Charter

Name

This Association shall be known as the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics/Societé Canadienne d’Économie Écologique. Its acronyms shall be CANSEE/SCANÉÉ. 

Mandate and Purposes

Recognizing that economies are embedded in and dependent upon the ecosphere, and that economic activities are the most evident and pervasive aspect of that dependence, the mandate of CANSEE/SCANEE is to develop and promote understanding of the nature and implications of this dependence through research, education, policy analysis, communication, and other means. The purposes of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ are inter alia to: 

1. foster transdisciplinary discourse among the social and natural sciences; 
2. provide a Canadian node for activities in ecological economics; 
3. research and disseminate information on policies for sustainability globally, nationally, and locally; and 
4. promote education, graduate research and research funding in ecological economics. 

Registered Address 

CANSEE/SCANEE, 

c/o 6678 Lakers Lane, Duncan, BC, V9L 5Z3

By-Laws 

Canadian Society for Ecological Economics/Societé Canadienne d'Économie Écologique (CANSEE/SCANÉÉ)

A Chapter of the International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) 

Article I: Mandate and Purposes 

Recognizing that economies are embedded in and dependent upon the ecosphere, and that economic activities are the most evident and pervasive aspect of that dependence, the mandate of CANSEE/SCANEE is to develop and promote understanding of the nature and implications of this dependence through research, education, policy analysis, communication, and other means. The purposes of CANSEE/SCANEE are inter alia to:

1. foster transdisciplinary discourse among the social and natural sciences; 
2. provide a Canadian node for activities in ecological economics; 
3. research and disseminate information on policies for sustainability globally, nationally, and locally; and 
4. promote education, graduate research and research funding in ecological economics. 

Article II: Roles and Responsibilities

In order to fulfil its mandate and purposes, the roles and responsibilities of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ include: 

1. Organizing a biennial Conference on ecological economics in Canada in alternate years with World ISEE Conferences. In so doing, the Executive Council should recognize the need for equitable geographical distribution of meeting locations in Canada over time. 
2. Organizing biennial CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Business Meetings in conjunction with the biennial conference in Canada. 
3. Organizing biennial CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Business Meetings in Electronic Format in years without a conference.
4. Promoting membership and participation in ISEE and CANSEE/SCANEE. 
5. Disseminating information to CANSEE/SCANEE members through a CANSEE/SCANÉÉ newsletter, electronic mail, or other means. Items concerning CANSEE/SCANÉÉ and its activities shall also be regularly submitted to ISEE for publication in the ISEE Newsletter. 
6. Organizing and promoting other events and activities, highlighting Canadian experience in sustainability and ecological economics as appropriate. 
7. Communicating to the people of Canada through the media the ecological economics approach to Canadian and global problems and disseminating key ideas from CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Conference proceedings and papers. 

Article III: Membership

1. Membership in CANSEE/SCANÉÉ is open to all individuals who are interested in its mandate, goals, and activities. 
2. Each member of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ shall be a member of ISEE, thus entitling the members to all the rights, benefits and privileges of both ISEE and CANSEE/SCANÉÉ. Individuals may join at any time of the year, following the current procedures for joining CANSEE/SCANÉÉ and ISEE. 
3. Each member of CANSEE shall pay membership dues to both CANSEE/SCANÉÉ and ISEE through procedures approved by, and accountable to, the CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Executive Council and the ISEE Executive. 
4. Membership in CANSEE/SCANÉÉ and ISEE lapses upon failure to pay CANSEE/SCANÉÉ and ISEE membership dues by the membership anniversary date.
5. A lapsed member shall reinstate active membership upon payment of their dues and the membership anniversary date shall change according to the date of membership reinstatement.

Article IV: Languages

1. English and French are the official languages of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ. Either language may be used in its publications and at its meetings. 

