Access to Information                              and Tenant Participation on Board of Directors

    The Life Lease Act of Manitoba procides that tenants have the right of access to information about the facility; especially the finances and operation of the facility (see Part 3 of the Act). This part of the Act also specifies the right of the tenants to have representation at board meetings of the owner and to receive all the information that other board members receive. However, the Act does not give tenants the right to vote at such meetings. Such empowerment to Life Lease tenants is left to the discretion of the owners of the complex. Some have it and some don't have it.

    Unfortunately not all owners or managers meet the requirement to provide financial information to the tenants or their representatives. Some do it only at the Annual Meeting while others give tenant representatives full participation at board meetings including the right to vote and access to all informaiton given to other board members.

    When considering moving to a Life Lease facility, be sure to ask about tenant representation on the Board and tenant access to full disclosure of financial and other operational information.

    The MLLOA currently is developing porposed changes to the Act which will strengthen the tenants' role on the  Board and their right of  access to timely information about the finances and operation of the facility.