Governance and associative life | CDRQ

What is governance?

This term refers to all the measures, rules and policies that ensure the proper functioning of your organization. Associative life refers to its members’ interactions and involvement, as well as their participation in its administration.

Enterprises can define their own governance frameworks; that is, the rules and procedures for managing the conduct of the organization. As a collective enterprise, you must also comply with the regulations and laws that govern cooperatives and, in some cases, your industry.

Our consulting services

Do you have questions about the governance of your collective enterprise? Have you encountered hiccups along the way? Would you like to boost the associative life of your cooperative?

The CDRQ offers a complete range of services in governance and associative life:

Organization of the general meeting of members

Benefit from personalized support in organizing and holding your general meeting of members. Does your meeting have a digital component, whether for elections, meeting streaming or full remote participation? No problem!

Amendment of articles of association

It may be that, after careful consideration, your cooperative would like to amend its articles of association. This requires a legal administrative procedure. We can help you prepare the documents and the special general meeting that are necessary for such amendments.

Assessment of associative life

For a cooperative, an associative life that is rich and tailored to its needs means stronger governance. When associative life is lacking, this can result in conflict and lost business opportunities – and even jeopardize the cooperative. An assessment provides a snapshot of the different aspects of associative life. In particular, it identifies strengths and weaknesses and suggests governance strategies that will add value.

Strategic review of bylaws and governance policies

A cooperative that is experiencing sustained growth or is repositioning itself must revise its by-laws and governance policies to ensure that its associative operating framework is adapted to its new realities. We have the tools to support you during this revision process.

Management of wind-ups

When a cooperative can no longer meet the needs of its members or when its financial situation is expected to deteriorate, it may decide to cease operations. By assisting the cooperative through the various stages leading to its winding up and dissolution, we help free the liquidators or board of directors from this process. This also minimizes the scars left at the end of the collective project.

Legal support

One day your co-op or NPO may be confronted with a legal issue. If this happens, you will need to handle it correctly. At the CDRQ, we have a notary who can support you and guide you through the process. Sometimes, a little goes a long way in avoiding problems later on.