A by-law relating generally to the conduct of the affairs of

Heritage Livestock Canada

(the "Corporation")

July 1, 2015

BE IT ENACTED as a by-law of the Corporation as follows:

1.             Definition


In this by-law and all other by-laws of the Corporation, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Act" means the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act S.C. (Statutes of Canada) 2009, c. (chapter) 23 including the Regulations made pursuant to the Act, and any statute or regulations that may be substituted, as amended from time to time;

"articles" means the original or restated articles of incorporation or articles of amendment, amalgamation, continuance, reorganization, arrangement or revival of the Corporation;

"board" means the board of directors of the Corporation and "director" means a member of the board;
"by-law" means this by-law and any other by-law of the Corporation as amended and which are, from time to time, in force and effect;

"meeting of members" includes an annual meeting of members or a special meeting of members; "special meeting of members" includes a meeting of any class or classes of members and a special meeting of all members entitled to vote at an annual meeting of members;

"ordinary resolution" means a resolution passed by a majority of not less than 50% plus 1 of the votes case on that resolution;

"proposal" means a proposal submitted by a member of the Corporation that meets the requirements of section 163 (Member Proposals) of the Act;

"Regulations" means the regulations made under the Act, as amended, restated or in effect from time to time; and "special resolution" means a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast on that resolution.

2.             Interpretation 


In the interpretation of this by-law, words in the singular include the plural and vice-versa, words in one gender include all genders, and "person" includes an individual, body corporate, partnership, trust and unincorporated organization.

Other than as specified above, words and expressions defined in the Act have the same meanings when used in these by- laws.

3.     Corporate Seal


The Corporation may have a corporate seal in the form approved from time to time by the board. If a corporate seal is approved by the board, the secretary of the Corporation shall be the custodian of the corporate seal.

4. Execution of Documents

Deeds, transfers, assignments, contracts, obligations and other instruments in writing requiring execution by the Corporation may be signed by any two (2) of its officers or directors. In addition, the board may from time to time direct the manner in which and the person or persons by whom a particular document or type of document shall be executed. Any signing officer may certify a copy of any instrument, resolution, by-law or other document of the Corporation to be a true copy thereof.

5.              Financial Year


The financial year-end of the Corporation shall be December 31 in each year.

6.               Banking Arrangements


The banking business of the Corporation shall be transacted at such bank, trust company or other firm or corporation carrying on a banking business in Canada or elsewhere as the board of directors may designate, appoint or authorize from time to time by resolution. The banking business or any part of it shall be transacted by an officer or officers of the Corporation and/or other persons as the board of directors may by resolution from time to time designate, direct or authorize.

7.                Borrowing Powers


If authorized by a by-law, which is duly adopted by the directors and confirmed by ordinary resolution of the members, the directors of the corporation may from time to time:

1.     borrow money on the credit of the corporation;

2.    issue, reissue, sell, pledge or hypothecate debt obligations of the corporation; and

3.     mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security interest in all or any property of the corporation, owned or subsequently acquired, to secure any debt obligation of the corporation.

Any such by-law may provide for the delegation of such powers by the directors to such officers or directors of the corporation to such extent and in such manner as may be set out in the by-law.

Nothing herein limits or restricts the borrowing of money by the corporation on bills of exchange or promissory notes made, drawn, accepted or endorsed by or on behalf of the corporation.

8.                Annual Financial Statements


The Corporation may, instead of sending copies of the annual financial statements and other documents referred to in subsection 172(1) (Annual Financial Statements) of the Act to the members, publish a notice to its members stating that the Annual Financial Statements are available at the registered office of the Corporation or on the website of the Corporation and that any member may, on request, obtain a copy at the registered office or by mail.

9.               Membership Conditions

Subject to the articles, there shall be one class of members in the Corporation. Membership in the Corporation shall be available to persons, whether individuals, corporations or other entities, interested in furthering the Corporation's purposes and who have applied for and been accepted into membership in the Corporation by resolution of the board or in such other manner as may be determined by the board. Each member shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at all meetings of the members of the Corporation.

Pursuant to subsection 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendments to this section of the by-laws if those amendments affect membership rights and/or conditions described in paragraphs 197(1)(e), (h), (l) or (m).

10.           Membership Transferability

A membership may only be transferred to the Corporation. Pursuant to Section 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendment to add, change or delete this section of the by-laws.

11.            Notice of Members Meeting


Notice of the time and place of a meeting of members shall be given to each member entitled to vote at the meeting by the following means:

1. 1.            by mail, courier or personal delivery to each member entitled to vote at the meeting, during a period of 21 to 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held; or

1. 2.           by telephonic, electronic or other communication facility to each member entitled to vote at the meeting, during a period of 21 to 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held.

Pursuant to subsection 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendment to the by-laws of the Corporation to change the manner of giving notice to members entitled to vote at a meeting of members.

12.            Members Calling a Members' Meeting

The board of directors shall call a special meeting of members in accordance with Section 167 of the Act, on written requisition of members carrying not less than 5% of the voting rights. If the directors do not call a meeting within twenty-one (21) days of receiving the requisition, any member who signed the requisition may call the meeting.

