Limited clarity on how the transition process under the Societies Act will affect those organizations with community gaming grant funding has been provided by the BC Corporate Registry in an FAQ posted to its website.
Category: News
All news related to the new BC Societies Act
BC Registries release information on “transition package”: consolidated bylaw packages available August 29, 2016
The BC Corporate Registry has posted information on its transition package service, a $40 service which includes certified copies of a society’s original constitution, bylaws, and any filed special resolution amending the constitution and bylaws.
Disputes: Resolution and Remedies under the new Act
Ne’er do well member? Lackluster director? Subject to an improper action by the societies registry? The new Society Act (BC) (the “New Act”) provides many avenues for dispute resolution, both for internal and external disputes.
Am I a director, senior manager, deemed director or just confused?
When the new Societies Act comes into force, many volunteers, members, directors, and staff of BC societies may be asking what their role is and what their obligations are. Here is a handy decision tree to assist you in determining where you fit in.
Senior Managers: What are they?
The new Societies Act introduces “senior managers”, individuals who are appointed by the Board of Directors to manage the activities and internal affairs of a society, or a principal unit of it. Senior manager is a legal status, and does not affect employment rights. One can only be appointed as a senior manager by the society’s Board of directors, and must meet the qualifications which apply to directors of the society under the Act, and any other conditions or restrictions on their appointment as set out in the bylaws. It…
News: Director-on-director discipline acceptable if in society’s best interests
The BC Supreme Court has clarified when a suspension of a society’s director is not a removal, and provided an example of when director discipline may occur without the court’s intervention under the provisions of the Society Act, R.S.B.C 1996, c. 433 (the “Act”).
Regulations: New Societies Transitional Regulation released
On April 29, 2016, a new Societies Transitional Regulation was made (OIC 677/2015). The updated regulation clarifies the “individual” special resolution bylaw change interpretation, allows special resolutions under the old Society Act to continue under the new Societies Act, and clarifies that societies cannot alter unalterable provisions or reporting society provisions until a special resolution is passed or consented to after a transition application is filed.
Transition: What to know now
As of November 28, 2016, current and extra-provincially registered societies must “transition” to the new Societies Act. Don’t panic! There’s lots of time: transition does not need to be completed until November 28, 2018. This article provides the basics of who needs to transition, what they should be doing now, and what needs to be done on transition.
Regulations: Societies Regulations released
The Regulations under the new BC Societies Act (“the Act”) are now available. The Societies Regulation details certain requirements for society names, the default Model Bylaws, various fees, the Reporting Society Provisions, and directions on how to report on remuneration of directors, employees and contractors. It also contains provisions on Directors and Senior Managers who are 16 and 17 years old. The Model Bylaws will be dealt with in another post.
Directors: Qualification, Disqualification, and Removal
The new BC Societies Act (the “Act”) contains express provisions on the qualification and disqualification of directors. These provisions should be understood by the membership, potential and current directors, and those working with not-for-profit organizations.