Bill ID 2353 (Legislature 23, Session 1)

L23 S1 2353

Alberta — Bills

1993 BILL Pr15 First Session, 23rd Legislature, 42 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL Pr15 ALBERTA SENIORS’ LEGISLATURE ACT MR. N. TAYLOR First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent Title: 1993 (23rd, 1st) Bill Pr15, Alberta Seniors' Legislature Act

Bill P r15 Mr. N. Taylor BILL Pr15 1993 ALBERTA SENIORS' LEGISLATURE ACT (Assented to , 1993)

WHEREAS the province of Alberta has a growing population of over 250,000 citizens older than the age of 60 years; and

WHEREAS senior citizens have made a vital and significant contribution to the province and require an organization whereby they may contribute effectively to the policies adopted by the Government of Alberta; and

WHEREAS a petition has been presented to the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly praying for the enactment of

an Act to incorporate a society establishing a senior citizens’ forum structured on a British parliamentary model; and

WHEREAS it is expedient to grant the prayer of the said petition; THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:

Definitions 1 In this Act, (a) "candidate" means a senior registering himself or herself in accordance with the by-laws as a candidate in the next election organized by the society in the applicable region, district or constituency within the province; (b) "constituency" means the neighbourhood, region, 1

municipality, district or other geographical area defined at a constituency in the by-laws for the purposes of electing members in the society; (c) "election" means the process defined in the society’s by laws through which members are chosen; (d) "executive council" means the governing body of the society appointed pursuant to the by-laws and this Act; (e) "House" means the assembly of members convened for a session of the Alberta Seniors’ Legislature; (f) "member" means a person elected pursuant to this Act to be a delegate in the Alberta Seniors’ Legislature; (g) "senior" means a natural person over the age of 60 years who has been resident in Alberta for the past 6 months; (h) "session" means a sitting of the Alberta Seniors" Legislature called by the President of executive council; and (i) "society" means Alberta Seniors’ Legislature, incorporated by this Act.

Incorporation2 There is hereby established a body corporate styled the Alberta Seniors’ Legislature comprising members elected by seniors throughout the Province to fulfill the objects as hereinafter set forth Objects 3 The objects of the society are (

a) to provide a forum for the discussion of matters relevant to seniors through the organization of sessions modeled on a British parliamentary system whereby members can debate and vote on issues brought before the House; (

b) to provide a mechanism whereby seniors can examine, discuss and resolve a position on behalf of the society on legislative proposals made by all levels of government which affect seniors; 2

(

c) to provide a mechanism whereby seniors can propose, debate and resolve legislative recommendations to communicate to all levels of government having jurisdiction over seniors; (

d) to encourage learning and understanding of the British parliamentary system and to promote orderly debate through the use of parliamentary rules and forms which, as far as is practicable, shall be as utilized in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; (

e) to provide for the positive interaction of seniors through common social, familial and political interests, and to encourage affiliations between seniors and seniors’ groups based on common ideologies, aspirations and interests; (

f) to promote endeavours of benefit to seniors through public speaking engagements, forums, local discussion groups and working committees; (

g) to promote and encourage academic research of seniors’ issues and to distribute educational materials about seniors’ issues for the benefit of all citizens; (

h) to lobby government and private organizations by presenting them with the recommendations of the House from various model parliamentary sessions of the society; (

i) to raise money for the promotion of its objects by whatever lawful means the society finds expedient and to invest, reinvest or otherwise manage the society’s assets in a manner which the executive council deems most appropriate for the best interests of the society; (

j) to promote and encourage the positive interaction of seniors generally; (

k) to acquire, manage, use, dispose of, buy, sell, lease, exchange, convert, mortgage, trade, or otherwise deal with the property of the society, and (

l) to do any other thing consistent with the foregoing and the positive development of the quality of life for seniors generally. 3

Corporate powers 4 The society shall possess all powers of a corporation formed under the laws of the province including perpetual existence, the ability to sue and be sued, the creation and use of a common seal, the acquisition and pledging of its property and credit, and the establishment and maintenance of its offices.

Limited liability5 The liability of the members is limited, and neither the members nor the executive council shall be held personally liable for the debts or obligations of the society except where such debts or obligations have arisen out of a breach of trust by deliberate fraud or misrepresentation.

