Constitution

The goal of sustainable development is full human development and ecological protection. Mount Benson Preservation Society adopts the Charter of the Earth Community (ECO) as its model for dealing with issues locally and globally. The Charter recognizes that humanity's environmental, economic, social, cultural, ethical, spiritual problems and aspirations are interconnected. It affirms the need for holistic thinking and collaborative, integrated problem solving. Sustainable development requires such an approach. It is about freedom, justice, participation, and peace as well as environmental protection and economic well-being.

1) The name of the society is
Mount Benson Preservation Society

2) The objects of the society are to:

1) promote sustainable development as defined here by:
        * the technical definition being “a sound balance among the interactions of the impacts (positive and/or negative), or stresses, on the four major quality systems: People, Economic Development, Environment and Availability of Resources,” and
       * the none-technical definition being “a sound balance among the interactions designed to create a healthy economic growth, preserve environmental quality, make a wise use of our resources, and enhance social benefits”
2) promote sustainable development worldwide, establish new standards, goals to be reached, and a benchmark for the 21st century in all aspects of sustainable development; firm guidelines are essential in keeping the four major areas of concern as free as possible from negative growth factors; promote, manage and/or sponsor international meetings and conferences as they relate to sustainable development
3) research and develop local and global indicators and indices for the measurement and management of sustainable development
4) research and develop a sound balance among the interactions of the impacts as defined in 2.1 and in all aspects of sustainable development
5) research and develop products, techniques, processes, methods and programs to fulfill a sustainable development as defined in 2.1
6) promote co-operation amongst levels of government and citizens in planning which will help the measurement and management of sustainable development; bring together businesses and the Public and create a venue where the best ways can be found to sustain resources and measure consumption and use
7) create a committee that will link with the Earth Community Organization (ECO) to access its worldwide network to obtain data from all over the world in all aspects of sustainable development, and use the information obtained to fulfill the goal defined in 2.1; provide access to the information to concerned parties; the gathering and analysis of the information shall be used to help community and home development, and social development
8) encourage and foster and develop among its members a recognition of the importance of a sound sustainable development locally and worldwide
9) provide educational services and training related to:
       * the measurement and management of sustainable development
       * maintaining conditions under which People and Nature can co-exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations
       * development of sustainable communities and sustainable homes
10) engage in activities to relief poverty in the world; by searching “a sound balance among the interactions of the impacts” will result in a relief of poverty
11) carry out activities primarily for the benefit of the Public, community and home development, and world development in the spirit of the Earth and its People survival
12) promote an environmental sustainable development that does not endanger the natural systems that support life on Earth: the air, the waters, the soils and the living things

The objects will be carried out on an exclusively charitable basis.

3) On the winding up or dissolution of this society, funds or assets remaining after all debts have been paid shall be transferred to a charitable institution with purposes similar to those of this society, or, if this cannot be done, to another charitable institution recognized by Revenue Canada as qualified under the provisions of the Income Tax Act of Canada.

4) The purposes of the society shall be carried out without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the society shall be used for promoting its purpose. The Directors shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and other officers. The Directors shall serve without remuneration, and no Director shall directly or indirectly receive any profit from his or her position, except to be paid reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties.

5) The Society shall be subject to the various Charities Accounting Act, the Charitable Gifts Act, and the Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act. If it is made to appear to the satisfaction of Revenue Canada , upon report to the public trustee, that the Society has failed to comply with any of the provisions of these acts, Revenue Canada may authorize an inquiry for the purpose of determining whether or not there is sufficient cause for the Lieutenant-Governor to make an order under subsection 317(1) of the Corporation Act to cancel the letters patent of the Society and declare it to be dissolved.

6) The borrowing power of the Society pursuant to any by-law passed by the Society shall be limited to borrowing money for current operating expenses, provided that the borrowing power of the Society shall not be so limited if it borrows on the security of real or personal property.

7) Paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this constitution are unalterable in accordance with the Society Act.