Launch Your Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations in Burnaby
This page maps out how to start a 213112, or Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations, business in Burnaby. It breaks down the six key requirements you’ll need to meet, from business registration to permits and protection for your team, so you can move from idea to launch with confidence.
Learn what permits and licenses are typically needed, what costs to expect, and a realistic timeline. We outline the six requirements in practical terms, covering company registration, Burnaby business license, safety and insurance (like basic liability and WorkSafeBC), and any environmental or site approvals. We’ll also share ballpark costs—incorporation and licensing fees, insurance premiums, basic equipment, and setup—so you can budget accordingly.
Burnaby’s industrial areas, port access, and strong energy sector ecosystem make it a solid base for oil and gas support work. With good infrastructure and municipal support, you can streamline approvals and start sooner. Most small to mid-sized ventures in this space move from planning to launch in roughly 6–12 weeks, depending on project scope and how quickly permits are secured.
Requirements Overview
The most critical requirement for operating a business in Burnaby is Explosives License and Magazine Storage. This license is legally required for anyone who stores, handles, or uses explosives, and you cannot legally operate without it. It is non-negotiable and must be obtained and maintained before you start any work that involves explosive materials, including storage on site or transporting explosives.
The next group of requirements covers mandatory health, safety, permits, and regulatory compliance. Be sure you have WorkSafeBC coverage and registration, and build a solid health and safety program for your team, including appropriate training, incident reporting, and risk controls for hazardous materials. Depending on your specific activities, you may also need permits related to explosives handling, magazine storage, and transport, as well as compliance with fire and storage standards. Keeping these elements in place helps protect workers and keeps inspections smooth.
For Business Registration & Tax, you’ll want to secure the basics early. This includes a Business Number (BN) with the Canada Revenue Agency and, if you’re operating as a sole proprietorship or partnership, BC Business Name Registration. You’ll also manage GST/HST registration and payroll deductions for any employees. Getting these numbers in order early avoids delays and makes it easier to work with suppliers, clients, and staff.
Next steps and encouragement: start by confirming whether your Burnaby project involves explosives, and if so, begin the license and magazine storage process right away. Then set up your BN, complete GST/HST registration, and arrange payroll deductions and WorkSafeBC coverage. If you can, talk to a regulator or a local business advisor to lay out a practical, step-by-step plan that keeps you compliant and moving forward.
Detailed Requirements
Here are the specific requirements for starting a support activities for oil and gas operations in Burnaby:
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Explosives License and Magazine Storage RequiredCompanies using explosives for mining/blasting must obtain federal explosives licenses, magazine storage permits, and comply with handling, transport, and security requirements. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) regulates explosives. License/permit for manufacture, storage, sale, possession. Magazine storage requirements. Blaster certification. Security screening. Annual inspections. Fireworks: separate categories. Contact NRCan Explosives: 1-855-283-8889.
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Business Number (BN) Registration RequiredA 9-digit Business Number is required for most businesses operating in Canada. It is used to interact with the Canada Revenue Agency and other federal programs. Required for GST/HST, payroll, corporation income tax, and import/export accounts. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) at canada.ca. Takes 15-30 minutes. As of November 3, 2025, online registration is MANDATORY for new BNs - phone registration no longer available. You'll need: business name, address, owner SIN, business type, and start date. BN (9-digit number) issued INSTANTLY online. Available 21 hours/day, 7 days/week (closed 3-6am ET for maintenance).
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BC Business Name Registration (Sole Proprietorship/Partnership) RequiredRegistration of sole proprietorship or partnership business names with BC Registries Register sole proprietorship or partnership at bcregistry.gov.bc.ca. Name reservation: $30 (standard) or $100 (priority 1-2 days). Registration fee: $40. Total: ~$70. Name reserved for 56 days after approval. Registration is continuous (no renewal required). No name protection for sole proprietorships. Personal names operating under own name do not require registration. Contact BC Registries: 1-877-526-1526.
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GST/HST Registration ConditionalRequired if annual taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 (small supplier threshold). Taxi/ride-share drivers must register regardless of revenue. Businesses with gross revenues over $30,000 in any single quarter or over four consecutive quarters must register for, collect, and remit GST/HST. Small suppliers (under $30,000) may register voluntarily. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when your revenue exceeds $30,000 in any 4 consecutive quarters (small supplier threshold). Takes 15-30 minutes. You MUST register within 29 days of exceeding threshold and start charging GST/HST immediately on the sale that made you exceed it. Need your BN (or get one simultaneously). As of Nov 3, 2025, online registration is mandatory. Voluntary registration available anytime for input tax credits.
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Payroll Deductions Registration ConditionalRequired if you pay salaries, wages, or other remuneration to employees. Must register before first pay period. Required if you have employees. You must withhold Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), and income tax from employee wages and remit to CRA. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when you hire your first employee. Takes 15-20 minutes. You'll need your Business Number (BN) or can get one simultaneously. Payroll account (RP) added to your BN instantly. Register BEFORE your first pay date. Required to deduct CPP, EI, and income tax from employee wages. For 2025: CPP rate 5.95%, EI employee rate $1.66/$100 insurable earnings.
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WorkSafeBC Coverage and Registration ConditionalRequired if you have workers in BC. Workers compensation insurance coverage through WorkSafeBC for employers in British Columbia WorkSafeBC coverage required for most BC employers. Average base premium rate: 1.55% of assessable payroll ($1.55 per $100). Register online at worksafebc.com. Apply 30 days before starting business or hiring workers. Processing: ~10 business days. Premium rates vary by industry classification (514 classification units). COR certified employers eligible for 10% rebate. Contact: 604-276-3100 or 1-888-967-5377.
Funding & Grants
Available funding programs that may apply to your support activities for oil and gas operations:
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The Ignite Program provides up to $300,000 to BC-based industry-academic teams for R&D projects in natural resources, applied science, and/or engineering. Projects must be at TRL 3 or above, have commercialization potential within 3 years, and secure 2:1 matching funds from industry or government sources. Funded by the Natural Resources …
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Under the CIIP, eligible industrial facilities reporting under the Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act (GGIRCA) and emitting more than 10,000 tCO2e per year could receive a payment equal to all carbon tax paid above $30 per tCO2e, provided their emissions intensity met the world-leading benchmark for their sector. …
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The Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP) provides non-repayable grants equal to 12% of eligible capital costs for new CCUS projects, including equipment to capture, compress, transport, store or utilize carbon dioxide. The program is retroactive to January 1, 2022, meaning eligible capital costs incurred since that date qualify. Grants …
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Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) launched six prize-based challenges under the Impact Canada Initiative's Clean Technology Stream, backed by $75 million in federal funding announced in Budget 2017. The challenges—including Crush It!, Power Forward, Sky's the Limit, Charging the Future, Women in Cleantech, and the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative—used prize-challenge methodology to …
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A $50 million federal program (Budget 2017) that funded demonstration and testing of clean technologies in oil sands extraction, LNG production, emissions detection and monitoring, heat/water recovery, and alternative low-carbon power technologies for oil and gas facilities. All funding has been allocated and the program is fully closed.
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