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The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
By-laws


Article l – Definitions

In these By-Laws

  1. "Act" means The Canada Corporations Act, R.S.C. l970, Chapter C-32, and amendments thereto, or any successor legislation;
  2. "Recognized Association" means an association, society or institute of architects as may be recognized from time to time by The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in accordance with these By-Laws;
  3. "Board" means the Board of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada;
  4. "Royal Institute" means the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada;
  5. Reference to the singular and masculine shall be deemed to include the plural and feminine as the context requires.
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Article II – Membership

  1. (a) Members: full membership in the Royal Institute is reserved for individuals with formal defined qualifications in the field of architecture. The qualifications acceptable for full membership are as follows:

    (i) active or retired members of a Canadian provincial architectural licensing organization; or
    (ii) individuals who have been certified by the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB); or
    (iii) graduates of the RAIC Syllabus of Studies who have obtained CACB certification; or
    (iv) graduates from a professional degree program at a Canadian University School of Architecture; on or before June 30, 1995; or
    (v) graduates of a CACB-accredited professional degree program after June 30, 1995; or
    (vi) graduates from a foreign school of architecture at the discretion of the Board; or
    (vii) on the recommendation of the Program Head, the holder of an academic appointment at a Canadian University School of Architecture.

Full membership shall be subdivided into the following categories of members: Architects, Interns or Intern Architects and Architectural Graduates, Architectural Faculty, Fellows.

(b) A Member retiring may continue as a retired Member of the Royal Institute with payment of reduced annual fees. Retired Members retain all of their rights and privileges except such retired Members shall not be eligible for election to office.

(c) International Associates of the Royal Institute shall be those who have an architectural license or the equivalent from a non-Canadian licensing authority and demonstrate good standing in the profession in the locale in which they are licensed. Such persons may be resident within or outside of Canada.

(d) A Member may become a Life Member after forty years of membership with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, or at the discretion of the Board of Directors. A Life Member shall not be required to pay annual membership dues. Life Members shall retain all their rights and privileges except a Life Member shall not be eligible for election to office.

(e) Affiliate Members of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada shall be those who are involved in the design and construction industry and who are associated with the architectural profession through:

i) the provision of services to the design and construction industry, or
ii) the manufacture, distribution, or installation of building products, or
iii) the development and promotion of building and design standards or regulations and programs for the design and construction industry.

Affiliate members may be persons, corporations, organizations or other entities who may reside in Canada or outside of Canada. Affiliates in good standing may indicate that they are Affiliates of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada but they shall not use the designation RAIC in any form.

Affiliate members may not vote at Annual and special meetings of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. They are not eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

(f) Student Associates of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada shall be those students who are enrolled full-time in a professional degree program in architecture at a Canadian University School of Architecture or in the RAIC Syllabus Program.

Student Associates in good standing may indicate that they are Student Associates of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada but they shall not use the designation RAIC in any form.

Student Associates may not vote at Annual and special meetings of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. They are not eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

(i) International Associates in good standing may indicate that they are International Associates of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and may use the title International Associate RAIC but not RAIC Associate or the initials RAIC alone or the initials IARAIC as a suffix to their names.

(ii) International Associates may not vote at Annual or special meetings of the Royal Institute. They shall not be eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

2. Persons joining any class of membership within the Royal Institute do thereby agree to uphold the aims and objectives of the Royal Institute.

3. A person belonging to any class of membership within the Royal Institute may withdraw by letter of resignation addressed to the Chief Administrative Officer but such withdrawal shall not affect any obligations of that person to pay dues or other monies then payable to the Royal Institute.

4. The membership of any person belonging to any class of membership in the Royal Institute shall be cancelled effective June 1 of any year in which membership fees have not been received by May 31 of that year. Any class of member may be re-instated by paying his or her fees in full for the current year, provided that the fees are received in the RAIC office prior to noon on the last business day of that year. After that date, reinstatement for that year, or any previous year, shall not be possible for any reason including eligibility for nomination to the College of Fellows, eligibility for any RAIC position, scholarship, award, recognition, or any other program, except by 2/3 majority vote of the Board upon consideration of exceptional circumstances (such as ill-health) and deposit of all fees owing at least 30 days prior to the decision of the Board. The Board of the Royal Institute may expel any person belonging to any class of membership in the Royal Institute for conduct unbecoming to the architectural profession, upon two/thirds majority vote of the Board.