Article V: Meetings 

1. Only such provisions of this Article V that are compatible with any relevant provisions of Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (the “CNFPCA”), including its Regulations, shall be of any effect. 
2. Biennial CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Business Meetings (“Business Meetings in Person”) open to all members shall be held during the biennial conference.  The agenda for Business Meetings in Person shall include at minimum:
   1. approval of the minutes of the previous Business Meeting;
   2. presentation of the annual financial statements for the previous year, and of 6-months interim financial statements if the Business Meeting occurs in the second half of the year;
   3. report of the Executive Council;
   4. report of the Elections Committee;
   5. waiver of appointment or appointment of public accountant;
   6. amendments to Bylaws if applicable.
3. Notices of Business Meetings in Person shall be sent electronically to all members during a period of 21 to 35 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, or by mail, courier or personal delivery to each member entitled to vote at the meeting who requests a non-electronic means notice, during a period of 21 to 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held. 
4. Notices of Business Meetings shall include the meeting’s agenda, and copies of the minutes of the previous Business Meeting, of the annual financial statements for the previous year, of 6-months interim financial statements if the Business Meeting is to occur in the second half of the year, and of proposed amendments to Bylaws if applicable.
5. Ten percent of the active CANSEE/SCANÉÉ membership shall constitute a quorum for any Business Meeting. Decisions shall be by majority vote. 
6. The current President of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ shall organize and preside over the meeting. The President shall not vote unless the President's vote is required to break a tie vote of the membership present at the meeting. 
7. A special meeting of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ for due cause may be called either by the Executive Council, or as the result of a signed petition of request to the President from 15% of the current CANSEE/SCANEE membership.
8. Meetings of the membership in years in which a Biennial Conference and Business Meeting in Person is not held shall be held in “Electronic Format” as described in Article V(9).
9. A Business Meeting in Electronic Format shall be comprised of:
   1. Circulation by electronic mail to all active members with known electronic mail addresses, of a Notice of Meeting no less than 9 months and no more than 11 months after the preceding business meeting.  The Notice of Meeting shall include at minimum the items listed in Article V(4), except for report of the Elections Committee, and for each item requiring action by the membership, a proposed resolution from the Executive Committee.  The Notice of Meeting shall provide members with access to a website where they can vote on each of the proposed resolutions and the deadline for the vote, which shall be 30 days after the notice is sent.
   2. Tally of voting responses from members after the voting deadline has passed, and a declaration by the Secretary-Treasurer on behalf of the Executive Council of the result of the vote, to be communicated electronically to active members no later than 30 days after the voting deadline. 
10. If, due to extraordinary circumstances, a biennial conference and Business Meeting in Person is not to be held within 30 months of the Business Meeting in Person immediately prior to it, the President shall call a Business Meeting in Electronic Format prior to expiry of that 30-month period.
11. If two Business Meetings in Electronic Format are held in two successive calendar years, the subsequent Business Meeting may be a Business Meeting in Person or a Business Meeting in Electronic format, but in such a circumstance, a Business Meeting in Person may not be delayed beyond 56 months from the date of the last Business Meeting in Person held.

Article VI: Officers and Executive Council

1. The officers of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ shall include:
   1. a President who shall be elected for a two year term; 
   2. three Vice-Presidents who shall each be elected for two year terms; 
   3. a Secretary-Treasurer who shall be elected for a four year term; and 
   4. the immediate past President who shall serve ex officio for a  two year term additional to his or her term as President. 
2. The officers named in Article VI(1) shall constitute the Executive Council of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ. 
3. The officers shall serve without remuneration, but expenses incurred in the service of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ as agreed in principle by the membership shall be reimbursed as possible. 
4. At least one officer of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ shall be bilingual. 
5. Officers shall represent a range of disciplines and perspectives, and recognize trans-disciplinary approaches to ecological economics.
6. Up to eight, non-voting, officer positions may be appointed by the executive through consensus or majority vote of the executive. The term of office for appointed officer positions shall not exceed the duration of the current Executive Council’s term, but can be renewed by a new Executive Council. Specific duties, roles and responsibilities of non-voting officer positions shall be determined by the current Executive Council. 

Article VII: Duties of Officers and the Executive Council

1. All CANSEE/SCANÉÉ officers have the responsibility to further the mandate and purposes of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ, and to participate in the discharge of the roles and responsibilities of the Society. 
2. The President shall call and preside at all meetings of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ and of the Executive Council. In the absence of the President, these responsibilities are assumed by a Vice-President following the designated a, b, c order referenced below. 
3. Recognizing the roles and responsibilities of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ, the duties of the three Vice-Presidents shall be allocated as: 
   1. VP (Programs) shall be program chairperson for the biennial CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Conference, organize other workshops, seminars and conferences connected to Society activities, and promote purpose (1); 
   2. VP (Communications) shall be responsible for a CANSEE/SCANÉÉ newsletter or other forms of communication and networking amongst CANSEE/SCANÉÉ members; regular contributions to the ISEE Newsletter; and promotion of purposes (2) and (3); 
   3. VP (Research and Education) shall be responsible for promoting CANSEE/SCANÉÉ purpose (4). 

Alternatively, the duties of the three Vice-Presidents may be allocated in any other manner that serves the mandate and purposes of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ at the time, as recommended by the Executive Council and approved by the membership at the next biennial Business Meeting or through a special postal ballot. 

4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings and other records of the Society, receive and have custody of the funds and bank account of the Chapter, present an annual financial statement to the Executive Council, and perform such other duties as these By-laws or the Executive Council may assign to the Secretary-Treasurer. Minutes of Council meetings and other official records shall be open to all members on request. 
5. Each Vice-President shall have responsibilities for any special fund raising efforts which may be necessary pertaining to his/her assigned responsibilities. The President shall promote, oversee and coordinate these fund raising efforts in conjunction with the Secretary-Treasurer. 
6. The Executive Council shall ensure that CANSEE/SCANÉÉ has the capacity to respond to members in the official language of their choice in the conduct of the business of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ. 
7. The Executive Council shall have charge of the general interests of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ, appropriate money, appoint committees and their chairpersons with appropriate powers, have general responsibility for the publications of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ, arrange for postal or electronic balloting and referenda as required, and in general possess the governing power in CANSEE/SCANÉÉ except as otherwise specified in this Charter and By-laws. 
8. If an elected officer resigns, is unable to serve out the designated term, or is otherwise deemed unfit to serve, the officer's appointment may be terminated by a majority vote of the remainder of the Executive Council, including the President. The Executive Council may appoint a member of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ to fill such a vacancy on the Council, with such an appointee to hold office until the next election of officers. 
9. The Executive Council shall have the authority to appoint an additional member to the Executive Council to undertake any specific task or tasks consistent with the mandate and purposes of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ. The term of any such appointment shall be at the discretion of the elected members of the Council, and in no case shall extend beyond the next election following such an appointment. 
10. Three officers shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Council, and a majority of those participating in a meeting shall control its decisions. Each member of the Executive Council shall have one vote with the exception of the President, who shall vote only when required to break a tie vote (except as in Article VII (8) above). 
11. The Executive Council shall meet or confer at least four times each year. 

