Bill 45 (The Co-operatives Consequential Amendments Act, 2025)
Second Reading

From Hansard (3 December 2025)

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Hon. Tim McLeod: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This time I’ll start at the top of my speech, not the bottom.

When it comes to The Co-operatives Consequential Amendments Act, Mr. Speaker, the items in this legislation will support the new co-operatives Act and make simple consequential amendments to the English legislation. These amendments are mostly housekeeping in nature and will maintain consistency between the different corporate legislation.

With regard to the Act itself, Mr. Speaker, I would like to just explain a few things. The Ministry of Justice and Attorney General is conducting an ongoing corporate review of the registry. To date, that review has resulted in several important legislative updates, including the new business corporations Act, 2021 and The Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022. The Co-operatives Act, 2025 is simply the next stage in this review.

A co-operative is a business entity owned and controlled by its members to fulfill a common purpose, such as providing groceries, housing, or daycare. Mr. Speaker, this unique business structure serves an important purpose in Saskatchewan. Co-operatives across the province provide goods and services to meet the needs of our many communities.

Updates in the new Act are based on previous modernizations and enhancements under The Business Corporations Act, 2021 and The Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022. These updates include clarifying the use of modern technology; reducing red tape by removing the registrar from business-related decisions; expressly allowing business names to include words in Cree, Dene, or other Indigenous languages; and simplifying the liquidation and dissolution procedure.

Additionally, there are several updates unique to co-operatives. First, the current co-operatives Act, 1996 and new generations co-operatives Act are combined into a single piece of legislation. New generation co-operatives will remain a form of specialized co-operative within the new Act.

Second, to meet a common request from stakeholders, a new multi-stakeholder specialized co-operative is included within the new Act. This type of co-operative is owned and controlled by more than one type of membership class, such as customers, producers, workers, or volunteers.

Finally, the new Act will provide all co-operatives clear authority to raise capital through the sale of preferred shares to non-members.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to move second reading of The Co-operatives Consequential Amendments Act, 2025.

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Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Justice
From Hansard (22 April 2026)

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Chair B. McLeod: — And thank you very much, everyone. Next we have consideration of Bill No. 45, The Co-operatives Consequential Amendments Act, 2025 beginning with clause 1, short title.

Now Minister McLeod has already indicated that he’s changed the officials out, and please introduce any new officials. And just a reminder again to give your name the first time you speak, and don’t touch the microphones. Minister McLeod.

Hon. Tim McLeod: — Well thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the committee for indulging us on the unusual process of handling the consequential amendment bill before the bill proper.

But joining me for both of those — staying with me, I suppose — is Neil Karkut, senior Crown counsel, legislative services. Joining me at the table to my right is Jared Pashovitz, acting registrar of co-operatives, office of public registry administration. And joining us is Catherine Benning, K.C., director, office of public registry administration.

I will very briefly offer some opening remarks on Bill 45, Mr. Chair. This bill simply makes consequential amendments to English legislation to support the new bilingual co-operatives Act, 2025. These amendments are largely housekeeping and maintain consistency between the different corporate legislation. With that, I’d welcome questions.

Chair B. McLeod: — Thank you, Minister. I’ll now open the floor to questions. MLA Sarauer, please.

Nicole Sarauer: — Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just putting on the record that I have no questions for the consequential bill. I will save my questions for the substantive.

Chair B. McLeod: — Thank you. Seeing no more questions, we will proceed to vote on the clauses. Clause 1, short title, is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried.

[Clause 1 agreed to.]

[Clauses 2 to 21 inclusive agreed to.]

Chair B. McLeod: — His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows: The Co-operatives Consequential Amendments Act, 2025.

I would ask a member to move that we report The Co-operatives Consequential Amendments Act, 2025 without amendment. MLA Crassweller moves. Is that agreed?

Some Hon. Members: — Agreed.

Chair B. McLeod: — Carried. Any closing comments please from the minister?

Hon. Tim McLeod: — In the interests of time, Mr. Chair, I think I’ll just reserve my closing comments for the next bill.

Chair B. McLeod: — Any closing comments from members? Thank you.

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