What is Social Enterprise?

Social enterprise – Do definitions matter?

It is crucial to note that ‘social enterprise’ is not defined within Canada’s Income Tax Act. There is no certification or other program to enable a venture to be officially deemed a social enterprise.

There are, however, two legal structures in British Columbia which have been expressly designed as ‘containers’ for social enterprise. These are the Community Contribution Company (or C3), which was introduced in 2013, and the Benefit Company, which made its debut in 2020. That said, these may not be the best choice for all ventures, and adoption of a different legal structure than these hybrid options does not negate the activity as a social enterprise.

Click here to view a slideshow called The Structure Shop, reviewing options for structuring a social enterprise in Canada.

Click here to view a video presentation called Social Enterprise: understanding it and moving forward, presented via the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford BC, January 2021.