Introduction to Transitioning an Existing Society

1. There is greater access to a society’s records

Under the new Societies Act, members have greater access to a society’s records. The Act spells out the records a society must keep, including a register of members, minutes of members’ and directors’ meetings, accounting records, and financial statements.

By default under the Act, members are entitled to inspect all records of the society (as are directors). For some records, member access can be restricted. For example, a society’s bylaws can restrict members’ access to accounting records.

The public is entitled to receive a copy of a society’s financial statements and auditor’s report if requested. A society can choose to grant access to the public to more of its records. The only record that is excluded from public accessibility is the society’s register of members.

Records a society must keep include these records (this list is not exhaustive)	Director access	Member access	Public access
Register of members	Yes	Yes, though directors may restrict	No
Minutes of members’ meetings and copies of all ordinary and special resolutions	Yes	Yes	Bylaws may permit
Minutes of directors’ meetings and copies of all consent resolutions of directors	Yes	Yes, though bylaws may restrict (except relating to conflicts disclosures)	Bylaws may permit
Any disclosures by directors or senior managers of a conflict of interest	Yes	Yes	Bylaws may permit
Accounting records, including a record of each transaction materially affecting the society’s financial position	Yes	Yes, though bylaws may restrict	Bylaws may permit
Financial statements and any auditor’s report on the financial statements	Yes	Yes	Yes

Under the old Divorce Act, the schedule of a parent's time with their children under an order or agreement, replaced with "parenting time" and "contact" in the new Divorce Act. Access usually referred to the schedule of the parent with the least amount of time with the child. See "contact," "custody" and "parenting time."

In law, failing to do something which is either optional or mandatory, such as failing to respond to an application or to a claim within the time limits set out in the rules of court. See "default judgment."

(1) Agreement, or (2) the giving of permission for a thing to happen or not happen.