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A new discussion paper on the Society Act invites discussion on the governance of B.C. societies and possible directions for reform.
The Province launched a review of the Society Act in 2009 to identify legislative obstacles that may be preventing societies from operating most effectively and to ensure continued protection of the public interest.
The first round of consultations invited stakeholder comments and received submissions from more than 200 individuals and organizations. The discussion paper puts forward a number of proposals based on the feedback received.
The proposals recognize the unique nature of societies and aim to balance societies’ need for flexibility with broader concerns of accountability and integrity. The discussion paper does not represent government policy, but is intended to encourage discussion and provide interested parties with the opportunity to comment on possible directions for reform to the Society Act.
The Society Act outlines the rules that govern B.C.’s more than 26,000 societies. Societies are non-profit corporations organized primarily for social purposes. They make valuable contributions to B.C.’s families and communities, ranging from small community-based organizations to large charitable foundations.
Although the official deadline for feedback was April 30, 2012, we are continuing to review submissions received. Please direct your comments in electronic form to: fcsp@gov.bc.ca. Legislation to amend or replace the Act is now targeted for 2014 at the earliest.
If you wish to send comments in paper format, please direct them to:
Financial and Corporate Sector Policy Branch
Ministry of Finance
PO Box 9418 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC, V8W 9V1
Full Discussion Paper
NOTE: The Ministry of Finance will be sharing comments it receives with other branches of government, including BC Registry Services, responsible for administration of the Corporate Registry. Even where confidentiality is requested, freedom of information legislation may require that responses be made available to members of the public who request access.
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