Not-for-profit corporation by-laws

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Creating by-laws

When incorporating under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act), you have to create by-laws. They set out the rules for governing and operating the corporation. They can be modified at a later date as the needs of the corporation change.

The NFP Act contains default provisions you can choose from. You can also choose alternative provisions or create your own by-laws using the Corporations Canada's online by-law builder.

Create your by-laws

Changing by-laws

Soon after incorporation, by-laws stating the rules for governing and operating the corporation should be passed (see Next steps following incorporation). There are two ways of amending by-laws, depending on the subject matter of the changes (see the links below).

By-law amendments requiring ordinary resolutions of the members

By-laws will be changed and updated over time as the needs and the organization of the corporation change. The following are the default steps for approving by-law changes that do not require special member approval (see By-law amendments requiring special resolutions of the members). If you prefer a different process, these steps can be changed in your corporation's articles, in its by-laws or in a unanimous member agreement.

  • Step 1 – The board of directors initiates a change to a general by-law. The effective date of this change is the date it is approved by the directors.
  • Step 2 – The by-law change is placed on the agenda for the next meeting of members.
  • Step 3 – Members confirm the by-law change (or they amend it and then confirm it) by ordinary resolution.
  • Step 4 – If the members reject the by-law adopted by the directors, the by-law change ceases to have effect on the date it is rejected by the members. Alternatively, if the directors fail to submit the by-law change to the members at the next members meeting, the by-law change ceases to have effect on the date of the members meeting at which it should have been submitted to the members. In such cases, future by-law changes that have substantially the same effect as the one rejected or not submitted will not become effective on approval of the directors. They only become come into effect when approved by the members.
  • Step 5 – Within 12 months of the confirmation of the by-law changes by the members, a copy of the amended by-laws must be sent to Corporations Canada.

By-law amendments requiring special resolutions of the members

The following are the steps for approving by-law changes that address certain matters relating to membership in the corporation which require special approval (refer to the paragraph under the steps) by members:

  • Step 1 – Initiate a change to a special by-law by a member proposal or by the board of directors.
  • Step 2 – Members approve the change (or they amend it and then confirm it) by special resolution. If the subject matter of the special by-law amendment addresses exchanging, reclassifying or cancelling all or part of the memberships of a particular class, approval of the special by-law amendment will require a separate class vote (refer to section 199(1) of the NFP Act). In a separate class vote, members of a class who do not otherwise have the right to vote are permitted to vote separately as a class (see Rights and responsibilities of members).
  • Step 3 – The by-law change takes effect, as approved, on the date of the member approval.
  • Step 4 – Within 12 months of the confirmation of the by-law changes by the members, a copy of the amended by-laws must be sent to Corporations Canada.

The subject matter of special by-law amendments relates to (a) conditions required for being a member, (b) the designation of any class or group of members or adding, changing or removing any rights and conditions of any such class or group, (c) dividing any class or group of members into two or more classes or groups and fixing the rights and conditions of each class or group, (d) transfer of memberships, (e) manner of giving notice to members entitled to vote at a meeting of members, (f) method of voting by members not in attendance at a meeting of members (that is, proxy voting), and (g) related definitions and interpretive provisions.

By-laws that do not clearly make the distinction between general and special by-law amendments may mislead the board of directors and create a situation in which the membership adopts ordinary resolutions for all by-law amendments, resulting in by-laws that may not be properly in force with respect to all provisions. This means that any by-laws drafted under the NFP Act should be very clear regarding the amending formula that applies to the various by-law provisions. Here are some options that may be considered to provide clarity:

  • place all by-law provisions that can only be changed by special resolution into one, separate by-law, and leave the remaining provisions in another by-law that requires only an ordinary resolution to amend
  • include all provisions in one general operating by-law, but group the matters requiring a special resolution into one section, so that it is clear that these matters can only be changed by special resolution
  • indicate throughout the by-laws the provisions that require special approval for the provisions to be amended
  • include a requirement in the articles that all by-law changes require a special resolution of members in order to come into effect (see the paragraph below).

Subsection 7(4) allows the articles to require a greater number of votes of directors or members than are required by the NFP Act to effect any action, in which case the articles shall prevail.

Copies of any new by-laws, amendments or repeal of by-laws must be sent to Corporations Canada within 12 months of such changes being confirmed or approved by members. Corporations Canada will not review or approve the new by-laws, but copies will be provided to interested parties upon request.