The Saskatchewan government has introduced updated legislation aimed at modernizing the rules governing co-operatives and aligning them with other provinces, a move officials say will strengthen the sector and reduce red tape for businesses.
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The Co-operatives Act, 2025 consolidates the province’s two existing co-operative statutes — the Co-operatives Act, 1996 and the New Generation Co-operatives Act — into a single, streamlined framework. The overhaul follows a comprehensive review of co-operative laws across Canada and consultations with Saskatchewan co-operatives.
“Co-operatives make a positive impact on the day-to-day lives of Saskatchewan residents, employ thousands of people and have been part of the fabric of our province for over a hundred years,” said justice minister and attorney general Tim McLeod, K.C. “With more people choosing to invest in Saskatchewan and establish businesses here, this legislation reduces red tape and creates greater flexibility that will make it easier to build and operate co-operatives for years to come.”
Key changes include:
- A new multi-stakeholder co-operative model that allows different membership classes — such as workers, consumers, producers, volunteers, or community supporters — to jointly own and govern a co-op.
- Updated rules enabling co-operatives to raise capital by selling preferred shares to non-members.
- Clearer provisions for using electronic technology, simplified liquidation and dissolution processes and the removal of the requirement that 25 per cent of directors be Canadian residents.
Co-operatives play a significant role in Saskatchewan’s economy and daily life. More than half of residents belong to at least one of the nearly 800 co-ops operating in the province, with major sectors including agriculture, retail, arts and entertainment, childcare and financial services.
The province says the updated legislation creates a more flexible, business-friendly environment that will support sustainable growth in the co-operative sector.
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