Internal Regulations and bylaws 6(1) The members of the society may provide for the establishment and amendment of the society’s by-laws, rules, Standing Orders, procedures and regulations at any session of the society or, alternatively, at any meeting of the society where all members have received at least 14 days’ notice of the business, place and time of the meeting.

(2) The membership may delegate any or all of the powers referred to in subsection (1) to the executive council or any committee or subcommittee of members created by the society. Non-profit Organization 7 The society shall exist solely for the purposes of promoting its objects, and not for the purpose of profit or financial gain accruing to any person. Membership8(1) Members in the society shall be elected by a seniors’ vote for each constituency within the province, organized by the society in accordance with its by-laws.

(2) All seniors within the province are eligible to stand for election and to vote in the elections of the society organized for that constituency in accordance with its by-laws.

(3) Any person wishing to stand for election for membership in the society must do so independently of any political party, regardless of his or her political affiliation.

(4) Any number of independent candidates may, subject to the by-laws, be registered in a particular constituency. 4

(5) A candidate or member may not be registered in more than one constituency.

(6) A candidate may be registered in any constituency in the province notwithstanding that the candidate does not reside within that particular constituency.

(7) Any member may resign from membership in the society by submitting written notice of the resignation to a member of executive council or other authorized official or by declaring that member’s resignation before the membership at a session of the society.

(8) In addition to all matters in this section, the by-laws may makes provision for (

a) the frequency and manner of general elections; (

b) the boundaries of each constituency; (

c) the manner of filling interim vacancies in the membership; and (

d) the appointment and regulation of officials to conduct the elections and the procedures adopted to ensure fairness and impartiality in each election. Executive council9(1) The society shall be governed by an executive council appointed and chaired by the president who shall be the member chosen by the society.

(2) The president of the executive council shall be styled the "premier" in the House, and other members appointed to the executive council by the president shall be styled the cabinet in the House.

(3) The executive council shall be responsible for the management and administration of the society’s affairs and in all respects shall act as the society’s board of directors, subject to the direction and instructions of the members.

(4) Any member may resign from executive council by giving written notice of the resignation to the president or other authorized official, and such resignation will not have an effect on 5

that person’s membership in the society.

(5) The executive council may appoint and provide for the remuneration of its officers and staff in accordance with the by laws. Meetings 10(1) Meetings of the executive council shall be held at least once every six months at the call of the president or other authorized member of executive council.

(2) Sessions of the members shall be called at least once each year and may be held in conjunction with the annual general meeting or any special meeting of the members. Idem 11(1) An annual or special meeting of the members may be called by the president or other authorized member of executive council or alternatively, by the members upon submitting a petition signed by at least 1/3 of the members to the executive council.

(2) The business of the annual meeting shall be the administration of the business of the society including (

a) the accounts of the society prepared in accordance with the by-laws; (

b) the creation, amendment or repeal of the by-laws or other regulations of the society; and (

c) any other business the members deem appropriate for the management and administration of the society’s business. Presiding officers 12(1) Sessions of the society shall be presided by a Speaker or other official who shall be chosen by the members from among the membership.

(2) The members may also choose a Deputy Speaker, Chairman of Committees, Deputy Chairman of Committees or other officials to preside over the House or committees of the House as the society deems necessary.

(3) Subject to the Standing Orders of the society, the Speaker 6

shall apply recognized parliamentary rules and forms used in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and in all respects each Speaker’s ruling shall be final subject only to a resolution of the House to the contrary. First executive council and membership 13(1) The first executive council of the society shall also comprise its membership, and the persons described in subsection (2) shall hold office until their successors are elected in accordance with the by-laws and this Act.

(2) The first executive council shall comprise Dr. Grant MacEwan, Albert Ludwig, Arthur J. Dixon, Manny Martin, Carmen Johnson, Harold S. Millican, Eric Musgrave, Virnetta Anderson, Julian Kiniski and Dr. Julio Arboleda-Florez. Winding-up 14(1) The society may dissolve its corporate existence by passing a members' resolution to wind up the society’s affairs with a minimum 3/4 majority of the membership at a session of the society.

(2) In the event of its dissolution, the property of the society shall be distributed to any registered charitable organization, foundation or other similar body in Alberta having objects which enhance the quality of life for senior Canadians. 7 Title: 1993 (23rd, 1st) Bill Pr15, Alberta Seniors' Legislature Act

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Bills
Citation	L23 S1 2353
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	L23 S1 2353
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	674ebf5941d42141904fc1ee03db8ceb237c426a

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