Bijural Terminology Records

Common Law

rights, powers and privileges of a natural person

Civil Law

capacity of a natural person

Title of the Legislative Text

Canada Business Corporations Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. C-44

Provision

15. (1) A corporation has the capacity and, subject to this Act, the rights, powers and privileges of a natural person.

Problem

In civil law, a corporation that has the capacity of a natural person has the full enjoyment of its rights, just like a human being.

In common law, to ensure that a "corporation/société par actions" could exercise all of its rights, the wording " rights, powers and privileges of a natural person/droits, pouvoirs et privilèges d'une personne physique " or a wording similar to that must be used.

Solution

In the French version, "et les droits, pouvoirs et privilèges de celle-ci " is added.

Harmonized Provision

(Amendment to the French version only)

15. (1) La société a, sous réserve des autres dispositions de la présente loi, la capacité d'une personne physique et les droits, pouvoirs et privilèges de celle-ci.

Federal Law-Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 3, S.C. 2011, c. 21, s. 14.