CARL bylaws

BY-LAW NO. 1
A by-law relating generally to the conduct of the affairs of the
Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers / Association Canadien des Avocats et Avocates en Droit des Refugiés
(the “Corporation”)

BE IT ENACTED as a by-law of the Corporation as follows:

ARTICLE 1: CORPORATE SEAL
The seal, an impression whereof is stamped in the margin hereof, shall be the seal of the Corporation.

ARTICLE 2: HEAD OFFICE
The head office of the Corporation shall be situated in the City of Toronto in the Province of Ontario, at such address as the board may, by resolution, determine. The head office location may change subject to a resolution by Board Members.

ARTICLE 3: MANDATE
The mandate of the Corporation is to foster an independent community of lawyers, academics and law students dedicated to promoting legal education around issues related to Canadian refugee and asylum law, as well as the human rights of refugees and migrants. The Corporation will establish active partnerships and collaborations among legal practitioners, researchers, policy makers and advocates, and support publications, conferences, and other fora that contribute to open and inclusive communication and networking around issues relating to refugee, asylum and international human rights law in Canada and elsewhere.

ARTICLE 4: PURPOSES & OBJECTIVES
The objects of the Corporation shall be: a. To encourage and develop legal research around refugee and asylum issues. b. To promote the development of new socio-legal scholars through the Corporation’s activities. c. To hold conferences, lectures and meetings for the promotion and discussion of research in law on refugee and asylum issues. d. To publish journals, newspapers, newsletters, books and/or monographs relating to the study of refugee law. e. To advocate around legal issues concerning refugee law and asylum law or other areas of law when it impacts upon the human rights of migrants.

ARTICLE 5: ACTIVITIES
The proposed activities of the Corporation are as follows:
The Corporation organizes an annual conference, focused around the presentation and discussion of research on themes related to the Mandate, Purposes and Objectives of the Corporation.
The Corporation organizes and supports mentoring and professional development opportunities.
The Corporation encourages the development of research to bring together members with common research interests.
The Corporation maintains an active web-page with an online database of members.
The Corporation publishes a semi-annual electronic newsletter.
The Corporation actively liaises with policy-makers, practitioners and advocacy groups to disseminate and discuss legal research findings.
The Corporation actively engages with other organizations, associations and groups engaging with similar issues.
The Corporation engages in education and advocacy aimed at policy makers and legislators on refugee law issues on behalf of refugees and the human rights of migrants.
The Corporation engages in public interest litigation.

ARTICLE 6: CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Corporation shall be limited to persons interested in furthering the objects of the Corporation and shall consist of anyone whose application for admission as a member has received the approval of the board of directors of the Corporation. Membership shall be restricted to: lawyers or articling students in private practice or working with a provincial or community legal aid clinic or as staff of non-governmental organizations; academics in law or related disciplines; or law students.

Non-lawyers may be allowed to have Associate member status. Associate members may be approved on a case-by-case basis and will not be entitled to vote regarding the affairs of the Corporation.
There shall be an annual membership fee or dues that will be set by the board of directors from time to time.

Any member may withdraw from the Corporation by delivering to the Corporation a written resignation and lodging a copy of the same with the secretary of the Corporation.

Any member may be required to resign by a vote of three-quarters (3/4) of the members at an annual meeting.

ARTICLE 7: MEMBERS’ MEETINGS
The annual or any other general meeting of the members shall be held in Toronto or at any place in Canada as the board of directors may determine and on such day as the said directors shall appoint. The members may resolve that a particular meeting of members be held outside of Canada. Participation in the meetings can be held by video or teleconference.

At every annual meeting, in addition to any other business that may be transacted, the financial statements and the report of the auditors shall be presented and auditors appointed for the ensuing year. The members may consider and transact any business either special or general at any meeting of the members. The board of directors or the president or vice-president shall have the power to call, at any time, a general meeting of the members of the Corporation. The board of directors shall call a special general meeting of members on written requisition of members carrying not less than 10% of the voting rights.

