Management of Not-For-Profit Organizations

472.316

Fall 2014

Cooperatives

Status of Co-operatives in Canada• should have read this by today

₋ if not, do it this week₋ main points fair game on quiz

Cooperatives

find.manitoba.coop

Cooperatives

data• 8,500 co-operatives• 17 million members• 150,000 employees• $330 billion in assets

claims• without co-ops we’d have:

₋ more unstable incomes for farmers

₋ uncertain access to high-quality agricultural inputs at competitive prices

₋ less independence and opportunity for Aboriginal people

₋ less consumer choice₋ more uncertain access to

housing at affordable prices

Questions

• Cooperatives in Canada began as rural support initiatives. As Canada becomes more urban, co-ops have become less prominent.₋ Should we care about preserving them in rural

Canada?₋ Should we try to make them more prominent in

cities?₋ Should federal responsibility be moved from

Agriculture Canada to Industry Canada?

Questions

• Cooperatives pay the same income taxes as for-profit businesses. ₋ Should they?

• Quebec has well-established ways to encourage investment in cooperatives. Manitoba has recently started something similar.₋ Should every province?

• Should RRSP investments in co-ops be restricted?

Questions

• Would any of the projects we’re doing be suitable as a cooperative?

• Should there be other things in or around Providence set up as cooperatives?