s-9.1 - Act respecting the James Bay Native Development Corporation

Updated to 20 February 2024

This document has official status.

chapter S-9.1

Act respecting the James Bay Native Development Corporation

The Minister of Natural Resources and Forests is responsible for the application of this Act except for those responsibilities assigned to the Minister of Finance under this Act. Order in Council 1662-2022 dated 20 October 2022, (2022) 154 G.O. 2 (French), 6524.

1. In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise,

(a)  “Cree Nation Government” means the legal person established in the public interest, under that name, by the Act respecting the Cree Nation Government (chapter G-1.031);

(b)  “Agreement” means the Agreement contemplated in section 1 of the Act approving the Agreement concerning James Bay and Northern Québec (chapter C-67);

(c)  “Crees” or “James Bay Crees” means the beneficiaries under the terms of the Act respecting Cree, Inuit and Naskapi Native persons (chapter A-33.1);

(d)  “Corporation” means the James Bay Native Development Corporation constituted by this Act;

(e)  “territory” has the same meaning as in the Act respecting Cree, Inuit and Naskapi Native persons.

1978, c. 96, s. 1; 1999, c. 40, s. 275; 2013, c. 19, s. 91.

2. A joint stock company is constituted under the name of “Société de développement autochtone de la Baie James”.

This company may also be designated under the name of “James Bay Native Development Corporation” in English.

1978, c. 96, s. 2; 1999, c. 40, s. 275.

3. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of the James Bay Region Development Act (chapter D-8.0.1), the Corporation is a subsidiary of the Société de développement de la Baie James.

1978, c. 96, s. 3; 2001, c. 61, s. 17.

4. The Corporation, as a subsidiary, is governed by the James Bay Region Development Act (chapter D-8.0.1), except where any provision of that Act is inconsistent with this Act, in which case this Act prevails.

1978, c. 96, s. 4; 2001, c. 61, s. 17.

5. The Corporation has its head office at Radisson; it may, however, transfer it to any other place in Québec, in accordance with the law.

1978, c. 96, s. 5.

6. The objects of the Corporation are:

(a)  to promote and encourage the creation, diversification and development of businesses, resources, properties and industries within the territory with a view to stimulating maximum economic opportunities for Crees and contributing to their general economic well-being;

(b)  to assess the potential contribution of the Corporation to the economic development of the Crees in the territory and to establish priorities among the measures it deems appropriate for that purpose;

(c)  to invest in order to promote the economic development of the Crees;

(d)  to promote greater cooperation between the Société de développement de la Baie James and the James Bay crees with a view to the economic development of the territory.

1978, c. 96, s. 6.

7. In particular, the Corporation must assess opportunities and projects or activities that will directly benefit the James Bay Crees in the fields of access to Cree agglomerations, outfitting, tourism, native arts and crafts, road maintenance, fuel distribution, forestry and mining and other activities of the same nature.

The Corporation may prepare projects of these kinds and proceed with them, and engage in such activities.

1978, c. 96, s. 7.

8. The Corporation must cooperate with the James Bay Crees to assist them in developing the fields of fuel distribution, mining exploration and exploitation, forest exploitation, construction and transportation services.

It may, in all these sectors and other suitable sectors, participate with the Société de développement de la Baie James, any of its common shareholders or any Cree undertaking in the prosecution of joint ventures.

A Cree undertaking is an undertaking in which the majority of the members are Crees, or that is controlled by a Cree.

1978, c. 96, s. 8.

9. The Corporation shall not participate in joint ventures under the second paragraph of section 8 except with the prior written consent of each of its common shareholders.

It shall not participate in joint ventures with persons other than those contemplated in the second paragraph of section 8 except with the consent of its directors, expressed in a resolution adopted by all of them.

1978, c. 96, s. 9.

10. To attain its objects, the Corporation, in addition to its other powers, may

(a)  make loans to any person it deems appropriate, assist him in obtaining funds and guarantee the performance of his obligations; and

(b)  use its funds to acquire and hold shares, bonds and other securities of any business corporation, and sell or otherwise dispose of them.

1978, c. 96, s. 10; 2009, c. 52, s. 714.

11. The authorized capital stock of the Corporation is $15,000,000.

It is divided into 100 common shares of a par value of $10 each and 14,999 Class A shares of a par value of $1,000 each.

