Ontario Regulation 193/24, enacted under the Seniors Active Living Centres Act, 2017, outlines the entities that are permitted to provide services or partner with the government to support seniors’ active living centres. Its main purpose is to prescribe specific entities under subsections 8(3) and 8(4) of the Act, detailing the organizations and bodies allowed to run or support these centres, which aim to promote health and well-being for seniors.

The first section of the regulation, under subsection 8(3), prescribes several types of entities. These include not-for-profit corporations incorporated or continued under Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, or its predecessor. These are organizations primarily focused on objectives other than generating profit. In addition, not-for-profit corporations established through special legislative acts with specific mandates are also included. Organizations from other Canadian provinces or territories, incorporated under their own not-for-profit laws but operating in Ontario, are eligible as well. Similarly, federal not-for-profit corporations, incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act or its predecessor, may operate in Ontario.

The regulation also covers special Act corporations created by the Parliament of Canada, which are tasked with specific roles in Ontario. Furthermore, registered charities, as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), are included. These organizations must adhere to regulations that ensure their charitable activities benefit the public. Another important group of entities consists of Indigenous governing bodies, such as councils or governments authorized to represent First Nations, Inuit, Métis, or other Indigenous groups. These entities must hold rights recognized under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, which affirms Indigenous rights in Canada.

Additionally, the regulation includes entities that provide services or advocate for Indigenous peoples, even if they are not formal governing bodies. Examples include Indigenous service organizations or advocacy groups. Local Services Boards, established under the Northern Services Boards Act, are also permitted to participate. These boards provide municipal-like services to residents in unincorporated areas of northern Ontario and can operate or participate in seniors’ centres. The regulation allows for collaborative partnerships between any combination of these entities, such as a not-for-profit corporation working with an Indigenous governing body or Local Services Board. Municipal councils can also partner with these entities to manage or support the centres.

In subsection 8(4), the regulation extends the list of prescribed entities to include those mentioned in subsection 8(3), allowing for more complex partnerships that support seniors’ active living centres. By including these diverse entities, the regulation highlights the government’s commitment to ensuring that Ontario’s seniors have access to community-oriented services, improving their overall quality of life.

Ontario (193/24) June 1, 2024