Borrowing upon additional sinking fund debentures (By-law No. 2021-359)

A by-law of the City of Ottawa to authorize the borrowing upon additional sinking fund debentures in the principal amount of $225,000,000.00 towards the cost of a certain capital work of the City of Ottawa

WHEREAS subsection 401 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended (the “Act”) provides that a municipality may incur a debt for municipal purposes, whether by borrowing money or in any other way, and may issue debentures and prescribed financial instruments and enter prescribed financial agreements for or in relation to the debt;

AND WHEREAS subsection 408 (2.1) of the Act provides that a municipality may issue a debenture or other financial instrument for long-term borrowing only to provide financing for a capital work;

AND WHEREAS in respect of the capital work of the City of Ottawa set out in Column 1 of Schedule “A” (the “Capital Work”) a determination was made by the City of Ottawa that such Capital Work is a capital project that is beneficial to the environment, in accordance with the City of Ottawa Green Debenture Framework found on the City of Ottawa’s website under the “Investor Relations/ Green Bond Framework” (the “Green Debenture Framework”). The three components of the Capital Work described in Column 1 of Schedule “A” were authorized on the basis of debentures being issued therefor by the By-laws enumerated in Column 2 of Schedule “A”. The Council of the City of Ottawa has authorized debentures to be issued for the Capital Work in the respective amounts shown in Column 3 of Schedule “A” for the three different components of the Capital Work described therein. Before authorizing the Capital Work and such three different components of the Capital Work and before authorizing any additional cost amount and any additional debenture authority in respect thereof, the Council of the City of Ottawa had its Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer calculate an updated limit in respect of its most recent annual debt and financial obligation limit received from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in accordance with the applicable regulation. Prior to the Council of the City of Ottawa authorizing the Capital Work, each such component of the Capital Work, each such additional cost amount and each such additional debenture authority, the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer determined that the estimated annual amount payable in respect of the Capital Work, each such component of the Capital Work, each such additional cost amount and each such additional debenture authority, would not cause the City of Ottawa to exceed its updated limit and that the approval of the Capital Work, each such component of the Capital Work, each such additional cost amount and each such additional debenture authority, by the Ontario Land Tribunal’s predecessor pursuant to the applicable regulation was not required;

AND WHEREAS on April 11, 2007 the City of Ottawa adopted a Capital Financing and Debt Policy which was subsequently amended (the “Policy”) and which establishes the administrative framework and guidelines for issuing short and long-term debt;

AND WHEREAS on December 9, 2020 by By-law No. 2020-360, as subsequently amended (the “Delegation of Authority By-law”) the City of Ottawa authorized the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer and the City Manager jointly to place any debenture by-law required for debt issued during the term of Council directly on the Agenda of the Debenture Committee;

AND WHEREAS the Delegation of Authority By-law provides that the exercise of such delegated authority shall be reported to Council at the earliest opportunity after such debt issuance;

AND WHEREAS on May 11, 2020 pursuant to the Green Debenture Framework the City of Ottawa issued 2.50% sinking fund debentures due May 11, 2051 in the principal amount of $300,000,000.00 under debenture By-law No. 2020-110 for three different components of the capital work of the City of Ottawa described therein (the “Original Debentures”);

AND WHEREAS By-law No. 2020-110 provides that the City of Ottawa reserves the right to issue additional sinking fund debentures pursuant to the Green Debenture Framework of the same maturity, interest rate and terms and conditions;

AND WHEREAS the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer has, in accordance with Section 12 of Schedule “B” of the Delegation of Authority By-law, and pursuant to the Policy, authorized a debenture issue by entering into a letter agreement dated October 21, 2021 with the Principals described therein for the issue and sale of additional sinking fund debentures in the principal amount of $225,000,000.00 pursuant to the Green Debenture Framework, as a re-opening of the Original Debentures, on the credit of the City of Ottawa (the “Purchase Letter”) for the Capital Work, payable at the time and bearing interest as hereinafter set forth. Such additional sinking fund debentures will form part of one series of sinking fund debentures with the Original Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $525,000,000.00, all issued in accordance with the Green Debenture Framework, with the same maturity, interest rate and terms and conditions and such additional sinking fund debentures are to be payable at the time and bearing interest as hereinafter set forth, as agreed by the City of Ottawa on October 21, 2021.

