MEMBERSHIP
Subject to the articles, there shall be three classes of members in the Corporation, namely, Adult members, Family members and Youth members. The board of the Corporation may, by resolution, approve the admission of the members of the Corporation. Members may also be admitted in such other manner as may be prescribed by the board by resolution. The following conditions of membership shall apply:
Membership Conditions
Adult Membership
(a) Adult membership shall be available only to persons who have applied and have been accepted for Adult membership in the Corporation;
(b) the term of membership of the Adult members shall be annual, subject to renewal in accordance with the policies of the Corporation;
(c) as set out in the articles, the Adult members shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of the members of the Corporation and each Adult member shall have one (1) vote at each such meeting, except for meetings at which only members of another class are entitled to vote separately as a class;
Family Membership
(d) Family membership shall be available only to persons who have applied and have been accepted for Family membership in the Corporation;
(e) the term of membership of the Family members shall be annual, subject to renewal in accordance with the policies of the Corporation;
(f) as set out in the articles, the Family members shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of the members of the Corporation and an adult representative of each family shall have one (1) vote at each such meeting, except for meetings at which only members of another class are entitled to vote separately as a class;
Youth Membership
(g) Youth membership shall be available only to persons who have applied and have been accepted for Youth membership in the Corporation;
(h) the term of membership of the Youth members shall be annual, subject to renewal in accordance with the policies of the Corporation; and
(i) subject to the Act and as set out in the articles, the Youth members shall not be entitled to receive notice of, attend or vote at all meetings of the members of the Corporation.
Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this section of the by-law, the members of each of the classes shall be entitled to vote separately as a class in respect of any proposed amendments to this section of the by-law if those amendments affect the membership rights and/or conditions set out above, or any fundamental change set out in Section 197(1) of the Act with the exception that no class shall have the right to vote as a class on matters set forth in Section 199(1)(a) or 199(1)(e) of the Act.
Pursuant to Section 197(1) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendment to this section of the by-law if those amendments affect membership rights and/or conditions described in Section 197(1)(e), (h), (l) or (m) of the Act.
Membership Transferability
A membership may only be transferred to the Corporation. Membership may not be transferred from one class to another.
Pursuant to Section 197(1) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendment to this section of the by-law to add, change or remove this section of the by-law.
Notice of Meetings
Notice of the time and place for the holding of a meeting of members shall be given in the manner provided in Section 11.1 of this by-law to:
(a) each member of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting;
(b) each director of the Corporation; and
(c) the public accountant of the Corporation.
Notice of a meeting of members at which special business is to be transacted shall state the nature of that business in sufficient detail to permit the member to form a reasoned judgment on the business and provide the text of any special resolution or by-law to be submitted to the meeting.
Notice shall be provided by the following means:
(a) by mail, courier or personal delivery to each member entitled to vote at the meeting, during a period of 21 to 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held; or
(b) by telephonic, electronic or other communication facility to each member entitled to vote at the meeting, during a period of 21 to 35 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held.
Pursuant to Section 197(1) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendment to this section of the by-law to change the manner of giving notice to members entitled to vote at a meeting of members.
Annual Meetings
The board shall call an annual meeting no later than eighteen months (18) months after the Corporation came into existence and subsequently, not later than fifteen (15) months after the last preceding annual meeting but not later than six (6) months after the end of the Corporation’s preceding financial year.
At every annual meeting of members, in addition to any other business that may be transacted:
(a) the report of the board, if any, the annual financial statements, and the report of the public accountant, if any, shall be presented to the members;
(b) if any audit is required, the members shall appoint a public accountant to audit the accounts of the Corporation for report to the members at the next annual meeting of members; and
(c) the directors shall be elected (provided that the term of one or more directors has expired in the year of such meeting).
Any other matter of business shall constitute special business and a special meeting of members will need to be held.
Special Meetings
The chair or the president shall call a special meeting of members on written requisition of not less than five percent (5%) of the Adult members or not less than five percent (5%) of the adult representatives of each Family members. In addition, a special meeting of members may be called by way of a resolution passed by the board.
Other Provisions
The board, the chair or the president shall have the power to call, at any time, an annual or general meeting of members.
The members may consider and transact any business either special or general at any meeting of members.
MEMBERSHIP DUES, TERMINATION AND DISCIPLINE
Membership Dues
The level, structure and methods of assessment of membership dues and levies shall be determined from time to time by the board, so as to ensure sufficient revenues for the operation of the Corporation.
The board shall establish, and revise as appropriate, from time to time, a membership fee for each of the membership classes.
Members shall be notified in writing of the membership dues at any time payable by them.
Termination of Membership
The rights of a member lapse and cease to exist when the membership in the Corporation is terminated for any of the following reasons:
(a) the member dies;
(b) the member fails to maintain any qualifications for membership described in Section 2.1 of this by-law;
(c) the member fails to pay dues, as set forth in Section 3.1 of this by-law;
(d) the member resigns by delivering a written resignation to the Corporation in which case such resignation shall be effective on the date specified in the resignation;
(e) the member is expelled in accordance with Section 3.3 of this by-law or is otherwise terminated in accordance with the articles or by-laws;
(f) the member is expelled by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members at an annual meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose of reviewing the status of one or more members;
(g) the member’s term of membership expires; or
(h) the Corporation is liquidated or dissolved under the Act.
Subject to the articles, upon any termination of membership, the rights of the member, including any rights in the property of the Corporation, automatically cease to exist.
Discipline of Members
The board shall have authority to suspend or expel any member from the Corporation for any one or more of the following grounds:
(a) violating any provision of the articles, by-laws, or written policies of the Corporation;
(b) carrying out any conduct which may be detrimental to the Corporation as determined by the board in its sole discretion; or
(c) for any other reason that the board in its sole and absolute discretion considers to be reasonable, having regard to the purpose of the Corporation.
In the event that the board determines that a member should be expelled or suspended from membership in the Corporation, the president, or such other officer as may be designated by the board, shall provide twenty (20) days’ notice of suspension or expulsion to the member and shall provide reasons for the proposed suspension or expulsion. The member may make written submissions to the president, or such other officer as may be designated by the board, in response to the notice received, within such twenty (20) day period. In the event that no written submissions are received by the president, the president or such other officer as may be designated by the board, may proceed to notify the member that the member is suspended or expelled from membership in the Corporation. If written submissions are received in accordance with this section, the board will consider such submissions in arriving at a
final decision and shall notify the member concerning such final decision within a further twenty (20) days from the date of receipt of the submissions. The board’s decision shall be final and binding on the member, without any further right of appeal.