Welcome to On Co-op
The Ontario Co-operative Association (On Co-op) develops, unites and promotes co-operatives throughout the province of Ontario. Our mission is to lead, cultivate and connect Ontario's co-operative sector.
[LOCATE] Find any co-operative, credit union or caisse populaire in Ontario.
TO NAVIGATE THIS SITE: (a) Click on one of the program area FASTLINKS at right ; (b) Choose from the MENU at left, or (c) Type a word into the SEARCH OUR SITE box above.
ITEMS OF SPECIAL INTEREST...
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THESE ITEMS:- Co-op Development Fund and Investment Plan
- Changes to the Co-op Corporations Act now in Effect
- Are you ready for the Harmonized Sales Tax?
- Submit a speaker or workshop suggestion for Co-op Conference
- 2012 is the International Year of the Co-operative
- Co-operation amongst co-ops: SPREAD THE WORD!
- Co-op Survival Statistics
- Work for a Co-op (Job Board)
- Subscribe to the On Co-op e-newsletter
- Co-ops in Ontario snapshop information
Raise Your Voice for a Co-op Investment Strategy! The Canadian Co-operative Association is asking for your assistance in urging the federal government to bring in measures that will benefit co-operatives and communities across Canada. These measures include:
A Co-operative Investment Plan (CIP) which would provide a tax credit for members or employees of producer and worker or employee-owned co-operative businesses who invest in their own co-op. The CIP has existed in Quebec since 1985 and has helped secure $393 million in much needed new investment for co-operatives.
A Co-operative Development Fund (CDF) which would be a co-op-oriented loan fund that provides conventional term loans and patient capital loans to new and existing co-ops. Investments would be based on an analysis of a co-operative’s business plan and its capacity to pay back loans on the negotiated terms and over a specified period of time.
You can help build a stronger case by sending two letters of support for the Co-op Development Fund & Investment Plan: one letter to your MP and a second letter to Minister Blackburn, with a copy to Minister Flaherty, Minister of Finance. For more information and letter templates, visit: http://www.coopscanada.coop/en/gov_affair/InvestStrategy
Changes to the Ontario Co-operative Corporations Act. Changes were made to our Act December 17, and are effective immediately. The recent passage of the HST Bill in the Ontario legislature made changes to a number of other acts, including the Co-operative Corporations Act. Some of the changes are significant and will provide more effective ways for co-ops to operate and govern themselves. Here is a summary of the changes - more information will be available from On Co-op early in 2010.
Are you ready for the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)? On Co-op has some advice for your Ontario co-op on this new tax, to be implemented July 1, 2010. Click here.
Submit a speaker or workshop suggestion for the Co-op Conference. On Co-op is seeking YOUR input into topics and themes that could be presented, including your suggestions on what type of delivery methods should be used. Organizations/individuals that would like to organize a session, or would like to present on a topic of interest/benefit to co-operatives are encouraged to download the 2010 Conference Request-for-Proposal available from www.ontario.coop/gala. Deadline to submit a presenter or workshop topic RFP is Friday February 26, 2010. This will be the 10th annual Co-op Conference, and will once again be held at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington ON. Please feel free to distribute widely.
2012 has been declared the International Year of the Co-op. Click here to learn more.
PRINCPLE #6 IN ACTION. There are more than 1300 co-ops in Ontario. How many of them do you know? Here are four co-ops you might like to check out. Urbane Cyclist. Peterborough Community Credit Union. Beechwood Co-op Homes. Gay Lea Foods Co-op. The common thread - each one of these co-operatives is part of the inaugural Co-operative Management Certificate program! Anyone can practise the 6th principle: co-operation among co-operatives. Feature the websites of at least four co-ops on YOUR website and see the power of co-ops helping co-ops!!!!
WORK FOR A CO-OP. Check out co-op sector job postings including: Brand Manager for Ontario Natural Food Co-op; IT Professional for a CCA assignment in Malawi, and the Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance. (updated Jan 21/2010).. [JOB BOARD]
CO-OP SURVIVAL REPORTS. [READ REPORTS] A 2008 report by the Quebec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export on the survival rate of co-operatives in Québec says that in 2008, the survival rate of co-operatives was 62% after five years and 44% after 10 years, which is consistent with a 1999 study. And, a 2009 International Labour Organization (ILO) report provides compelling evidence that co-ops are more resilient than other business models in times of economic crisis. Read more on these reports.
THE ON CO-OP E-NEWSLETTER. [READ] an easy to read update on news from the Ontario co-operative sector through On Co-op's bi-weekly e-newsletter in PDF format. [SUBSCRIBE] to the interactive version of the e-newsletter.
ONTARIO CO-OP SNAPSHOT INFORMATION
[DOWNLOAD SUMMARY] of information taken from the first ever Census of Ontario Co-operatives and Credit Unions (completed in 2007).
[READ STORY] 'A Day in the Life of Jeff' is an entertaining short story that illustrates some of the social and economic impact of co-ops in Ontario; a background summary of the census project is attached.
Today's On Co-op Member Profile
Co-op Cabs
560 King St West
Toronto ON M5V 1M3
T 416.504.2667
F 416.504.0663
peter@co-opcabs.com
www.co-opcabs.com
Co-op Cabs (Associated Toronto Taxicab Co-operative Ltd.) was founded by a group of independent taxicab owners to market their taxicab services to the residents, visitors and businesses in the city of Toronto. Their easily identifiable red and yellow vehicles have been roaming the streets of Toronto since 1957.
