GUELPH, ON – The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) would like to extend our gratitude to the Hon. Minister of Government and Consumer Services Lisa Thompson and her staff for ensuring organizations like OFA are not negatively impacted by unintentional consequences when the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) is brought into effect.
Throughout its ten years after being proclaimed in 2010, the OFA has been very vocal in our concerns regarding our current democratic structure if the ONCA comes into force. OFA recognizes and appreciates the commitment from Hon. Lisa Thompson and her staff in verifying that the OFA will be able to maintain our inclusive democratic structure.
“OFA would like to express our sincere appreciation of the time and effort that has been taken to ensure organizations like OFA, are not negatively impacted when ONCA is brought into force,” said Keith Currie, OFA President.
The proclaimed Act brought many concerns to OFA regarding our current voting structure and regional representation. As an Ontario Corporation, OFA has by-laws respecting delegates as provided under section 130 of Ontario’s Corporation Act. This allows members the right to vote to elect delegates from their Region.
OFA’s current democratic structure has served OFA members well by ensuring balanced regional representation across the province. The ONCA posed a potential risk of having to abandon our current democratic structure, leading to unbalanced regional representation.
“It is important for OFA to retain regional representation among all of its members. Our current election process ensures the representation is balanced across Ontario,” states Currie. OFA believes that all members, even those living furthest away from OFA’s Annual meeting location, should have equal opportunities to raise concerns and cast their votes.
Section 207(3) of the ONCA enables organizations, currently following Ontario’s Corporations Act, to be grandfathered with respect to delegates made under section 130 of the Ontario’s Corporations Act. Therefore, OFA’s current inclusive democratic structure of having regionally elected delegates attend OFA’s Annual meeting can remain intact even after ONCA is brought in force.
We would like to extend our thanks to the Hon. Minister of Government and Consumer Services Lisa Thompson and her staff for their continued support on this issue. We are grateful for the clarity provided and are pleased to be able to continue with regional representation and keep our current democratic voting structure intact.
Source : OFA