The deadline to transition your governing documents to the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) has passed. Many boards completed their filings on time. Many others did not, or completed only some of the work. The honest reality is that even organisations that filed Articles of Amendment often still have bylaws, membership records, or board practices that fall short of what ONCA requires.
This free checklist is the same one we use at Bussey Ainsworth when reviewing a non-profit's compliance. It walks you through every area ONCA touches, from articles and bylaws to financial review and ongoing annual obligations. Print it, work through it with your board, and use it to identify what still needs attention.
Why a Lawyer Wrote This (and Who That Lawyer Is)
This checklist was prepared by Barry W. Bussey, principal lawyer at Bussey Ainsworth. Barry has spent more than 30 years working alongside charities and non-profit organisations across Canada. For ten years he served as Director of Legal Affairs at a national organisation serving charities and non-profits across the country, and he has sat on boards for charities, high schools, a university, and government advisory committees. He holds a Ph.D. in law from Leiden, has authored and edited scholarly works on charity law, and has appeared as counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada five times.
Charity and non-profit work is the part of law Barry loves most, and it has been the focus of his career. That passion is why this checklist exists. As a smaller firm, Bussey Ainsworth can give each charity and non-profit the individual attention that larger practices rarely match, working with you directly rather than passing you down a chain of associates. It is a large part of why the firm holds a five-star rating on Google.
Who Is This Checklist For?
This checklist is written for anyone responsible for governance at an Ontario non-profit corporation or registered charity. That includes board chairs, executive directors, treasurers, corporate secretaries, and pastors or ministry leaders who sit on the board of a faith-based charity. It is also useful for new directors who want to understand what they have just stepped into.
If you are still trying to understand what ONCA actually requires, our blog post Is Your Ontario Non-Profit ONCA Compliant? is a good starting point. For faith-based organisations, our companion piece How ONCA Affects Your Faith-Based Charity covers the issues we see most often in churches, religious schools, and ministry corporations. The ONCA Transition FAQ answers the questions clients ask most.
Download the Free Checklist
8 pages. Printable PDF. No cost, no obligation.
Need Help With ONCA Compliance in Peterborough or the Kawarthas?
A checklist is a starting point. If you have unchecked items, or if you are not sure whether your organisation's transition was completed properly, we can help. We review your articles, bylaws, member register, and board practices, identify the gaps, and put a clear plan in place to bring you into compliance. We work with charities, non-profits, churches, and faith-based ministries throughout Peterborough, the Kawarthas, and across Ontario.
Call us at (705) 749-0628 or book a consultation to talk about your organisation.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every organisation is different. Please consult with a lawyer before making decisions about ONCA compliance.