Ready, Set, Invest!

Questions

Ready, Set, Invest!

Introduction

Time to Invest

Discussion

BusinessesWhat is a business?

one or more people an organized commercial activitydifferent structures and laws

The Company: A Type of Business

Things a company can do:

sign contracts own property sue someone or be sued

The People Behind a Company:

Shareholders

Directors

Officers

Shareholders

The shareholder invests money in the company in exchange for specific rights.

A share represents part ownership of a company.

Shareholders’ Rights and Responsibilities

1. Right to vote at meetings

Shareholders’ main rights:

Shareholders’ Rights and Responsibilities

2. Right to dividends

Shareholders’ main rights:

Financial Markets

A company must have at least one shareholder. Not all companies are "listed on a stock exchange”.

Companies’Responsibilities

Companies that are "listed on a stock exchange" have additional responsibilities.

Directors and officers manage the company.

Directors and Officers

Ready to Invest?

1. Gather your money.

2. Several companies are asking you to invest in them. Listen to what they have to say.

3. Make your decision.

The Big Boys Construction Company has a very strict hiring policy. Construction work is physically demanding and they want to ensure quality service.

Before employees can drive vehicles on a construction site, they must

have completed Secondary 5,have completed a certified training course for

driving heavy machinery, andbe over 1.78 m (5 feet 10 inches) tall.

Big Boys

Big Boys

The third condition makes this hiring policy discriminatory because it automatically excludes most women.illegal

Sizzling Saucepans

A couple recently bought the Sizzling Saucepans Restaurant.

They both have a lot of experience as chefs, and their speciality is healthy cooking.

The new owners have two children, aged 11 and 13. The children work in the restaurant on Saturdays during the school year and a few days a week during their summer vacation.

Sizzling Saucepans

There is no minimum working age in Quebec. But there are special rules for minors who work.

legal

The All in the Family Company is doing very well.

All in the Family

One of the company’s directors, Mr. Smith, wants to sign a contract for office supplies with another company, BFF. BFF belongs to his wife.

Mr. Smith called a meeting of all the directors to have them vote on whether the contract with BFF should be signed. At the beginning of the meeting, he told the directors that his wife owns BFF. He’s very proud of her!

Mr. Smith then left the meeting so the other directors could vote.

All in the Family

Mr. Smith told the other directors about his conflict of interest and did not vote or take part in discussions concerning the contract. The contract is legal because the situation was handled correctly.

legal

The company Song Sacks makes shoulder bags.

Album covers of popular Quebec groups are printed on the bags. The company takes the album covers from the groups’ official websites.

Song Sacks

The bags are available in different sizes and colours. The bags are very popular with people 35 and under, and sales have doubled in just a few months.

Song Sacks

Reproducing album covers without the artists’ permission is forbidden by the Copyright Act.

illegal

Jones Bikes is a new company that makes bikes from recycled

materials.

Jones Bikes

Jones Bikes is doing very well. The company even received an award from the city for its commitment to the environment.

The people who own Jones Bikes used to work for Gold Bikes. They were very angry when Gold Bikes didn’t pay them the agreed salary. So they left Gold Bikes and took the customer list with them.

They formed their own company Jones Bikes and then contacted all the Gold Bikes customers, encouraging them to buy their bicycles from their new company.

Jones Bikes

Employees are not allowed to use any confidential information they learned while on the job.

This duty continues even after they leave the company.

illegal

SuperTeeShirts is a local company that prints original designs on plain t-shirts. The company buys the plain shirts from a supplier in China because this keeps their costs down.

SuperTeeShirts

A few kilometres away from SuperTeeShirts is a company that makes plain t-shirts from organic cotton.

SuperTeeShirts doesn’t intend to switch suppliers because the organic cotton shirts are expensive and the company wouldn’t be able to make a profit.

There is no law that requires a company to buy its supplies locally.

SuperTeeShirts

legal

International Tablets is a company that manufactures electronic tablets.

International Tablets

The company hires people with intellectual disabilities and funds a local program to develop activities for troubled youth. The circuit boards used in the tablets are made by another company. That company is in Bangladesh and employs children as young as four in its factory.

International Tablets

The company is not legally responsible for its supplier’s actions.

legal

The company Games Inc. makes board games.

Games Inc. filed its tax return on time. It reported an income of $80,000 after launching a very popular educational game.

Afterwards, the company issued a $20,000 dividend to each of its four shareholders.

Games Inc.

Games Inc.

A company can’t distribute all of its income as dividends. It must be able to pay all amounts it owes (e.g., salaries, income tax, rent, suppliers, electrical bills, bank loans).

illegal

Marketpro is an advertising company.

It specializes in advertising directed at youth aged 14 to 17.

It has developed ad campaigns for soft drink companies and fast-food restaurants.

Marketpro

Marketpro

In Quebec, advertising directed at children 13 and under is illegal.

Advertising directed primarily at teens is allowed just as it is for advertising aimed at adults.

legal

Wood Brothers developed a very efficient way of making fuel from the waste produced by wood factories.

They plan to create good jobs in their region.

Wood Brothers

While waiting for authorization from the environment ministry, they built a factory and started testing their products. Everything is running smoothly so far.

Wood Brothers

The company needs a certificate of authorization (permission) from the environment ministry before doing anything that could produce waste or emissions.

illegal

Adding It Up!

Theend!

Resources

Conclusion

Questions

Plain Language

Éducaloi explains the law to Quebecers in language that is easy to understand.

Resources

Thankyou!