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Co-op Legislation

Co-operative Association Act

An online version of the British Columbia Co-operative Association Act (1999) can be viewed here.

Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of the Co-operative Association Act should contact Crown Publications Inc. directly.

Co-op Act Amendments

In the Spring of 2007 the British Columbia Legislature passed amendments to the BC Co-operative Association Act, which, among other changes, formally recognizes non-profit co-operatives. A complete list of the amendments can be found in the minutes from the 2007 Legislative Session: 3rd Session, 38th Parliament (search for the word "cooperative").

While the amendments are now in effect, they have not yet been integrated into the online version of the Act. However, they have been incorporated in the paper version that is available for purchase.

The 2007 amendments to the BC Co-op Act culminated a decade of work on the part of BCCA to make co-op legislation more reflective of the changing needs of the co-op sector in British Columbia.

BCCA acknowledges the assistance of the Ministry of Finance in drafting these amendments and the support of these changes by the Official Opposition.

Community Service Co-ops

With the passing of the 2007 amendments, non-profit co-ops can incorporate as "Community Service Co-ops", which have the same status in law as non-profit societies including eligibility for charitable status where applicable.

The legal recognition of Community Service Co-ops is a formal recognition of the unique value and role provided by co-operatives that wish to operate on a non-profit basis. The Community Service Co-op designation will end the confusion that has arisen from uncertainty surrounding the legal status of non-profit co-ops, while affirming the democratic structure of member ownership and control that is unique to the co-op model.

To incorporate as a Community Service Co-op, a co-op's Memorandum of Association must include all of the following non-alterable provisions:

  1. That the co-op is a community service co-operative,
  2. That the co-op will not issue investment shares,
  3. That the co-op's purposes are charitable or to provide health, social, educational or other community services,
  4. That upon dissolution, the co-op's property must be transferred to another community service co-op or a charitable organization,
  5. That no part of the property of the co-op is to be distributed to members while it is in operation.