5. The membership shall pay annual dues to the Royal Institute. The dues shall be set from time to time by the Board in an amount sufficient to meet the obligations and programmes of the Royal Institute and shall be payable on the first day of January each year, or on such other date as the Board may determine.

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Article III - Membership and Honorary Classifications

  1. Only those persons meeting the requirements of Article II (l) (a) and (b) of these By-Laws may use in connection with their names the word "Member" or the abbreviations more particularly set out in the Letters Patent of the Royal Institute. No person belonging to any other class of membership within the Royal Institute may use in connection with his name any abbreviation designating his membership.
  2. All persons who have been or are hereafter admitted to the Royal Institute as Honorary Fellows or Honorary Members shall be considered as associated with the Royal Institute in their respective honorary classifications.
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Article IV - College of Fellows

  1. There shall be a College of Fellows which shall be headed by a Chancellor appointed in accordance with procedures established by the College. There shall also be a Dean and a Registrar of the College appointed in accordance with such procedures, and whose duties are listed therein. The Dean shall be Acting Chancellor in the absence of the Chancellor or whenever he is unable to act and shall succeed to that office upon the resignation or death of the Chancellor until a new Chancellor is elected as hereinafter provided.
  2. The Fellows shall constitute an advisory body which may put its views before any Board meeting for consideration and such action thereon as the Board may decide. The Fellows and the Honorary Fellows shall be known collectively as the College of Fellows. The Chancellor of the College of Fellows shall be a full voting member of the Board of the Royal Institute and shall attend the Board meetings.
  3. The Chancellor shall appoint, from time to time, Regional Chairmen in Geographic Areas of Canada to be designated by the Chancellor, which Areas may consist of one or more provinces. The Regional Chairmen in their respective Areas will assist the officers of the College by receiving nominations, by initiating committee work when so requested and by liaison with the Recognized Associations on matters of common interest to the Recognized Associations and the College of Fellows. The duration of the Regional Chairmen's appointments will be at the pleasure of the officers of the College, with a maximum term of three (3) years.
  4. A Member of the Royal Institute who is over 35 years of age and who has achieved professional eminence or has rendered distinctive service to the profession or to the community at large shall be eligible for nomination to Fellowship as outlined in the Rules and Regulations of the College of Fellows.
  5. The Procedure for Nomination and Election of New Fellows is set forth in the Rules and Regulations of the College of Fellows.
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Article V - Honorary Fellows

  1. Members of the Royal Family, persons who hold or have held high office in the Government of Canada and other eminent or distinguished persons to be selected as the Royal Institute may determine from time to time, shall be eligible for election as Honorary Fellows.
  2. Nominations for Honorary Fellowship shall be made by the National Screening Committee, the terms of reference for which are included in the Rules and Regulations of the College of Fellows. Nominations shall be submitted to the Board and if not less than two-thirds of the Directors approve then the nominee shall be invited to accept the Honorary Fellowship. The Honorary Fellowship shall be for life.
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Article VI - Honorary Members

  1. Architects residing in Canada who have retired from practice or any other persons in Canada who have rendered distinguished service to the architectural profession shall be eligible for election as Honorary Members.
  2. A nomination for an Honorary Membership may be made in confidence by any Member supported by five (5) other Members to the Board. If not less than two-thirds of the Directors approve then the nominee shall be invited to accept the Honorary Membership and if he agrees his election as an Honorary Member shall be announced at the next or current Annual Meeting. The Honorary Membership shall be for life.
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Article VII - Annual and Special Meetings of the Royal Institute

  1. An Annual Meeting of the Royal Institute shall be called in each calendar year at such place and date as the Board may select fixed for the meeting.
  2. Special Meetings of the Royal Institute may be called at such place and date as the Board may select. Notice of such Special Meetings specifying the business to be conducted at same shall be sent to all Members, Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Honorary Members at least one (1) month prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
  3. At any Special or Annual Meeting , only Members may vote and, except as otherwise provided in the Act, the Letters Patent of the Royal Institute and these By-Laws, all matters shall be decided by a majority vote. Fifty Members present at any Annual or Special Meeting shall constitute a quorum.
  4. At any Special or Annual Meeting, a Member may empower another Member to vote on his or her behalf by proxy vote, if the proxy is received at the office of the Royal Institute at least 15 days prior to the Annual or Special Meeting. The proxy shall be revoked if the Member attends the meeting in person.
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Article VIII - Board of Directors

