Becoming a Co-operative

The Public Transit Coalition has been given the opportunity to take over the Public Transportation Co-operative of PEI Ltd. Although the non-formal structure has not been a problem to date for the Coalition, it is now apparent that in order to progress from this point we must become more formalized.

Having this basic formal structure will help make the objectives of the PTCclearer to our members and to the public. As well, it will give us more credibility when forming alliances with businesses and other organizations that could lend a greater push to public transit (ie Downtown Charlottetown Inc.). Limited liability and eligibility for co-op funding are also benefits of such a move.

In order to re-start the co-op, we simply need to appoint a slate of three directors and notify the Corporations Division and the Credit Union of the change in signing officers. The morphing process will also require three people (perhaps the same three people) or three organizations willing to join for $5. As a co-op, we will have to hold an Annual General Meeting, but most will agree that is a positive thing.

Many members of the Public Transit Coalition were also previously members of the Public Transportation Co-operative of PEI. For those of you who were not, you should know that the PT Co-op grew out of an informal coalition of groups advocating for public transit. The groups worked on the issue informally for a couple of years and then decided to incorporate as a co-operative in 1998 to address the same issues that the original coalition of groups had been working on. The Co-operative had a period of initial success over a couple of years, but the end of the Millennium coincided with a loss of momentum and the co-op ceased active advocacy in late 2000. The current Public Transit Coalition took on the advocacy and research role as we moved into a new century.

I believe there was some hesitation expressed from a few when we were a much smaller group and this was proposed before, but I expect that most of you now will be pleased with the move to becoming a co-operative. It will indeed be a great boost to our Coalition and our cause. But certainly, if you have any questions or concerns, please send (or phone 566.4696) them to me over the next few days.

Thanks to Lobie for providing the details on the co-operative process and the history of the PT Co-op.