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Step 2: When do I need to act?

Decide when to start preparing for ONCA

If you’ve confirmed that the Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) applies to your nonprofit, your next step is to decide when to start preparing for it. You have some options.

The ONCA was proclaimed on October 19, 2021.

You have until October 18, 2024 to review, update and file your governing documents with the Ontario government. Until then, the rules in your articles and bylaws continue to be valid provided they were valid before the ONCA took effect.

If you don’t update your documents at all

You still have to follow ONCA because it will automatically apply to you.

Team approach

Even if you decide to work with a lawyer to update your governing documents, consider forming a small group of different stakeholders to work on updating your bylaws.

There are many advantages with a team approach. Your bylaws will benefit from multiple perspectives. More people get familiar with the new bylaws. If one person leaves the group, the work can continue.  Dividing responsibilities between the team members can make the task more manageable.  

To start preparing for the ONCA see Step 3.

Reviewed: 2022-09-16