1978, c. 96, s. 11.

12. Class A shares are non-voting and non-participating shares.

1978, c. 96, s. 12.

13. The common shares of the Corporation form two blocks: the first, comprising 51% of the said shares, is allotted to the Société de développement de la Baie James; the other, comprising 49% of the said shares, is allotted to the Cree Nation Government.

Each of these two shareholders shall pay the price of its shares without delay after 6 September 1978.

1978, c. 96, s. 13; 2013, c. 19, s. 91.

14. The transfer of shares shall not be effected except in entire blocks, each comprising 51% or 49% of the shares.

These transfers must previously be authorized by the board of directors of the Corporation, by a resolution adopted by all its directors, and by the Government.

1978, c. 96, s. 14.

15. The Minister of Finance shall pay to the Corporation out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the amounts of money mentioned in the schedule, on the dates fixed therein, and for the number of Class A shares indicated.

The Corporation shall issue to the Minister of Finance share certificates in consideration of these payments.

1978, c. 96, s. 15.

16. The Minister of Finance may, at any time, with the approval of the Government, acquire any part of the Class A shares of the Corporation that he has not already acquired in conformity with section 15. He acquires these shares at their par value.

The Corporation shall not use the amounts paid under the preceding paragraph for purposes other than those agreed by the Minister of Finance.

Third parties are not bound to comply with the preceding paragraph and it cannot be invoked by or against them.

1978, c. 96, s. 16.

17. The Class A shares form part of the domain of the State upon their acquisition by the Minister of Finance and they are allotted to him.

1978, c. 96, s. 17; 1999, c. 40, s. 275.

18. Sections 159 to 162 of the Companies Act (chapter C-38) do not apply to the Class A shares of the Corporation.

Despite section 188 of that Act, the Corporation may make investments by buying securities issued or guaranteed by the Gouvernement du Québec.

1978, c. 96, s. 18; 2020, c. 5, s. 158.

19. The affairs of the Corporation are administered by a board of five directors.

Each of the two common shareholders has the right to elect two directors.

The fifth director, who is the president of the Corporation, is appointed by the Government, which fixes his term of office and remuneration. However, the term of office shall not exceed five years and, once determined, it shall not be reduced.

The fifth director must in no case be a member of the board of directors of the Société de développement de la Baie James or of the Cree Nation Government or of any other legal person or body under their control or dependent on them.

1978, c. 96, s. 19; 1999, c. 40, s. 275; 2013, c. 19, s. 91.

20. Each member of the board of directors, including the member appointed by the Government, remains in office after the expiry of his term until he is replaced, reappointed or re-elected.

1978, c. 96, s. 20.

21. Where the member of the board of directors appointed by the Government is unable to act, resigns or is no longer qualified, he may be replaced by a person appointed by the Government to exercise his functions while he is unable to act or for the remainder of his term.

Any vacancy among the other four directors may be filled by the board of directors, but it must appoint the person designated by the shareholder who had elected the director to be replaced.

1978, c. 96, s. 21; 1999, c. 40, s. 275.

22. No person may act as a director if he is not a Canadian citizen domiciled in Québec, but he is not required to be a shareholder.

1978, c. 96, s. 22.

23. The Corporation retains its earnings to use them in conformity with its objects and pays no dividend to its shareholders.

1978, c. 96, s. 23.

24. (Omitted).

1978, c. 96, s. 24.

25. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987).

1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

SCHEDULE

(Section 15)

CAPITAL STOCK SUBSCRIBED BY THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

Date of payment           Amount paid          Number of shares

 6 October 1978           $1,000,000                1,000
 15 April 1979               750,000                  750
 15 April 1980               500,000                  500
 15 April 1981               250,000                  250
 15 April 1982               250,000                  250
 15 April 1983               250,000                  250
 15 April 1984               250,000                  250
 15 April 1985               250,000                  250
 15 April 1986               250,000                  250
 15 April 1987               250,000                  250                

1978, c. 96, Schedule.

REPEAL SCHEDULE

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), chapter 96 of the statutes of 1978, in force on 1 June 1979, is repealed effective from the coming into force of chapter S-9.1 of the Revised Statutes.