THEREFORE the Debenture Committee of the City of Ottawa enacts as follows:

Section 1

For the Capital Work, the borrowing upon the credit of the City of Ottawa of the principal amount of $225,000,000.00 and the issue of additional sinking fund debentures therefor within the term of years set out in Column 6 of Schedule “A”, of the same maturity, interest rate and conditions as the Original Debentures, in minimum denominations of $1,000.00, as hereinafter set forth, are hereby authorized. Such additional sinking fund debentures shall, when combined with the Original Debentures, constitute one series of 2.50% sinking fund debentures due May 11, 2051 in the aggregate principal amount of $525,000,000.00, all issued in accordance with the Green Debenture Framework.

Section 2

The Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer are hereby authorized to cause any number of additional sinking fund debentures in the principal amount of $225,000,000.00, as described in section 1 above, (the “Debentures”) to be issued for such amounts of money as may be required for the aforesaid three different components of the Capital Work in global and definitive forms, not exceeding in total the said principal amount of $225,000,000.00. The Debentures will be payable as to principal on May 11, 2051 with the first interest payment made on November 11, 2021 (accrued from May 11, 2021) and thereafter semi-annual instalments of interest thereon are to be made on May 11 and November 11.  The Debentures shall bear the City of Ottawa’s municipal seal and the signatures of the Mayor and of the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer, all in accordance with the provisions of the Act.  The Debentures are sufficiently signed if they bear the required signatures and each person signing has the authority to do so on the date he or she signs.  The Debentures shall initially be issued in global fully registered form as five certificates, one in the principal amount of $25,000,000.00 and four, each of which is in the principal amount of $50,000,000.00 (in the aggregate principal amount of $225,000,000.00), each substantially in the form attached as Schedule “B” hereto and forming part of this By-law (the “Global Debentures”).  The Global Debentures shall initially be issued in the name of CDS & CO. as nominee of CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. (“CDS”), and each Global Debenture shall provide for payment of principal and interest electronically in final and irrevocable same-day funds in accordance with the applicable requirements of CDS, so long as the Global Debentures are held by CDS.

Section 3

1. The Debentures shall all be dated the 3rd day of November, 2021, and as to both principal and interest shall be expressed and be payable in lawful money of Canada. The Debentures shall be issued for a term of approximately 30 years bearing interest at the rate of 2.50% per annum and shall be payable as follows: payment at maturity will be made on the 11th day of May, 2051. The first interest payment (accrued from May 11, 2021) in the amount of $2,812,500.00 will be made on November 11, 2021 and thereafter interest payments in the aggregate amount of $5,625,000.00 will be made in each year during the currency of the Debentures in semi-annual instalments of $2,812,500.00 on each of May 11 and November 11. The additional amount of $5,124,969.17 shall be deposited on or before May 11 (commencing on May 11, 2022) by the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer, or an authorized official of the City of Ottawa, into the sinking fund established under debenture By-law No. 2020-110 (the “Sinking Fund”), which amount, with interest compounded annually, will be sufficient to pay at maturity (May 11, 2051) the principal of the Debentures and with the annual contribution described in debenture By-law No. 2020-110, will also be sufficient to pay at maturity (May 11, 2051) the principal amount of the Original Debentures, as required by the provisions of By-law No. 2020-110, this By-law, the Act and the Policy.
2. Payments in respect of contributions to the Sinking Fund as well as principal of and interest on the Debentures shall be made only on a day on which banking institutions in Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario, are not authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed (a “Business Day”) and if any date for payment is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day and no further interest shall be paid in respect of the delay in such payment.

Section 4

Interest shall be payable to the date of maturity of the Debentures and on default shall be payable both before and after default and judgment. Any amounts payable by the City of Ottawa as interest on overdue principal or interest in respect of the Debentures shall be paid out of current revenue. Whenever it is necessary to compute any amount of interest in respect of the Debentures for a period of less than one full year, other than with respect to regular interest payments, such interest shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in the period and a year of 365 days or 366 days, if applicable.

