COVID-19: Alberta Suspends In-Person Meetings under Societies Act

On April 9, 2020 Alberta issued a Ministerial Order that provides the following administrative relief for organizations incorporated under the Societies Act:

• Obligations to hold in-person meetings are suspended (s 25 Societies Act) but nothing in the suspension precludes a society from holding a remote meeting using video or teleconferencing

• Obligation to send or make a report, annual return or return to the Registrar is suspended (s 26(2) Societies Act)

• Charitable registrations or renewals that would expire while the emergency order is in effect have an additional 3 months before the expiry is effective (new s 9(5.1 ) Charitable Fund-Raising Regulation)

• A similar 3 month extension has been added for fund-raising businesses (new s 10(4.1) Charitable Fund-Raising Regulation)

• Provisions relating to in-person access to regular places of business for the inspection of physical documents and records are suspended (s 36(2) Societies Act)

• Trustees who have received monetary contributions for a charity now have 15 days instead of 3 days to properly deposit the money (s 11(2) Charitable Fund-Raising Act)

Starting April 15, Alberta has pledged to match, dollar for dollar up to $2 million to Alberta-based charities and non-profit organizations with COVID-19 fundraising campaigns. Albertans who donate to designated organizations by May 31, will have their donations matched by the province.

There are seven identified organizations:

• United Way of the Capital Region
• United Way Calgary and Area
• Calgary Foundation
• Edmonton Community Foundation
• Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta
• Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta
• Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta

Program details can be found here.

Charity leaders are invited to share how they are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic within their organization in our online community forum, The Green: COVID-19 Response Room.