  1. There shall be six (6) geographic Areas from which the Directors shall be elected, namely:
    (1) British Columbia and Yukon Territory
    (2) Alberta and Northwest Territories
    (3) Saskatchewan and Manitoba
    (4) Ontario and Nunavut
    (5) Québec
    (6) New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador.
  2. Two (2) Directors shall be elected from Ontario and one from each of the other Areas. Ontario shall be divided into two (2) sub-regions: Ontario North and East (postal codes K and P) and Nunavut; and Ontario Southwest (postal codes L, M, or N). Each will be served by one (1) Director.

    All Directors shall be domiciled in the Area from which they are elected and once elected, shall serve as members on a national basis. Each Director shall serve for a three (3) year term.
  3. The Board shall consist of twelve (12) Directors, namely seven (7) Directors as per Article VIII (2) above including a Second Vice-President; and, in addition, the President, the Past President, the First Vice-President, the Chancellor of the College of Fellows and the Chair of the Council of Canadian University Schools of Architecture. The Board may increase the number of Directors, by the addition of up to three Directors-at-large, upon two-thirds majority vote of the Board, provided that at the time of any such addition, a budget has been approved by the Board for the fiscal year in which such Directors will commence service, and, provided that a deficit will not be created by the addition of any such Directors-at-large in that fiscal year.
  4. The Board so constituted shall administer the affairs of the Royal Institute.
  5. The quorum for the meetings of the Board shall consist of the presiding officer and six (6) Directors.
  6. The first meeting of each Board at which the newly elected Members of the Board shall take office, shall be held at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting or at the call of the new President within thirty (30) days thereafter, and the last regular meeting of the Board shall take place not more than 60 days prior to the next Annual Meeting.
  7. Other meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and places as decided by the Board provided the President may change times and places due to unforeseen circumstances.
  8. The President shall, within five (5) days of receipt of a written request from four (4) Directors, call a special meeting of the Board for the purpose set out in the said request, to take place three (3) weeks after such call and in default of so doing, the four (4) Directors may themselves call such a meeting, to be held at the Head Office of the Royal Institute.
  9. At least three (3) weeks notice in writing shall be given for all the Board meetings and the notice shall set out the business to be transacted at the meeting. Failure to give notice of any particular matter with which the Board may desire to deal shall not deprive it of the power to deal with such matters provided that any Director not present at such meeting shall have the right to have it resubmitted for discussion and decision at the next meeting of the Board. If, in the opinion of the President, the matters to be dealt with are so urgent that the length of notice should be reduced he may reduce it to not less than two (2) weeks and the notice of the meeting shall state that the President has reduced the length of the notice for the said reason.
  10. Except as otherwise provided in the Act, the Letters Patent incorporating the Royal Institute and these By-Laws, all votes of the Board shall be decided by a majority vote. The presiding officer and other officers present shall be entitled to vote on all ballots.
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Article IX - Letter Ballot and Meetings of the Board by Telephone

  1. A letter ballot of the Board may be held on any business at the instance of the President. The matter to be decided shall be clearly set forth and submitted to all members of the Board by mail, at least two (2) weeks before the last date set for receipt of ballots. Letter ballots shall be addressed to the President and the votes shall be counted in the presence of the President or his nominee and at least two (2) other Directors.
  2. Any meeting of the Board may, at the instance of the President, be held by way of such telephone or other communications facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other. the Directors shall be informed by letter or telephone, setting out the business to be transacted at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
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Article X – Officers

  1. The Officers of the Royal Institute shall consist of the President, the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President and the Immediate Past-President. They shall succeed to office or be elected in the manner hereinafter provided. The Officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Royal Institute and shall be responsible for the administration, management and control of the property, business and other affairs of the Royal Institute during the intervals between meetings of the Board of the Royal Institute.
  2. The term of office for an Officer shall be from the commencement of the first meeting of the Board as provided in Article VII until his successor has been elected and takes office or until one or more of the following occurs:

