The law governing charities in British Columbia may change this year. Bill 24, the new Societies Act, was introduced into the British Columbia legislature for its first reading on March 25, 2015. The new legislation would replace the current Society Act, which was enacted in 1977 and governs some 27,000 societies in British Columbia, ranging from small community-based organizations to large charitable organizations. The updated and modernized statute provides rules for the creation and governance of not-for-profit organizations in British Columbia. While the proposed legislation maintains the basic framework of the current act, the newer elements of the Societies Act are intended to improve and simplify the functioning of societies, while strengthening the accountability of charities to the public.
BC'S Proposed Societies Act White Paper
