View source for Non-Profit Member Rights and Participation (Societies Act FAQs)

{{Societies Act FAQs TOC}}
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society]] (PLEO) in January 2024}}
==Member Rights==
===What are the rights of non-profit members?===
Members who are not directors have certain rights. Members have a right to vote at a members’ meeting (Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting) unless they belong to a non-voting class of members. Voting members have the right to requisition a members’ meeting, provided they meet the required threshold of 10% of voting members (or less if the bylaws provide). Voting members also have the right to submit a members’ proposal, provided they fulfill the requirements of the ''Societies Act'' including meeting the minimum threshold of 5% (or less if the bylaws provide). 

All members have the right to receive written notice and reasons for their expulsion and the right to make reasonable representations to the non-profit regarding their expulsion. Members have the right to request the attendance of the non-profit’s auditor at a meeting during which the financial statements or the appointment or removal of the auditor will be considered, provided the non-profit receives a written request at least 7 days before the meeting. Finally, members have the right to inspect records listed under [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/15018_01#section20 s. 20] of the ''Societies Act'', though the non-profit may impose a notice period and time restrictions.

===How many votes can a member have? Can family memberships get two votes? Can we use weighted voting?===
Under [https://canlii.ca/t/8v16#sec84 s. 84] of the ''Societies Act'', a voting member has only one vote.

===What can a member or director do if the non-profit isn't following its bylaws or the ''Societies Act''?===
Many disputes can be resolved internally through communication and cooperation. However, sometimes this is not possible. Non-profit disputes are governed by the [https://civilresolutionbc.ca/ Civil Resolution Tribunal]. The CRT has a [https://civilresolutionbc.ca/how-the-crt-works/getting-started/societies-and-cooperative-associations/ solutions explorer] which you can use to determine what remedies are available in your situation.

==Member Participation==
===Can anyone become a member of the non-profit?===
No person has a right to membership in a non-profit, unless the bylaws say otherwise. Under the ''Societies Act'', it is up to the directors of the non-profit to accept or deny memberships, subject to the non-profit’s bylaws. However, courts have decided that if the non-profit wants to be selective about memberships, then criteria for rejecting members must be included in the bylaws. The directors cannot reject applicants based on criteria they themselves determine [https://canlii.ca/t/j8fbl#par52 (''Farrish'' at paras 52-63)]. In addition, once a person is a member, there is a process that must be followed ([https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/15018_01#section70 s. 70]) to discipline or remove that person as a member.

Finally, the ''Societies Act'' requires that individuals be 19 or older to become members, unless the bylaws state otherwise.
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