Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians Act (S.C. 1996, c. 13)

Short Title

Marginal note:Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians Act.

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

2 In this Act,

Association

Association means the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians established by this Act; (Association)

Board

Board means the Board of Directors of the Association established under section 12; (conseil)

former parliamentarian

former parliamentarian means a person who was, but is not at present, a member of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada; (ex-parlementaire)

member

member means a member of the Association and unless otherwise specified does not include an honorary member. (associé)

Purpose

Marginal note:Purpose of Act

3 The purpose of this Act is to establish a non-profit corporation to be known as the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians.

Marginal note:Association established

4 There is hereby established a non-profit corporation to be known as the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians.

Objects

Marginal note:Objects

5 The objects of the Association are

• (a) to put the knowledge and experience of its members at the service of parliamentary democracy in Canada and elsewhere;

• (b) to serve the public interest by providing non-partisan support for the parliamentary system of government in Canada;

• (c) to foster a spirit of community among former parliamentarians;

• (d) to foster good relations between members of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada and former parliamentarians; and

• (e) to protect and promote the interests of former parliamentarians.

Marginal note:Non-partisan

6 The Association shall not pursue its objects for any partisan political purpose.

Powers

Marginal note:Powers

7 The Association has the capacity of a natural person and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Association may, in furtherance of its objects,

• (a) initiate, finance and administer programs and activities relevant to its objects, including programs and activities by government, public or private organizations and agencies or individuals;

• (b) enter into contracts or agreements with governments, public or private organizations and agencies or individuals;

• (c) publish or otherwise disseminate information of all kinds related to its objects;

• (d) establish and award scholarships or fellowships for study related to its objects;

• (e) give recognition, by such means as it deems appropriate, for outstanding contributions to the promotion and understanding of Canada’s parliamentary system of government;

• (f) borrow money on the credit of the Association;

• (g) acquire property, money or securities by gift, bequest or otherwise and subject to the terms, if any, on which the property, money or securities is given, bequeathed or otherwise acquired; hold, expend, invest, administer or dispose of any such property, money or securities; or create any security interest in such property, money or securities to secure any obligation of the Association;

• (h) acquire, establish and manage any charitable or benevolent work, undertaking or foundation as it considers appropriate;

• (i) expend all amounts received from individuals, corporations and organizations as contributions to the Association for its activities; and

• (j) do such other things as are conducive to the fulfilment of its purpose and to the exercise of its objects.

Marginal note:Capacity in Canada

• 8 (1) The Association may carry on its activities throughout Canada.

• Marginal note:Extraterritorial capacity

  (2) The Association has the capacity to carry on its activities and affairs and to exercise its powers in any jurisdiction outside Canada to the extent that the laws of that jurisdiction permit.

By-laws

Marginal note:By-laws

• 9 (1) The Board may make by-laws respecting

  • (a) membership in the Association;

  • (b) the election of directors, their term of office and the expenses, if any, to be paid to directors;

  • (c) the employment, engagement or appointment and remuneration, expenses and duties of officers, employees and agents of the Association;

  • (d) the procedure in all business at meetings of the Board and committees of the Association, including the manner of voting at such meetings;

  • (e) the appointment of patrons and honorary officers of the Association; and

  • (f) generally, the administration and management of the business and affairs of the Association and the delegation of its powers to the Board or committee of the Board or Association.

• Marginal note:By-laws to be approved

  (2) No by-law of the Association is valid or shall be acted on until it is approved at a general meeting of the members by at least two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote at the meeting.

Marginal note:Present by-laws

10 The present constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations of the unincorporated association known as the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians, insofar as they are not contrary to law or the provisions of this Act, shall be the constitution and by-laws of the Association until altered or repealed in accordance with this Act.

Organization

Marginal note:Head office

11 The head office of the Association shall be at such place in Canada as the Board may determine.

Marginal note:Board of Directors

12 The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Board of Directors comprised of a Chairperson and directors elected or appointed in accordance with the by-laws of the Association.

Marginal note:Speakers of both Houses

13 The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons shall be honorary members and co-chairpersons of the Association.

Marginal note:Role of Chairperson

14 The Chairperson of the Board shall be appointed or elected as the by-laws of the Association may provide and shall preside at meetings of the Board and may perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.

Marginal note:Vice-Chairperson

15 The Board may elect from among its membership a Vice-Chairperson who, in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson or if the office of Chairperson is vacant, shall have all the duties and functions of the Chairperson.

Marginal note:Board meetings

• 16 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Board shall meet at such times and places as the Chairperson deems necessary, but it shall meet at least twice in each year with at least one meeting at the head office of the Association.

• Marginal note:Electronic meetings

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), where the Board holds a meeting and some directors participate in the business of the meeting by electronic means only, such directors are deemed to be fully present at such meeting for purposes of this Act.

• Marginal note:Place of electronic board meetings

  (3) Unless the Board decides otherwise, a meeting under subsection (2) is deemed to take place at the place where a majority of the directors is gathered or, in the absence of a majority at one place, where the largest number of directors is gathered or the Chairperson or other director presiding is in attendance, as the Board may determine.

General

Marginal note:Income revenue and profits

17 Subject to any by-law of the Association providing for the remuneration of officers, employees and agents of the Association, any profits or accretions to the value of property of the Association shall be used to further the activities of the Association and no part of the property or profits of the Association may be distributed, directly or indirectly, to any member of the Association.

Marginal note:Dissolution

• 18 (1) On petition by the Association and in the manner specified in the petition, the minister of the Government of Canada having responsibility for the regulation of federal corporations may dissolve the Association.

• Marginal note:Debts and liabilities

  (2) In the event of a dissolution of the Association, any property of the Association that remains after the payment of its debts and liabilities or after the making of an adequate provision for the payment of its debts and liabilities shall be transferred to such person or institution as the Association may specify in the petition submitted under subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Notice

  (3) Notice of a dissolution under subsection (1) shall be published in the Canada Gazette.

Marginal note:Status of Association

19 The Association is not an agent of Her Majesty and the Chairperson, the other directors and the officers and employees of the Association are not part of the federal public administration.

Transition

Marginal note:Executive Committee

• 20 (1) Upon the coming into force of this Act and subject to the provisions of this Act, the Executive Committee of the unincorporated association known as the “Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians” acquires all the powers of the Board.

• Marginal note:Officers

  (2) The present members of the Executive Committee referred to in subsection (1) and the present officers of the unincorporated association shall, subject to the by-laws, rules or regulations of such association, continue to hold office as if they had been appointed or elected in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of the by-laws made under this Act until their successors in office have been so appointed or elected.

Coming into Force

Marginal note:Coming into force

21 This Act comes into force on the day on which it is assented to.