2.6 KiB
| title | collection | path | parentDocument | outlineId | createdBy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S5: Governance Requirements | Cooperative Foundations | Cooperative Foundations/Hub Adaptations/Central (Ontario)/S5: Governance Requirements | Central (Ontario) | 05d4c54c-c609-42fa-9434-d0c587921fb9 | Jennie R.F. |
:::info Ontario Adaptation
This section covers what Ontario law actually requires under the Co-operative Corporations Act (CCA), and how that intersects with the governance structures from this session.
:::
One-member-one-vote is law – not a choice
Under the CCA, every member of a co-op gets equal voting power for formal member decisions (elections, bylaw approvals, resolutions) regardless of how much they've invested. It's part of the legal definition of operating on a "co-operative basis" in Ontario. The consent and consensus models from this program are ways of practicing democratic governance day-to-day.
Bylaws are required, not optional
Ontario co-ops must have bylaws covering membership (how people join and leave), voting (how decisions are made formally), and surplus distribution (how money flows back to members). The governance processes you're building in this program eventually get written into these bylaws. All those decisions you're making together (how to make decisions, who has voice, how to handle disagreement) will need to be codified. That's what bylaws are for.
Virtual and hybrid meetings are permanently allowed
Since October 2023, Ontario co-ops can hold meetings virtually or in hybrid format as long as their bylaws don't expressly forbid it. If your studio is distributed or your team works across cities, this matters. Formal governance doesn't require everyone in the same room.
Dual status: director and employee
In a worker co-op, you can be both a director and an employee. Most small studios (3-5 people) will have all members serving as both, but the roles carry different legal weight. Director duties include fiduciary duty and duty of care. Employee rights fall under the Employment Standards Act. It's worth separating governance work (board decisions, AGMs, strategic direction) from production work (making games) early on, before incorporation, so the distinction doesn't feel artificial later.