Report from international summit in Quebec City: ‘The Amazing Power of Co-operatives’

October 15th, 2012 by Brian Iler

Last week’s International Summit of Co-operatives(subtitled “The Amazing Power of Co-operatives”) was clearly designed to put the co-operative model front and centre on the world’s economic policy agenda. The Summit, held in Quebec City, did just that.

2012 is the UN-declared International Year of Co-operatives, and this conference was in many ways the Year’s marquee event — for the world.

For me, active for many years in Ontario co-ops, it was an opportunity to rub shoulders with an amazing and diverse group of committed co-operators. And to deeply savour the scope and potential the co-op model has.

As the catch-phrase for the Year says: “Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World.”

We heard many examples of just that.

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Small and Rural Charities Initiative Update

October 15th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) completed its Joint Action Plan as part of the Small and Rural Charities Initiative.  The recommendations include more community-based, in-person service for small and rural charities through the development of community partnerships with umbrella groups, universities, or colleges, where feasible and providing a list of services available to charities in their communities (such as municipal benefits, pro-bono university legal services, etc.).  The CRA may also consider developing and distributing educational products, including a Roadshow (Charity Information Session) DVD to small and rural charities, as well as to newly registered charities, non-compliant charities, and other charities upon request.  The CRA will also consider promoting the development of community networks, to enable small and rural charities to communicate, share best practices, and learn from each other.  There is a full chart setting out the recommendations. For more information see the report The Small and Rural Charities: Making a Difference for Canadians.

Rural charities may have limited access to expertise and may need legal advice to get their organization into compliant condition.  Please contact us today to get assistance with CRA issues facing small and rural charities.

Jarvis Bike Lane Removal Exposes Serious Weaknesses in Municipal Class Approvals

October 12th, 2012 by Laura Bowman

The “Class EA” was introduced to the Ontario environmental assessment process shortly after the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act was passed, in 1976. The purpose of Class EAs was said to be to streamline approvals for undertakings that were similar in nature (i.e. belonging to the same ‘class’ of project) and that generally had predictable and easy to mitigate effects and therefore did not need full environmental assessments. Class assessments were immediately used for municipal infrastructure projects. Class EAs are an attempt to balance many competing policy factors including reducing the cost of municipal infrastructure, avoiding duplication with other municipal processes and the difficulty of predicting environmental effects on a class‑wide basis. However, strong pressures to exempt an ever growing array of projects from full environmental assessments have led to the growth of Class EAs, and Class EAs have come to dominate EA practices in Ontario by a wide margin.

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Announcing Tools Conference 2012

October 11th, 2012 by Iler Campbell LLP

Our one-day conference for non-profits, charities, co-ops and community groups is back! Each year we attempt to offer real help with what we think are the biggest issues facing our clients at a cost that we hope makes it possible for everyone to attend.

Join us at Oakham House in downtown Toronto on November 22. Educate yourself and your team on important legal and accounting issues: prepare for new legislation, stay on top of the latest trends, brush up on topics of perennial issue and more.

See toolsconference.ca for full details and to register.

Bill 65: All parties highlight the need for affordable housing in Ontario

October 9th, 2012 by Celia Chandler

Debate began this week on the Non‑Profit Housing Co‑operatives Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012, Bill 65 –  the co‑op eviction law reform bill.  You’ll remember that this bill, first introduced in the house in April 2012, has been enthusiastically received by housing co‑ops and is supported by all parties in the Legislature.  Of 107 ridings in Ontario, 95 contain housing co‑ops, so indeed this is a bill that has a province‑wide impact!

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The growth of community-owned green energy in Canada

September 27th, 2012 by Brian Iler

Community power was given a boost this summer with the release of the second round of Nova Scotia’s Community Feed-In Tariff (COMFIT) projects on July 9, 2012 and Ontario’s FIT 2.0 Program Rules on August 10, 2012.

Until now, ownership and participation in Canada’s growing green energy sector has been dominated by private sector interests. It looks like things may be starting to change.

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