13.            Absentee Voting at Members' Meetings


Pursuant to section 171(1) (Absentee Voting) of the Act, a member entitled to vote at a meeting of members may vote by means of a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility if the Corporation has a system that enables the votes to be gathered in a manner that permits their subsequent verification.

Pursuant to subsection 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Act, a special resolution of the members is required to make any amendment to the by-laws of the Corporation to change this method of voting by members not in attendance at a meeting of members.

14.            Membership Dues


Members shall be notified in writing of the membership dues at any time payable by them and, if any are not paid within two (2) calendar month of the membership renewal date the members in default shall automatically cease to be members of the Corporation.

15.            Termination of Membership

A membership in the Corporation is terminated when: 


15. 1.            the member dies or resigns;
    2.           the member is expelled or their membership is otherwise terminated in accordance with the articles or by-laws;
    3.            the member's term of membership expires; or

    4.           the Corporation is liquidated and dissolved under the Act.
16.            Effect of Termination of Membership

Subject to the articles, upon any termination of membership, the rights of the member, including any rights in the property of the Corporation, automatically cease to exist.

17.            Discipline of Members


The board shall have authority to suspend or expel any member from the Corporation for any one or more of the following grounds:

1. 1.            violating any provision of the articles, by-laws, or written policies of the Corporation;

1. 2.           carrying out any conduct contrary to the mandate and vision statement of the Corporation.

1. 3.            carrying out any conduct which may be detrimental to the Corporation as determined by the board in its sole discretion; or,

1. 4.           for any other reason that the board in its sole and absolute discretion considers to be reasonable, having regard to the purpose of the Corporation.

The board's decision shall be final and binding on the member.

18.            Proposals Nominating Directors at Annual Members' Meetings

Subject to the Regulations under the Act, any proposal may include nominations for the election of directors, if the proposal is

1.      received by the secretary at least one month before the meeting at which the proposal would be presented; and
2.      signed by a member entitled to vote at the meeting at which the proposal is to be presented.

19.            Cost of Publishing Proposals for Annual Members' Meetings


The member who submitted the proposal shall pay the cost of including the proposal and any statement in the notice of meeting at which the proposal is to be presented unless otherwise provided by ordinary resolution of the members present at the meeting.

20.            Place of Members' Meeting

Subject to compliance with section 159 (Place of Members' Meetings) of the Act, meetings of the members may be held at any place within Canada determined by the board or, if all of the members entitled to vote at such meeting so agree, outside Canada.

21.            Persons Entitled to be Present at Members' Meetings

Members, non-members, directors and the public accountant of the Corporation are entitled to be present at a meeting of members. However, only those members entitled to vote at the members' meeting according to the provisions of the Act, articles and by-laws are entitled to cast a vote at the meeting.

22.            Chair of Members' Meetings

In the event that the chair of the board is absent, the members who are present and entitled to vote at the meeting shall choose one of the directors to chair the meeting.

23.            Quorum at Members' Meetings

A quorum at any meeting of the members (unless a greater number of members are required to be present by the Act) shall be 15 of the members entitled to vote at the meeting. If a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting of members, the members present may proceed with the business of the meeting even if a quorum is not present throughout the meeting.

24.            Votes to Govern at Members' Meetings

At any meeting of members every question shall, unless otherwise provided by the articles or by-laws or by the Act, be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the questions. In case of an equality of votes either on a show of hands or on a ballot or on the results of electronic voting, the chair of the meeting in addition to an original vote shall have a second or casting vote.

25.            Participation by Electronic Means at Members' Meetings


If the Corporation chooses to make available a telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during a meeting of members, any person entitled to attend such meeting may participate in the meeting by means of such telephonic, electronic or other communication facility in the manner provided by the Act. A person participating in a meeting by such means is deemed to be present at the meeting.

Any person participating in a meeting of members pursuant to this section who is entitled to vote at that meeting may vote, in accordance with the Act, by means of any telephonic, electronic or other communication facility that the Corporation has made available for that purpose.

26.            Members' Meeting Held Entirely by Electronic Means


Meetings of members may not be held entirely by telephonic, an electronic or other communication facility.

27.            Number of Directors


The board shall consist of the number of directors specified in the articles. If the articles provide for a minimum and maximum number of directors, the board shall be comprised of the fixed number of directors as determined from time to time by the members by ordinary resolution or, if the ordinary resolution empowers the directors to determine the number, by resolution of the board.

28.            Term of Office of Directors


At the first election of Directors following the approval of this by-law, one-third (1/3) directors shall be elected for a three-year term, one-third (1/3) directors shall be elected for a two-year term and one-third (1/3) directors shall be elected for a one-year term. Thereafter, except where an election is held to fill the unexpired portion of a term, newly elected directors shall be elected for three-year (3) terms.

29.            Calling of Meetings of Board of Directors

Meetings of the board may be called by the chair of the board or any two (2) directors at any time. If the Corporation has only one director, that director may call and constitute a meeting.