A reasonable period of notice of one month by mail or email shall be given to each voting member of any annual or special general meeting of members. Notice of any meeting where special business will be transacted shall contain sufficient information to permit the member to form a reasoned judgement on the decision to be taken. Notice of each meeting of members must remind the member if the member has the right to vote by proxy. Each voting member present at a meeting shall have the right to exercise one vote. A member may, by means of a written proxy, appoint a proxyholder to attend and act at a specific meeting of members, in the manner and to the extent authorized by the proxy. A proxyholder must be a member of the corporation.

A majority of the votes cast by the members present and carrying voting rights shall determine the questions in meetings, unless the Act or these by-laws otherwise provide.

Quorum for members’ meetings: 40% of members present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting will constitute a quorum.

No error or omission in giving notice of any annual or general meeting or any adjourned meeting, whether annual or general, of the members of the corporation shall invalidate such meeting or make void any proceedings taken thereat and any member may at any time waive notice of any such meeting and may ratify, approve and confirm any or all proceedings taken or had thereat. For the purpose of sending notice to any member, director or officer for any meeting or otherwise, the address of the member, director or officer shall be his last address recorded on the books of the Corporation.

ARTICLE 8: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The property and business of the Corporation shall be managed by a board of directors, comprised of up to 13 directors. There must always be a minimum of three directors. The number of directors shall be determined from time to time by a majority of the directors at a meeting of the board of directors and sanctioned by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast in favor of the resolution at a meeting of members duly called for the purpose of determining the number of directors to be elected to the board of directors. Directors must be individuals, 18 years of age, with power under law to contract. Directors must be members of the Corporation.

The applicants for incorporation and the nine additional individuals named in the application shall become the first directors of the Corporation whose term of office on the board of directors shall continue until their successors are elected.

Directors shall be elected for a term of two years by the members at an annual meeting of members. The very first directors shall serve staggered terms. One half of the initial directors shall serve for one year, and the other half shall serve for two years. Thereafter all directors shall serve two-year terms.

The office of director shall be automatically vacated:

if at a special general meeting of members, a resolution is passed by of the votes cast in favour of the removal of the director;
if a director has resigned his office by delivering a written resignation to the secretary of the Corporation;
if he is found by a court to be of unsound mind;
if he becomes bankrupt or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors;
on death;

provided that if any vacancy shall occur for any reason in this paragraph contained, the board of directors by majority vote, may, by appointment, fill the vacancy with a member of the Corporation.
The directors shall serve as such without remuneration and no director shall directly or indirectly receive any profit from his position as such; provided that a director may be paid reasonable expenses incurred by him in the performance of his duties. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation as an officer or in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefore.

A retiring director shall remain in office until the dissolution or adjournment of the meeting at which his retirement is accepted and his successor is elected.

ARTICLE 9: POWERS OF DIRECTORS
The directors of the Corporation may administer the affairs of the Corporation in all things and make or cause to be made for the Corporation, in its name, any kind of contract which the Corporation may lawfully enter into and, save as hereinafter provided, generally, may exercise all such other powers and do all such other acts and things as the Corporation is by its charter or otherwise authorized to exercise and do.

The directors shall have power to authorize expenditures on behalf of the Corporation from time to time and may delegate by resolution to an officer or officers of the Corporation the right to employ and pay salaries to employees. The directors shall have the power to enter into a trust arrangement with a trust company for the purpose of creating a trust fund in which the capital and interest may be made available for the benefit of promoting the interest of the corporation in accordance with such terms as the board of directors may prescribe. Any investments shall be limited to investments approved for Canadian insurance companies.

