Behind the Scenes of a Change to Agropur's General By-law
What is the Agropur by-law? Agropur's general by-law is a set of rules and directives governing the operation of the Cooperative. The by-law is an important tool for Agropur, as it is designed to ensure efficient, transparent and equitable governance, while meeting members' needs and expectations. Among the proposed modifications to the by-law this year are adjustments concerning the notion of dairy producer, the exclusion of members who compete with the Cooperative, changes in Board governance and modifications of a technical nature.
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Understanding what is involved in amending a by-law, and the importance of your participation in this process, is essential to ensuring sound governance of our cooperative.
With this in mind, an overview of the key steps in the process is timely, and will help you make informed decisions.
Step 1 - Trigger
The changes to the by-law presented this year stem primarily from a desire for modernization and precision. The amendments to the by-law will make governance more efficient, strengthen democratic life and update certain practices.
Step 2 - Internal monitoring
Over the years, the Board has paid close attention to how the by-law are applied and experienced by members in a variety of situations. These findings, combined with analysis of the evolution of the Canada Cooperatives Act, Agropur’s governing statute, have opened the door to the modernization of our cooperative's by-law.
It was against this backdrop that the Board of Directors mandated its Governance Committee to examine these situations and consider the solutions to be implemented. The committee is made up of directors and members invited to the Board, and is supported by members of the Legal Affairs and Cooperation teams. Since June 20, 2022, the working group has held at least ten meetings on this subject. Various recommendations have emerged from this working group. These were then developed, carefully drafted and presented to the Board of Directors for their preliminary approval. The Board considered the work of the Governance Committee six times before holding a consultation with members in the summer of 2024.
Step 3 - Member consultation
The Summer Meeting and Member Consultation held last June proved invaluable in validating certain issues and gathering members' opinions on potential by-law modifications. This step was crucial, as it ensures that the proposed modifications reflect the specific needs and expectations of members.
A booklet providing an overview of the suggested changes was also distributed in advance of the November regional meetings, so that members would be well equipped to ask questions and submit proposals at these meetings.
| To find out more about the main changes proposed to the Cooperative's by-law, consult the explanatory document and the draft by-law in the left-hand margin of the Members' Extranet. |
Step 4 - Annual and Special General Meeting
Following discussions at Regional Meetings this autumn, the final draft of the by-law amendments will be sent to delegates in preparation for the Annual and Special General Meeting on February 12.
At this meeting, delegates will be asked to discuss the proposed amendments and vote. If approved, amendments to the regulations will come into force on the day of the General Meeting.
Finally, once the by-law has been adopted and come into force, and if any amendments have been made at the General Meeting, the final text of the by-law will replace the version currently proposed on the Member’s Extranet, so that all can have easy access to it.
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