    (a) he resigns;
    (b) he withdraws as a Member of the Royal Institute;
    (c) he is expelled pursuant to Article II (4);
    (d) he is expelled as an Officer by unanimous vote of all other Directors;
    (e) he becomes mentally incompetent, or
    (f) he dies.
  3. Vacancies occurring between annual elections shall be filled by the Board for the balance of the term as follows:

    (a) if the office of the Immediate Past-President becomes vacant it shall remain vacant until the successor takes office pursuant to these By-Laws;
    (b) if the office of the President becomes vacant the First Vice-President shall thereupon become the new President and shall remain in that office for the balance of that term and the next succeeding term, provided that the duration of the term filled in this manner is no longer than eighteen (18) months. In the event that the new President's term exceeds eighteen (18) months, the First Vice-President elected as a result of the vacancy shall become President at the conclusion of the first term of office served by the new President.
    (c) if the office of the First Vice-President becomes vacant, it shall be filled for the balance of that term by the Second Vice-President.
    (d) if the office of the Second Vice-President becomes vacant, it shall be filled for the balance of that term by one of the Directors elected at a meeting of the Board.
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Article XI – President

The President shall give general supervision to the affairs of the Royal Institute, and shall perform all the duties incidental to his office and those imposed upon him by these By-Laws or delegated to him by the Board. He shall preside at all meetings of the Royal Institute and of the Board. In his absence from any of these meetings, his place shall be taken by the First Vice-President. He shall be a Member ex-officio of all committees. Upon the conclusion of his term of office he shall succeed to the office of Immediate Past-President and shall continue in that post until the termination of the term of office of the succeeding President.

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Article XII - First Vice-President

The First Vice-President shall be elected annually by the Board at the last meeting of the Board prior to the Annual Meeting from amongst those Directors who have served as a Director for the previous year and who have not yet completed their three (3) year term as a Director or have been re-elected as a Director for the next three (3) year term. The First Vice-President shall possess all of the powers and shall perform all of the duties of the President in his absence and shall perform such other duties as are delegated to him by the Board. Upon the conclusion of his term of office he shall succeed to the office of President.

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Article XIII - Second Vice-President

The Second Vice-President shall be elected annually by the Board at the last meeting of the Board prior to the Annual Meeting from amongst those Directors who have served as a Director for the previous year and who have not yet completed their three (3) year term as a Director or have been re-elected as a Director for the next three (3) year term. The Second Vice-President will serve for a period of one (1) year.

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Article XIV – Staff

  1. The Board may appoint a Chief Administrative Officer and such other members of executive staff with such titles as it may from time to time decide to be appropriate to assist the Officers. The duties of such persons shall be consistent with sub-section 2 and 3 of this Article unless otherwise directed by the Board on the recommendation of the Officers. The salaries of such persons shall be recommended by the Officers and approved by the Board.
  2. The Chief Administrative Officer of the Royal Institute shall be responsible to the Board. He shall administer the general affairs of the Royal Institute in accordance with its policies, advise and assist the Officers and such committees as may be appointed from time to time in their responsibilities of office. He shall engage in no activity which might conflict with his duties except with the approval of the Board.
    He shall keep or cause to be kept an accurate record of all meetings of the Board. He shall attend to correspondence, send out notices required by these By-laws or as directed by the Board, act as custodian of the seal of the Royal Institute and certify documents issued by the Royal Institute when certification is required. He shall maintain proper books of account of the affairs of the Royal Institute and shall ensure the deposit of all monies received by the Royal Institute in a bank named by the Board. He shall invest the funds of the Royal Institute in such securities as may be authorized by the Board. He shall ensure that monthly financial reports are submitted to the Board of Directors.
  3. The appointment of additional staff members and allocation of their duties shall be the responsibility of the Chief Administrative Officer within the limits of the approved budget.
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Article XV - Election of Board of Directors

