Insurance Companies Act

Marginal note:By-laws

• 238 (1) The directors of a company may make, amend or repeal any by-laws, in the manner set out in subsections (2) and (3) and sections 239 to 244, to

  • (a) change the maximum number, if any, of shares of any class that the company is authorized to issue;

  • (b) create new classes of shares;

  • (c) change the designation of any or all of the company’s shares, and add, change or remove any rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions, including rights to accrued dividends, in respect of any or all of the company’s shares, whether issued or unissued;

  • (d) change the shares of any class or series, whether issued or unissued, into a different number of shares of the same class or series or into the same or a different number of shares of other classes or series;

  • (e) divide a class of shares, whether issued or unissued, into series and fix the maximum number of shares, if any, in each series and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto;

  • (f) authorize the directors to divide any class of unissued shares into series and fix the maximum number of shares, if any, in each series and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached thereto;

  • (g) authorize the directors to change the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to unissued shares of any series;

  • (h) revoke, diminish or enlarge any authority conferred under paragraphs (f) and (g);

  • (i) change the rights of policyholders to vote at meetings of shareholders or policyholders, subject to subsection 153(1);

  • (i.1) change the name of the company;

  • (j) increase or decrease the number of directors, the minimum or maximum number of directors, the number of directors who are to be elected by the shareholders or the number of directors who are to be elected by the policyholders, subject to subsections 167(1) and 173(4) and (4.1) and section 176; or

  • (k) change the province in which the head office of the company is situated.

• Marginal note:Shareholder or policyholder approval

  (2) The directors shall submit a by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, that is made under subsection (1) to the shareholders and policyholders entitled to vote, and the shareholders and policyholders may, by special resolution, confirm, amend or reject the by-law, amendment or repeal.

• Marginal note:Right to vote

  (2.1) The by-laws of a company may provide that each participating share, as defined in section 83.01, of a mutual company carries the right to vote on a proposed addition or amendment to the by-laws to do anything referred to in any of paragraphs (1)(a) to (h), (j) and (k). Where that right is provided for in the by-laws, each of those shares carries that right even if they do not otherwise carry the right to vote.

• Marginal note:Separate vote

  (2.2) The holders of shares who are entitled under subsection (2.1) to vote on a proposed addition or amendment referred to in that subsection are entitled to vote on it separately from policyholders.

• Marginal note:Effective date of by-law

  (3) A by-law, or an amendment to or a repeal of a by-law, made under subsection (1) is not effective until it is confirmed or confirmed as amended by the shareholders and policyholders under subsection (2) and, in the case of a by-law respecting a change to the name of the company, approved by the Superintendent.

• Marginal note:Letters patent

  (4) If the name of a company or the province in Canada in which the head office of the company is situated is changed under this section, the Superintendent may issue letters patent to amend the company’s incorporating instrument accordingly.

• Marginal note:Effect of letters patent

  (5) Letters patent issued under subsection (4) become effective on the day stated in the letters patent.