Ottawa and Alexandria‑Cornwall Catholic Corporations Merge

Summary#

This notice, published in the Canada Gazette on September 17, 2022, says an application will be made to Parliament for a private Act to combine two Catholic corporate bodies. It would merge the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Ottawa and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation for the Diocese of Alexandria‑Cornwall into one corporation called The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Ottawa‑Cornwall.

What it does#

• Asks Parliament to pass a private Act to amalgamate the two existing church corporations.
• Seeks to continue the merged entity as a single corporation under Canadian law with the name The Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Ottawa‑Cornwall.
• The notice was signed in Ottawa on August 27, 2022 by solicitor Ryan Kilger of Vincent Dagenais Gibson LLP/s.r.l..
• The applicants say they will apply during the current Parliament session or in either of the next two sessions.

Who's affected#

• Members, staff, clergy, and parishioners connected to the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Ottawa and the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation for the Diocese of Alexandria‑Cornwall.
• People and organizations with financial or legal ties to those corporations, such as donors, creditors, and property holders.
• It is unclear from the notice exactly which contracts, properties, or local arrangements would change; those details would come out if and when the private Act is prepared.

Why it matters#

• Merging the corporations could change who legally owns property, who is responsible for debts, and how the combined church organization is governed.
• For local communities, it could affect administration of parishes, staff roles, and where decisions are made.
• This is a notice of intent. It does not mean Parliament has approved the merger yet; a private Act would be needed before any legal change takes effect.