 million over 10 years.
“We’re looking forward to the expertise this company can bring to the project,” Service Nova Scotia Minister Geoff MacLellan said in the news release. “A new, modern system will better meet the needs of Nova Scotia’s business community and reduce red tape, allowing businesses to dedicate their time and finances on what’s most important.”
The provincial office of regulatory affairs and service effectiveness has estimated that modernizing the Registry of Joint Stock Companies system will save businesses about $7 million annually.
According to the government, the list of greater efficiencies includes:
• Most transactions will be able to be submitted online 24-7.
• Smart forms and online help will let the user know if anything is missing before they submit.
• Users will be able to track the progress of their transaction, rather than needing to call to find out when it will be completed.
• User data entry will enable staff to focus on adding value and adjudication of complex filings.
In April 2016, government announced plans to modernize the land, vital statistics, joint stock companies, and motor vehicle registries and transform client service at Service Nova Scotia. The government now estimates the broad transformation of government systems will take six to eight years to complete.
-ROGER TAYLOR