Article VIII: Election of Officers

1. The Executive Council shall appoint three members from the membership at large who are not standing for office to serve as the Election Committee. One of the members shall be designated as the Chairperson. 
2. The Election Committee shall be appointed no later than 6 months prior to the next scheduled CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Business Meeting. 
3. Nominations of candidates shall be solicited by the Elections Committee from the CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Membership. Nominations may be made by any member, submitting a nomination letter or paper signed by himself/herself to the Chairperson of the Elections Committee. CANSEE/SCANÉÉ officers may be nominated to serve up to three consecutive terms in the same office, following this same procedure. 
4. Using the nominations submitted by the Membership, the Election Committee shall develop the slate of candidates for the five elected offices, having first confirmed with each nominee that he/she would be willing to serve if elected. The Elections Committee shall ensure that at least one candidate is nominated for each of the five offices and emphasize the requirement that at least one of the successful candidates be bilingual. The Election Committee shall also attempt to ensure that the nominees reflect the gender, geographical and disciplinary distribution of the membership. 
5. The Election Committee shall develop brief biographical material (including English and French language capabilities) on each of the candidates, and distribute this to the CANSEE/SCANÉÉ members by post along with voting instructions and blank ballots three months prior to the next biennial Business Meeting. 
6. The election of officers shall be by secret postal or electronic ballot, returned to the Chairperson of the Elections Committee no later than three weeks prior to the next Business Meeting. 
7. In the election of the President, the three Vice-Presidents as defined above, and the Secretary-Treasurer, the candidate receiving the largest number of votes for each office shall be elected to that office. 
8. The names of the new officers shall be announced as the last item on the agenda of the next biennial Business Meeting. The first duty of the new President shall be to close that Biennial Business meeting. 

Article IX: Amending and Repealing By-laws

1. Amendments to, or repeals of, By-laws may be proposed by the Executive Council or by two members of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ who have submitted their proposed Amendment or Repeal in writing to the Executive Council no later than three months prior to the date on which the next CANSEE/SCANÉÉ Business Meeting is to be held. 
2. Amendments or repeals shall be adopted when approved at a Business Meeting of the Society. 

Article X: Financial Statements, Reviews and Audits

1. Only such provisions of this Article X that are compatible with any relevant provisions of Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (the “CNFPCA”), including its Regulations, shall be of any effect.
2. The financial year of CANSEE shall be the calendar year.
3. Financial Statements shall be prepared annually in accordance with the relevant CNFPCA provisions.
4. At each Business Meeting, whether it is a Business Meeting in Person or a Business Meeting in Electronic Format, a resolution appointing a professional accountant or accounting firm for either a compilation engagement, a review engagement or an audit engagement or waiving such an appointment shall be considered. Waiving such an appointment shall only be considered if the Secretary-Treasurer is a professional accountant or has the training and expertise required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the relevant CNFPCA provisions and CANSEE/SCANÉÉ remains a designated corporation as defined in the CNFPCA.. 

Article XI: Signing Authority 

1. A separate CANSEE/SCANÉÉ bank account shall be maintained for the purposes of financial record keeping. 
2. The President and the Secretary-Treasurer shall have signing authority for CANSEE/SCANÉÉ bank accounts. The VP Programs shall have signing authority for all transactions pertaining to the biennial CANSEE/SCANÉÉ conference in accordance with the conference budget approved by the Executive Council. Expenditures other than bank charges, conference expenses included in the approved budget, and payments for routine expenses such as filing and website fees shall be authorized by the Executive Council and their authorization recorded in meeting minutes.

Article XII: Successor Rights

1. If CANSEE/SCANÉÉ is dissolved, the assets and liabilities of CANSEE/SCANÉÉ shall devolve to ISEE provided CANSEE/SCANÉÉ is not at that time a “soliciting corporation” as defined in the CNFPCA. If it is divided, assets and liabilities shall be shared by the successor associations in proportion of their respective memberships, again provided CANSEE/SCANÉÉ is not at that time a “soliciting corporation” as defined in the CNFPCA.  If CANSEE/SCANÉÉ is a “soliciting corporation” as defined in the CNFPCA, net assets shall be dealt with, upon liquidation, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the CNFPCA. If CANSEE/SCANÉÉ is a “soliciting corporation” as defined in the CNFPCA, the Executive Council then in office shall conduct the dissolution or division in a manner that most nearly respects the general intent of this Article XII, to the extent it can do so without contravening any provisions of the CNFPCA.