The board of directors is hereby authorized, from time to time:
to borrow money upon the credit of the Corporation, from any bank, corporation, firm or person, upon such terms, covenants and conditions at such times, in such sums, to such an extent and in such manner as the board of directors in its discretion may deem expedient;
to limit or increase the amount to be borrowed;
to issue or cause to be issued bonds, debentures or other securities of the Corporation and to pledge or sell the same for such sums, upon such terms, covenants and conditions and at such prices as may be deemed expedient by the board of directors;
to secure any such bond, debentures or other securities, or any other present or future borrowing or liability of the Corporation, by mortgage, hypothec, charge or pledge of all or any currently owned or subsequently acquired real and personal, movable and immovable, property of the Corporation, and the undertaking and rights of the Corporation.

The board of directors shall take such steps as they may deem requisite to enable the Corporation to acquire, accept, solicit or receive legacies, gifts, grants, settlements, bequests, endowments and donations of any kind whatsoever for the purpose of furthering the objects of the Corporation.

The board of directors may appoint such agents and engage such employees as it shall deem necessary from time to time and such persons shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed by the board of directors at the time of such appointment.

Remuneration for all agents and employees and committee members shall be fixed by the board of directors by resolution.

ARTICLE 10: DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS
Meetings of the board of directors may be held at any time and place to be determined by the directors provided that 48 hours written notice of such meeting shall be given, other than by mail, to each director.

Notice by mail shall be sent at least 14 days prior to the meeting. There shall be at least one (1) meeting per year of the board of directors.

No error or omission in giving notice of any meeting of the board of directors or any adjourned meeting of the board of directors of the Corporation shall invalidate such meeting or make void any proceedings taken there at and any director may at any time waive notice of any such meeting and may ratify, approve and confirm any or all proceedings taken or had thereat. Each director is authorized to exercise one (1) vote. Meetings can be held by teleconference or other electronic means.

A majority of directors in office, from time to time, but no less than 50% of the directors, shall constitute a quorum for meetings of the board of directors. Any meeting of the board of directors at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all or any of the authorities, powers and discretions by or under the by-laws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE 11: INDEMNITIES TO DIRECTORS AND OTHERS
Every director of the Corporation and their heirs, executors and administrators, and estate and effects, respectively, shall from time to time and at all times, be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the corporation, from and against;

all costs, charges and expenses which such director, sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit or proceedings which is brought, commenced or prosecuted against him, or in respect of any act, deed, matter of thing whatsoever, made, done or permitted by him, in or about the execution of the duties of his office or in respect of any such liability;
all other costs, charges and expenses which he sustains or incurs in or about or in relation to the affairs thereof, except such costs, charges or expenses as are occasioned by his own willful neglect or default.

The Corporation shall purchase and maintain a valid policy for director’s liability insurance.

ARTICLE 12: OFFICERS
The officers of the Corporation shall be a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer and past president and any such other officers as the board of directors may by by-law determine. Any two offices may be held by the same person. Officers need to be directors or members.

Officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by resolution of the board of directors at the first meeting of the board of directors following an annual meeting of members.

The officers of the Corporation shall hold office for two years from the date of appointment for a maximum of three consecutive two-year terms. Officers shall be subject to removal by resolution of the board of directors at any time.

ARTICLE 13: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation and of the board of directors. He shall have the general and active management of the affairs of the Corporation. He shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.

The vice-president shall, in the absence or disability of the president, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the president and shall perform such other duties as shall from time to time be imposed upon him by the board of directors.

The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of all assets, liabilities, receipts and disbursements of the Corporation in the books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all monies, securities and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such chartered bank of trust company, or, in the case of securities, in such registered dealer in securities as may be designated by the board of directors from time to time. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be directed by proper authority taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and directors at the regular meeting of the board of directors, or whenever they may require it, an accounting of all the transactions and a statement of the financial position, of the Corporation. He shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be directed by the board of directors. Two signatures will be required on all cheques.

The secretary, when in attendance, shall attend all meetings and act as clerk thereof and record all votes and minutes of all proceedings in the books to be kept for that purpose. The secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the members and of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president, under whose supervision the secretary shall be. The secretary shall be the custodian of the seal of the Corporation and all records of the Corporation.

