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Act within your purposes
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Quebec stands fully covered: its own filings and guidance stand in the books beside the federal ones.
A society is formed for the purposes its constitution names, and its money is spent on those purposes.
The legal person is constituted by letters patent for the objects they name — national, patriotic, religious, philanthropic, charitable, scientific, artistic, social, professional, athletic or sporting objects, or the like — without pecuniary gain, and for no other purpose. Its directors act with prudence and diligence, and with honesty and loyalty in its interest. The members are not personally responsible for its debts. Binds: Quebec legal persons without share capital (Companies Act, CQLR c. C-38, Part III; Civil Code of Québec).
The law’s own words
“The enterprise registrar may, by letters patent under his hand and seal, grant a charter to any number of persons, not less than three, who apply therefor, for objects of a national, patriotic, religious, philanthropic, charitable, scientific, artistic, social, professional, athletic or sporting character, or the like, but without pecuniary gain.”
Companies Act (Quebec), s. 218 · Read it at LégisQuébec · Verified 2026-11-09
“Le registraire des entreprises peut, au moyen de lettres patentes sous ses seing et sceau, accorder une charte à tout nombre de personnes, n’étant pas moindre que trois, qui demandent leur constitution en personne morale sans intention de faire un gain pécuniaire, dans un but national, patriotique, religieux, philanthropique, charitable, scientifique, artistique, social, professionnel, athlétique ou sportif ou autre du même genre.”
Loi sur les compagnies (Companies Act) (Québec), art. 218 · Read it at LégisQuébec · Verified 2026-11-09
“The members shall not be personally responsible for the debts of the legal person.”
Companies Act (Quebec), s. 226 · Read it at LégisQuébec · Verified 2026-11-09
“Les membres ne sont pas personnellement responsables des dettes de la personne morale.”
Loi sur les compagnies (Companies Act) (Québec), art. 226 · Read it at LégisQuébec · Verified 2026-11-09
“A director shall act with prudence and diligence. He shall also act with honesty and loyalty in the interest of the legal person.”
Act respecting the Civil Code of Québec (S.Q. 1991, c. 64) — Civil Code of Québec, art. 322 · Read it at LégisQuébec · Verified 2026-11-09