  1. Annual elections shall be held in the manner provided herein for vacancies created on the Board by the Directors completing their term of office. Directors completing their term may stand for re-election for any number of terms.
  2. Any five (5) Members resident in an Area for which there will be a vacancy on the Board in that year may nominate a Member resident in that Area as a candidate to stand for election in that Area by mailing a nomination letter signed by them and the candidate to the Head Office of the Royal Institute on or before the 1st day of February. A statement of not more than two hundred words may be submitted by the candidate enclosed in the nomination letter.
  3. On or before the 1st day of March in that year, the Chief Administrative Officer shall mail to all Members in the Area of Election a ballot paper listing alphabetically the names of all candidates for election in that Area accompanied by copies of statements received.
  4. Only Members residing in the Area of Election may vote for one of the candidates in that Area.
  5. The candidate in each area receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected.
  6. The Members shall return their ballots by mailing them on or before the 15th day of March.
  7. Nomination letters, ballots issued, and ballots returning being post-marked later than the dates mentioned above shall be invalid.
  8. Prior to the Annual meeting the Past President, or such other Officer as is designated by the Past President, acting as scrutineer, shall assist the Chief Administrative Officer in counting the ballots. The scrutineer's decision shall be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting and the election declared in accordance with that decision. A tie vote for any of the Directors shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the incumbent Board.
  9. Requirements with respect to time in this Article may be waived or extended at the Board's discretion.
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Article XVI- Vacancies on the Board

  1. The term of office for a Director shall be automatically vacated in the event one or more of the following occurs:

    (a) he resigns;
    (b) he withdraws as a Member of the Royal Institute;
    (c) he is expelled pursuant to Article II (4);
    (d) he becomes mentally incompetent, or
    (e) he dies.
  2. Vacancies occurring between elections shall be filled by the Board for the balance of the term of office of the particular Director by the appointment to that office of a Member resident in the same geographic Area as the Director whose term of office he is completing.
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Article XVII – Committees

The Board shall appoint the Chairmen of Committees as required to study and report on matters within the objects of the Royal Institute. The Chairmen in consultation with the Board shall appoint members of the committees. Chairmen shall act as convenors and correspond with members of the Committees.

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Article XVIII - Auditor and Finance

  1. A Chartered Accountant or firm of Chartered Accountants shall be appointed as auditor by those Members present at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the close of the next Annual Meeting provided that if the Members fail to do so, the Board shall forthwith make such appointment. The remuneration of the auditor shall be fixed by the Board.
  2. The financial year-end of the Royal Institute, unless otherwise ordered by the Board, shall be May 31 in every year.
  3. (a) The Board of the Royal Institute is hereby authorized to borrow moneys or obtain other financial assistance from time to time from any of the chartered Banks of Canada (hereinafter called the Bank), including without limitation through the issuance of bills of exchange drawn by the Royal Institute and accepted by the Bank, upon the credit of the Royal Institute in such amounts as the Board deems proper and by way of overdraft or otherwise.

    (b) Any promissory notes, bills of exchange or other negotiable paper (including renewals thereof in whole or in part) signed on behalf of the Royal Institute by the officer or officers of the Royal Institute authorized from time to time to sign negotiable instruments on its behalf and granted or accepted by the Bank for moneys borrowed and interest thereon as may be agreed upon or other financial assistance obtained from the Bank shall be binding upon the Royal Institute.

    (c) The Board may from time to time, if it sees fit to do so, grant securities by way of mortgage, hypothecation, pledge or otherwise covering all or any of the property and assets of the Royal Institute present and future as security for all or any monies borrowed by the Royal Institute from the Bank and any such mortgage, hypothecation, pledge or other security shall be valid and binding upon the Royal Institute if signed by any of the officers authorized to sign negotiable instruments on the Royal Institute's behalf.

    (d) All contracts, deeds, grants, assurances and documents reasonably required by the Bank or its Counsel for all or any of the purposes aforesaid shall be executed and carried into effect by the proper officers of the Royal Institute (and when necessary the seal of the Royal Institute shall be affixed thereto).

