The Carbon Market

Cap-and-Trade System Registration

Mandatory reporting of GHG emissions Emitters must also register to the IQEA (Québec Air Emissions Inventory) online allowing them to file their annual reports for each of their establishments. Click here for more information on mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere

Guides CITSS 1: User Registration (PDF, 2.1 MB) CITSS 3: Opening an Account (PDF, 2.7 MB) Forms Attestation of Verification of Identity and Designation (PDF, 1.1 MB) Structure and Business Relationships Disclosure Form (PDF, 3.4 MB) Cross-jurisdiction User (PDF, 1.9 MB) Early Registration Application Form (PDF, 1.7 MB) Application Form to Opt-in  (PDF, 1.2 MB) Sample letter templates Financial Institution Confirmation Letter (sample) (PDF, 90 KB) Documentation Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 1.3 MB) User Support

Registration of emitters subject to the Regulation respecting the cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances as well as participants wishing to take part in the carbon market’s activities is made via the Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS).

In order to be granted emission allowances by the Government of Québec and have the right to trade on the carbon market, businesses must open one or a set of CITSS system accounts.

Each account must have at least two representatives: a Primary Account Representative (PAR)–the main contact for information, and additional Account Representative (AR). In the case of a participating natural person, the latter must be the sole representative on his or her account.

Registration to the cap-and-trade system is completed in two steps:

1. User registration
2. Opening an account

Updating information in the CITSS system

If you are already registered and wish to update the user profile or information in the CITSS system account, click here.

Cross-jurisdiction user

If you are already registered with the CITSS system of a jurisdiction other than Québec and wish to become an account representative for an entity registered with Québec, complete the Cross-jurisdiction User (PDF, 1.9 MB) form and send it using the secure file transfer platform.

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User registration

In order to gain access to CITSS, emitters that are subject to the Regulation or participating legal entities must initially register individual users who will represent their organization as account representatives.

Participating natural persons must first register as individual users in order to gain access to CITSS, and must be the sole representatives for their accounts.

To register and get a user ID, you must:

1. Access the CITSS site;
2. Read and agree to the terms and conditions for using the CITSS system;
3. Enter the information requested on the registration form directly into the CITSS system;
4. Print the following three documents generated by the CITSS system:
   • User registration checklist;
   • User registration form that contains the user ID (12 characters);
   • Attestation of Verification of Identity and Designation.

Be sure not to close your Internet browser before you have printed the three documents. In the event of a problem, please contact CITSS Support Services.

5. Download the Attestation of Verification of Identity and Designation (PDF, 1.1 MB) form. You should have the form filled out by a director or any other officer if you represent an organization, then have it completed by a lawyer or notary (not a notary public, except if the notary public is also a lawyer), who must then submit it. Be sure to read the instructions and to provide all required information and documentation. This form is dynamic. By selecting the options that fit your situation, the required sections will gradually appear;
6. Obtain confirmation from a financial institution located in Canada to the effect that you have a deposit account with it (See sample Financial Institution Confirmation Letter (PDF, 14 KB)) This is part of the proof of identity verification;
7. Send all documents using the secure file transfer platform.

Once your online user application has been successfully submitted and all your paper documents have been received, the C&T System Registrar will analyze the file.

You will not be able to access the CITSS system with your chosen user ID and password until your registration application has been accepted by the C&T System Registrar.

Once your registration request has been reviewed, you will receive an electronic notice of acceptance of your user registration from the C&T System Registrar. You will then be able to complete the request to open an account in your name or the name of the emitter or corporate participant you represent.

Opening a CITSS system account

Once at least two users are successfully registered with valid user IDs, an authorized user may proceed to the second step, which consists of submitting an account application on behalf of the emitter or participant. Only one registered user is required in the instance of a participant account application request for a natural person.

Emitters, other than fuel distributors, must submit their account application no later than September 1^st following the first emission report declaring annual GHG emissions that equal or exceed 25,000 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (t CO₂ eq.) for an establishment.

An emitter able to demonstrate that the verified GHG emissions of one of its establishments will reach or exceed the 25,000 mt CO₂ eq. threshold during a given year may register as of June 1^st of the preceding year. This demonstration is to be made using one of the following documents or items of information:

• an environmental impact assessment for the establishment prepared pursuant to section 31.3 of the Environment Quality Act (chapter Q-2);
• a mass balance calculation for greenhouse gas emissions, which must be based on the emissions attributable to the materials that contribute 0.5% or more of the total carbon introduced in the establishment’s process;
• technical calculation using an emission factor used for the purposes of the Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere; (chapiter Q-2, r. 15);
• an emissions report made pursuant to the Regulation respecting mandatory reporting of certain emissions of contaminants into the atmosphere accompanied by data explaining the expected production increase.

Emitters able to demonstrate that the fuel distribution volume in a given year equals or exceeds the threshold of 200 litres may register as of January 1^st of that year. However, they must submit their account application no later than September 1^st following the first emission report declaring emissions that equal or exceed this threshold.

Emitters seeking to opt-in must fill out and send the send the Application Form to Opt-in not later than May 1^st of the year prior to the year the emitter wishes to begin to cover its emissions and must complete the registration process not later than September 1^st of the year prior to the year for which the emitter wishes to begin to cover their emissions.

To open an account, the user must:

1. Go to the CITSS system website and begin a session;
2. Launch the account opening request and enter the requested information directly in the CITSS system;
3. Print the following two documents generated by the CITSS system:
   • Account application checklist ;
   • Account application with attestations form.
4. Have a director or another officer of the company sign the account application and attestation form (a resolution from the company’s board of directors may be submitted in lieu of the signature of a director or other officer);
5. Complete the Structure and Business Relationships Disclosure Form (PDF, 3.4 MB). This form is dynamic. By selecting the options that fit your situation, the required sections will gradually appear;
6. Send all documents using the secure file transfer platform.

Once your online application request has been submitted and the corresponding printed documents have been received, your application will be processed by the C&T System Registrar.

After your application request has been approved by the C&T System Registrar, the appropriate accounts will be created and will appear within CITSS on the home page of users who have been designated as principal account representatives or alternate account representatives.