BREAKING NEWS – Province extends virtual meetings deadline to May 31, 2021

Please find below the text of the provincial government’s announcement this afternoon extending the deadline, by which condominium corporations can hold virtual meetings, even without a by-law, to May 31, 2021.

Today, the Government of Ontario made regulatory amendments under the Business Corporations Act (OBCA), Corporations Act (CA), Co-operative Corporations Act (CCA) and Condominium Act, 1998 (Condo Act) that extend the temporary legislative amendments permitting corporations governed under the OBCA, CA, CCA and Condo Act to call and hold meetings virtually, as applicable, notwithstanding current requirements. These temporary legislative amendments have now been extended to end on May 31, 2021.

All corporations need to adhere to the protective measures that have been put in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Providing corporations with the flexibility to host annual meetings and other meetings of significance virtually will help ensure Ontario corporations have choices and can meet their obligations under applicable statutes.

You can review these changes at:

● OBCA: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20542
● CA: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20544
● CCA: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20543
● Condo Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r20541

The ministry will continue to monitor COVID-19-related developments and will communicate any additional updates in future, as necessary.

Questions about the extension of legislative amendments related to virtual meetings can be directed to Victoria Walker, Manager, Policy and Business Law Unit at Victoria.Walker@ontario.ca.

You may wish to visit the following pages for additional information:

● Bill 190, COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020 [https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-190]
● Information on how Ontario’s declared emergency has ended and the impact on legislation and other topics [https://www.ontario.ca/page/emergency-information]
● A summary of legislative changes to support corporations and businesses [https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-changes-meetings-and-business-operations]

We would like to share this message with as many Ontario corporations as possible, including condo corporations, co-operative corporations, businesses, and not-for-profits. We would ask that you also share this notice with relevant contacts in your network.

Thank you,

Mike McRae Director (A) Policy and Governance Branch Ministry of Government and Consumer Services