    (e) This Article shall be irrevocable until a by-law repealing or amending this Article shall have been confirmed or sanctioned by the members and a copy thereof duly certified (under the seal of the Royal Institute) delivered to the Bank, and meanwhile all the powers and authorities hereby conferred shall continue in force.
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Article XIX - Signing Officers

  1. The seal, an impression of which appears in the margin hereof, shall be the seal of the Royal Institute.
  2. All contracts or other instruments in writing, whether requiring the seal of the Royal Institute or not, shall, unless otherwise provided by the resolution authorizing same, be signed by the President or the Vice-President and the Chief Administrative Officer or such other Executive staff officer as may be designated by the Board. The Chief Administrative Officer or such other officer as may be named in any resolution of the Board shall affix the seal of the Royal Institute to such instruments as require same. Such contracts or other instruments in writing when so executed shall be received as the act of the Royal Institute. Nothing herein contained shall affect any signing authority from time to time conferred on any officer or officers of the Royal Institute in pursuance of any By-Law or any resolution or resolutions which may from time to time be passed by the Board, and the Board may from time to time by resolution appoint any officer or officers (whether being the officers in this paragraph mentioned or not) on behalf of the Royal Institute, either generally to execute any contracts or any other instruments in writing or any specific contract or instrument in writing whether requiring the seal of the Royal Institute or not. Any contract or instrument in writing so signed shall be received as the act of the Royal Institute.
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Article XX - Traveling Expenses

  1. The Board may authorize the payment of traveling expenses:

    (a) of the Directors or others whose attendance is expressly deemed necessary by the Board, when attending the Annual Meeting and meetings of the Board;

    (b) of the President or some other person named by the President on official visits to meetings of Recognized Associations or on any other official business of the Royal Institute authorized by the Board;

    (c) of the Chairmen and Members of committees when attending committee meetings authorized by the Board or engaged on business authorized by the Board;

    (d) of the salaried employees of the Royal Institute when engaged on its business.
  2. "Traveling expenses" shall mean actual expenditures as approved by the Board.
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Article XXI – Publications

  1. The Board shall cause to be published annually a list of Members, International Associates, Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Honorary Members, with their addresses; and from time to time, such other documents as may be deemed advisable.
  2. The official publication of the Royal Institute shall be published periodically. The purpose of the publication shall be to implement the objects of the Royal Institute and to keep its Members informed generally concerning its affairs.
  3. The Officers or any of them may be authorized by the Board to enter into such contract negotiations with a publisher as may be necessary from time to time to publish the official publication and other publications.
  4. Matters of editorial content and policy will be the responsibility of the officers of the Royal Institute.
  5. All of the membership of the Royal Institute shall receive the issues of the official publication and such other publications as the Board may designate. Subscriptions to the official publication shall be deemed to be included in the dues referred to in Article II of these By-Laws.
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Article XXII – Representation

The Board every two (2) years shall analyze its representation formula with a view to recognizing the level of membership and representation from the various Areas of Canada. The Board shall either reaffirm the existing formula or revise it by a simple majority vote. The existing formula shall continue in full force and effect until it is so revised whether or not it is analyzed and reaffirmed.

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Article XXIII - Bilingual Policy

The Board shall conduct its business in English and/or French as required in recognition of the two (2) official languages of Canada.

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Article XXIV - New By-Laws and Amendments to By-Laws

  1. Proposals for new By-Laws, amendments to or the repeal of existing By-Laws, (hereinafter called a "proposed amendment") may be made by the Board or any Director, or by written request supported by ten (10) Members. Notice in writing of the proposed amendment must be submitted to the Chief Administrative Officer at least six (6) weeks prior to the Annual or Special Meeting of the Royal Institute at which the proposed amendment is to be considered. The Chief Administrative Officer shall forward a copy of the proposed amendment with the notice of the Annual or Special Meeting.
  2. Subject to paragraph 3 hereto, the proposed amendment shall come into effect immediately upon approval by a two-thirds majority of those Members present at the aforesaid Annual or Special Meeting, provided that the amendment shall not be enforced or acted upon until the approval of the Corporations Branch of Industry and Science Canada has been obtained.
  3. No amendment which has the effect of altering the classes of membership within the Royal Institute or the rights, privileges, or obligations which attach hereto, shall be effective until it has been confirmed by letter ballot of all Members as follows. The proposed amendment, as approved by the Annual or Special Meeting of the Royal Institute shall be sent with ballots addressed to the President to all Members by mail at least two weeks before the last day set for receipt of ballots. Ballots shall be counted in the presence of the President or his nominee and at least two other Directors. The proposed amendment shall be deemed to be confirmed if 51% of the ballots received by the President call for its confirmation. The Board shall determine whether a specific proposed amendment has the effect of altering the classes of membership within the Royal Institute or the rights, privileges, and obligations which attach hereto for purposes of this paragraph.

(June 2003)

 
           
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