The duties of all other officers of the Corporation shall be such as the terms of their engagement call for or the board of directors requires of them.

ARTICLE 14: EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS
Contracts, documents or any instruments in writing requiring the signature of the Corporation, shall be signed by any two officers and all contracts, documents and instruments in writing so signed shall be binding upon the Corporation without any further authorization or formality. The directors shall have power from time to time by resolution to appoint an officer or officers on behalf of the Corporation to sign specific contracts, documents and instruments in writing. The directors may give the Corporation’s power of attorney to any registered dealer in securities for the purposes of the transferring of and dealing with any stocks, bonds, and other securities or records of the Corporation. The seal of the Corporation when required may be affixed to contracts, documents and instruments in writing signed as aforesaid or by any officer or officers appointed by resolution of the board of directors.

ARTICLE 15: MINUTES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The minutes of the board of directors shall be available to the general membership of the Corporation and shall be available to the board of directors, each of whom shall receive a copy of such minutes.

ARTICLE 16: FINANCIAL YEAR
The financial year of the Corporation shall be determined by the board of directors

ARTICLE 17: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
The by-laws of the Corporation not embodied in the Letters Patent may be repealed or amended by by-law, or a new by-law relating to the requirements of subsection 155(2) of the Canada Corporations Act, may be enacted by a majority of the directors at a meeting of the board of directors and sanctioned by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast in favour of the by-law at a meeting of members duly called for the purpose of considering the said by-law, provided that the repeal or amendment of such by-laws shall not be enforced or acted upon until the approval of the Minister of Industry has been obtained.

ARTICLE 18: AUDITORS
The members shall, at each annual meeting, appoint an auditor to audit the accounts and annual financial statements of the Corporation for report to the members at the next annual meeting. The auditor shall hold office until the next annual meeting provided that the directors may fill any casual vacancy in the office of the auditor. The remuneration of the auditor shall be fixed by the board of directors.

ARTICLE 19: BOOKS AND RECORDS
The directors shall see that all necessary books and records of the Corporation required by the by-laws of the Corporation or by any applicable statute or law are regularly and properly kept.

ARTICLE 20: RULES AND REGULATIONS
The board of directors may prescribe such rules and regulations not inconsistent with these by-laws relating to the management and operation of the Corporation as they deem expedient, provided that such rules and regulations shall have force and effect only until the next annual meeting of the members of the Corporation when they shall be confirmed, and failing such confirmation at such annual meeting of members, shall at and from that time cease to have any force and effect. The Corporation shall adopt Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE 21: INTERPRETATION
In these by-laws and in all other by-laws of the Corporation hereafter passed unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular number or the masculine gender shall include the plural number or the feminine gender, as the case may be, and vice versa, and references to persons shall include firms and corporations.

IN THE MATTER OF THE
CANADA CORPORATIONS ACT

AND

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION
PURSUANT TO PART II

Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) /
Association Canadien des Avocats et Avocates en Droit des Refugiés (ACAADR)

STATUTORY DECLARATION

I, Lorne Waldman, of the City of Toronto in the Province of Ontario,

DO SOLEMNLY DECLARE that:
I am one of the applicants.

I have knowledge of the matter, and that the statements in the annexed application contained are, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true in substance and in fact.

I am informed and believe that each applicant signing this application is of the full age of eighteen years and has power under law to contract and that his or her name and description have been accurately set out in the application.

The proposed corporate name of the company is not on any public grounds objectionable and that it is not that of any known company, incorporated or unincorporated, or of any partnership or individual, or any name under which any known business is being carried on, or so nearly resembling the same as to deceive.

I have satisfied myself and am assured that no public or private interest will be prejudicially affected by the incorporation of this company.

DECLARED before me at the
City of Toronto
in the Province of Ontario,
this 21st day of September 2011.