30.            Notice of Meeting of Board of Directors


Notice of the time and place for the holding of a meeting of the board shall be given in the manner provided in the section on giving notice of meeting of directors of this by-law to every director of the Corporation not less than 7 days before the time when the meeting is to be held. Notice of a meeting shall not be necessary if all of the directors are present, and none objects to the holding of the meeting, or if those absent have waived notice of or have otherwise signified their consent to the holding of such meeting. Notice of an adjourned meeting is not required if the time and place of the adjourned meeting is announced at the original meeting.

31.            Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors


The board may appoint a day or days in any month or months for regular meetings of the board at a place and hour to be named. A copy of any resolution of the board fixing the place and time of such regular meetings of the board shall be sent to each director forthwith after being passed, but no other notice shall be required for any such regular meeting except if subsection 136(3) (Notice of Meeting) of the Act requires the meeting purpose or business to be specified in the notice.

32.            Votes to Govern at Meetings of the Board of Directors


At all meetings of the board, every question shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on the question. In case of an equality of votes, the chair of the meeting in addition to an original vote shall have a second or casting vote.

33.            Committees of the Board of Directors

The board may from time to time appoint any committee or other advisory body, as it deems necessary or appropriate for such purposes and, subject to the Act, with such powers as the board shall see fit. Any such committee may formulate its own rules of procedure, subject to such regulations or directions as the board may from time to time make. Any committee member may be removed by resolution of the board of directors.

34.            Appointment of Officers


The board may designate the offices of the Corporation, appoint officers on an annual or more frequent basis, specify their duties and, subject to the Act, delegate to such officers the power to manage the affairs of the Corporation. A director may be appointed to any office of the Corporation. An officer may, but need not be, a director unless these by-laws otherwise provide.

35.            Description of Offices


Unless otherwise specified by the board (which may, subject to the Act modify, restrict or supplement such duties and powers), the offices of the Corporation, if designated and if officers are appointed, shall have the following duties and powers associated with their positions:

1. 1.            Chair of the Board – The chair of the board, if one is to be appointed, shall be a director. The chair of the board, if any, shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the board of directors and of the members. The chair shall have such other duties and powers as the board may specify.

1. 2.           Secretary – The secretary shall attend and be the secretary of all meetings of the board, members and committees of the board. The secretary shall enter or cause to be entered in the Corporation's minute book, minutes of all proceedings at such meetings; the secretary shall give, or cause to be given, as and when instructed, notices to members, directors, the public accountant and members of committees; the secretary shall be the custodian of all books, papers, records, documents and other instruments belonging to the Corporation. The secretary shall be a non-voting officer.

35. 3.            Treasurer – The treasurer shall have such powers and duties as the board may specify.
36.            Vacancy in Office


In the absence of a written agreement to the contrary, the board may remove, whether for cause or without cause, any officer of the Corporation. Unless so removed, an officer shall hold office until the earlier of: 


1. 1.     the officer's successor being appointed,

   2.    the officer's resignation,
   3.     such officer ceasing to be a director (if a necessary qualification of appointment) or
   4.    such officer's death.

If the office of any officer of the Corporation shall be or become vacant, the directors may, by resolution, appoint a person to fill such vacancy.

37.            Method of Giving Any Notice

Any notice (which term includes any communication or document), other than notice of a meeting of members or a meeting of the board of directors, to be given pursuant to the Act, the articles, the by-laws or otherwise to a member, director, officer or to the public accountant shall be sufficiently given:

1. 1.            if delivered personally to the person to whom it is to be given or if delivered to such person's recorded address;
   2.           if mailed to such person at such person's recorded address; or
   3.            if sent to such person by telephonic, electronic or other communication facility at such person's recorded address for that purpose.

The secretary may change or cause to be changed the recorded address of any member, director, officer, public accountant or member of a committee of the board in accordance with any information believed by the secretary to be reliable. The declaration by the secretary that notice has been given pursuant to this by-law shall be sufficient and conclusive evidence of the giving of such notice.

38.            Invalidity of any Provisions of this By-law


The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this by-law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this by-law.

39.            Omissions and Errors


The accidental omission to give any notice to any member, director, officer, member of a committee of the board or public accountant, or the non-receipt of any notice by any such person where the Corporation has provided notice in accordance with the by-laws or any error in any notice not affecting its substance shall not invalidate any action taken at any meeting to which the notice pertained or otherwise founded on such notice.

40.            Mediation and Arbitration


Disputes or controversies among members, directors, officers, committee members, or volunteers of the Corporation are as much as possible to be resolved in accordance with mediation and/or arbitration.

41.            By-laws and Effective Date


The board of directors may not make, amend or repeal any by-laws that regulate the activities or affairs of the Corporation without having the by-law, amendment or repeal confirmed by the members by ordinary resolution. The by-law, amendment or repeal is only effective on the confirmation of the members and in the form in which it was confirmed. 
This section does not apply to a by-law that requires a special resolution of the members according to subsection 197(1) (fundamental change) of the Act.

Signed by:

____________________________________________________

Name, position

____________________________________________________

Name, position

Effective Date: June 14, 2015

Copyright Heritage Livestock Canada 2020 – No copying or reproduction of any kind of the Heritage Livestock Canada materials/photographs are allowed without written permission.