Section 5

In limited circumstances (as agreed to by both the City of Ottawa and CDS) the Global Debentures shall be exchangeable for certificated Debentures in definitive fully registered form in authorized denominations upon surrender of the Global Debentures to the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer. Any of the Debentures issued as definitive Debentures may, with the approval of the Mayor be countersigned in writing by officials so designated by the Mayor. The definitive Debentures shall aggregate the same principal amount as the principal outstanding balance of the Global Debentures as of the record date for such exchange in accordance with the provisions of the Global Debentures, shall bear the same interest rate and maturity date, shall bear all unmatured interest obligations and shall have the same benefits and be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Global Debentures (except insofar as they specifically relate to the Global Debentures). In issuing definitive Debentures no change shall be made in the amount which would otherwise be payable in each year under the Global Debentures. The definitive Debentures shall be in fully registered form, payable as to principal and outstanding interest in lawful money of Canada at maturity upon presentation and surrender thereof at any specified branch in Canada of the City of Ottawa’s bank designated in the definitive Debentures. Prior to maturity the definitive Debentures shall be payable as to interest by cheque sent by mail to the registered addresses of the registered holders or, if authorized in writing, by electronic transfer.

Section 6

In respect of the Debentures there shall be raised, as part of the general municipal levy the following amounts: the first interest payment (accrued from May 11, 2021) in the amount of $2,812,500.00 which will be made on November 11, 2021 and thereafter interest payments in the aggregate amount of $5,625,000.00 which will be made in each year of the currency of the Debentures in semi-annual instalments of $2,812,500.00 on each of May 11 and November 11. There shall also be raised in each year during the said period, as part of the general municipal levy, the additional amount of $5,124,969.17 for deposit into the Sinking Fund on or before May 11 (commencing on May 11, 2022) for the payment at maturity (May 11, 2051) of the principal of the Debentures. In each such year, for the Capital Work, the said two amounts (the amount for interest and the amount for the contribution to the Sinking Fund) shall be raised as part of the general municipal levy, to the extent that such amounts have not been provided for by any other available source including, without limitation, federal and provincial gas taxes and development charges in addition to other taxes or fees or charges imposed on persons or property by a by-law of any municipality.

Section 7

The Debentures may contain any provision for their registration thereof authorized by any statute relating to municipal debentures in force at the time of the issue thereof.

Section 8

The City of Ottawa shall maintain a registry in respect of the Debentures in which shall be recorded the names and the addresses of the registered holders and particulars of the Debentures held by them respectively and in which particulars of the cancellations, exchanges, substitutions and transfers of Debentures may be recorded and the City of Ottawa is authorized to use electronic, magnetic or other media for records of or related to the Debentures or for copies of them.

Section 9

The City of Ottawa shall not be bound to see to the execution of any trust affecting the ownership of any Debenture or be affected by notice of any equity that may be subsisting in respect thereof. The City of Ottawa shall deem and treat registered holders of the Debentures, including the Global Debentures, as the absolute owners thereof for all purposes whatsoever notwithstanding any notice to the contrary and all payments to or to the order of registered holders shall be valid and effectual to discharge the liability of the City of Ottawa on the Debentures to the extent of the amount or amounts so paid. Where a Debenture is registered in more than one name, the principal of and interest from time to time payable on such Debenture shall be paid to or to the order of all the joint registered holders thereof, failing written instructions to the contrary from all such joint registered holders, and such payment shall constitute a valid discharge to the City of Ottawa. In the case of the death of one or more joint registered holders, despite the foregoing provisions of this section, the principal of and interest on any Debentures registered in their names may be paid to the survivor or survivors of such holders and such payment shall constitute a valid discharge to the City of Ottawa.

Section 10

The Debentures are transferable or exchangeable at the office of the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer upon presentation for such purpose accompanied by an instrument of transfer or exchange in a form approved by the City of Ottawa and which form is in accordance with the prevailing Canadian transfer legislation and practices, executed by the registered holder thereof or such holder’s duly authorized attorney or legal personal representative, whereupon and upon registration of such transfer or exchange and cancellation of the Debenture or Debentures presented, the Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer shall issue and deliver a new Debenture or Debentures of an equal aggregate principal amount in any authorized denomination or denominations as directed by the transferor, in the case of a transfer or as directed by the registered holder in the case of an exchange.

Section 11

The Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer shall issue and deliver new Debentures in exchange or substitution for Debentures outstanding on the registry with the same maturity date and of like form which have become mutilated, defaced, lost, subject to a mysterious or unexplainable disappearance, stolen, destroyed or dematerialized, provided that the applicant therefor shall have: (a) paid such costs as may have been incurred in connection therewith; (b) (in the case when a Debenture is mutilated, defaced, lost, mysteriously or unexplainably missing, stolen, destroyed or dematerialized) furnished the City of Ottawa with such evidence (including evidence as to the certificate number of the Debenture in question) and indemnity in respect thereof satisfactory to the City of Ottawa in its discretion; and (c) surrendered to the City of Ottawa any mutilated or defaced Debenture in respect of which new Debentures are to be issued in substitution.

Section 12

The Debentures issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange or in substitution for any Debentures or part thereof shall carry all the rights to interest if any, accrued and unpaid which were carried by such Debentures or part thereof and shall be so dated and shall bear the same maturity date and, subject to the provisions of this By-law, shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Debentures in respect of which the transfer, exchange or substitution is effected.

Section 13

The cost of all transfers and exchanges, including the printing of authorized denominations of the new Debentures, shall be borne by the City of Ottawa. When any of the Debentures are surrendered for transfer or exchange the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer shall: (a) in the case of an exchange, cancel and destroy the Debentures surrendered for exchange; (b) in the case of an exchange, certify the cancellation and destruction in the registry; (c) enter in the registry particulars of the new Debenture or Debentures issued in exchange and (d) in the case of a transfer, enter in the registry the name of the registered holder as directed by the transferor.

Section 14

Subject to an agreement that the City of Ottawa may enter into to the contrary, reasonable fees may be imposed by the City of Ottawa for the substitution of a new Debenture or new Debentures for any of the Debentures that are mutilated, defaced, lost, mysteriously or unexplainably missing, stolen, destroyed or dematerialized and for the replacement of any of the interest cheques that are mutilated, defaced, lost, mysteriously or unexplainably missing, stolen or destroyed.  When new Debentures are issued in substitution in these circumstances the City of Ottawa shall: (a) treat as cancelled and destroyed the Debentures in respect of which new Debentures will be issued in substitution; (b) certify the deemed cancellation and destruction in the registry; (c) enter in the registry particulars of the new Debentures issued in substitution; and (d) make a notation of any indemnities provided.

Section 15

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice required to be given to a registered holder of one or more of the Debentures will be sufficiently given if a copy of such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered to the registered address of such registered holder.

Section 16

1. In accordance with the Green Debenture Framework, the Purchase Letter, the Policy, the Delegation of Authority By-law and the other relevant authorities, the Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer are hereby authorized to cause the Debentures to be issued. One or more of the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer and the City Clerk or the Deputy City Clerk are hereby authorized to generally do all things and to execute all other documents and papers in the name of the City of Ottawa in order to carry out the sale of the Debentures through CDS’s book entry only system and the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer is authorized to affix the City of Ottawa’s municipal seal to any of such documents and papers.
2. The money received by the City of Ottawa from the sale of the Debentures, including any premium, and any earnings derived from the investment of that money, after providing for the expenses related to their issue, if any, shall be initially invested in accordance with the Green Debenture Framework pending the application to the three different components of the Capital Work described in the Debenture By-law or to another Eligible Project in accordance with the Green Debenture Framework, and to no other purpose except as permitted by the Green Debenture Framework and the Act.

Section 17

The City of Ottawa has reserved the right to issue additional sinking fund debentures of the same maturity, interest rate and terms and conditions.

Section 18

Subject to the City of Ottawa’s investment policies and goals and the applicable legislation, the City of Ottawa may, if not in default under the Debentures, at any time purchase any of the Debentures in the open market or by tender or by private contract at any price and on such terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the manner by which any tender offer may be communicated or accepted and the persons to whom it may be addressed) as the City of Ottawa may in its discretion determine.

