Co-operatives are legal entities owned and run by, and for,
their members. There are over 9,000 co-operatives in
Canada, with over 18 million members. Most of them operate
businesses. Not all of them are business enterprises – many
co-operatives are not-for-profits and some are registered
charities.
A co-operative is one of the oldest forms of social enterprise
– it exists to serve its members, who may be workers,
producers, consumers or residents. Members have an equal say in
what the business does and a share in the profits.
Each province and territory has its own legislation governing
co-operatives. Those laws vary in detail, but the general
principles are the same. Co-operatives adhere to a set of seven
principles adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance in
1995. They are:
