Housing co-operatives in Canada are not-for-profit associations incorporated under provincial or territorial legislation or federal legislation, like a business act or a non-profit act. They are an association of members whose mutual purpose is to develop and provide housing at cost on a not-for-profit basis. Members elect a board of directors to oversee the co-operative and hire the management to ensure the co-operative is well run, runs as affordably as possible and maintains a good state of repair.
Those are some essential elements of a housing co-operative in Canada.