Section 19

This By-law comes into force on the day it is passed.

ENACTED AND PASSED this 29th day of October, 2021

We have examined the Debenture By-law of the Issuer authorizing the issue of additional sinking fund debentures in the principal amount of $225,000,000.00 dated November 3, 2021 and maturing on May 11, 2051.

The Debenture By-law has been properly passed and is within the legal powers of the Issuer. The five fully registered additional global sinking fund debenture certificates issued under the Debenture By-law, one in the principal amount of $25,000,000.00 and four, each of which is in the principal amount of $50,000,000.00 (in the aggregate principal amount of $225,000,000.00) substantially in the within form (the “Global Debentures”), are direct, general and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer. The Global Debentures are enforceable against the Issuer subject to the special jurisdiction and powers of the Ontario Land Tribunal over defaulting municipalities under the Municipal Affairs Act, as amended. This opinion is subject to and incorporates all the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set out in our opinion letter delivered on the date of the Global Debentures.

Toronto, November 3, 2021                                                                               

WeirFoulds LLP

Sections 1 to 4 – Form, Denomination, Ranking and Beneficial Interests in Global Debenture

Section 1

The additional sinking fund debentures issued pursuant to the Debenture By-law (the “Debentures”) are issuable as fully registered Debentures without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000.00.

Section 2

The Debentures are direct, general and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer.  The Debentures rank concurrently and equally in respect of payment of principal and interest with all other debentures of the Issuer except for the availability of money in a sinking or retirement fund for a particular issue of debentures. (The Debentures represent additional sinking fund debentures in the principal amount of $225,000,000.00 issued in connection with the re-opening of the 2.50% $300,000,000.00 sinking fund debentures due May 11, 2051 issued on May 11, 2020 pursuant to the Green Debenture Framework as defined in the Debenture By-law).

Section 3

This Debenture is one of five fully registered sinking fund debenture certificates (individually a “Global Debenture”) registered in the name of the nominee of CDS and held by CDS.  Beneficial interests in this Global Debenture are represented through book entry accounts, to be established and maintained by CDS, on its records for CDS’s participants (the “Participants”) in accordance with its participant agreement and rules and procedures which are posted on CDS’s website.

Section 4

Except in the limited circumstances described herein, owners of beneficial interests in this Global Debenture will not be entitled to have Debentures registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Debentures and will not be considered registered holders of Debentures under the Conditions.  The Issuer does not have any responsibility or liability for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of CDS or Participants relating to payments made or to be made by CDS or any Participant on account of beneficial ownership interests in this Global Debenture.

Sections 5 to 7 – Certificated Debentures

Section 5

This Global Debenture is exchangeable, in whole but not in part, for certificated Debentures in definitive form registered in the name of a person other than CDS or its nominee only upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) upon 30 days’ notice by CDS to the Issuer, CDS may discontinue the eligibility of this Global Debenture on deposit, or cease to hold this Global Debenture in respect of the Debentures; or (b) if CDS ceases to be a recognized clearing agency under applicable Canadian or provincial securities legislation and a successor is not appointed; or (c) if the Issuer gives CDS appropriate notice that it is unable or unwilling to continue to have CDS hold this Global Debenture as a book entry only security or that it desires or has processed an entitlement requiring a withdrawal of this Global Debenture, and the Issuer has all right, power, capacity and authority to do so.

Section 6

Debentures issued in exchange for this Global Debenture shall be issued as certificated Debentures in definitive form in authorized denominations, shall have the same benefits and be subject to the same terms and conditions as this Global Debenture (except insofar as they specifically relate to this Global Debenture as such), shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as CDS shall direct and shall be delivered as directed by the persons in whose names such definitive Debentures are to be registered.

Section 7

Upon the exchange of certificated Debentures in definitive form for this Global Debenture, the Issuer shall receive and cancel this Global Debenture, shall reduce the holdings of CDS & CO. on the registry to nil and shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange for this Global Debenture certificated Debentures in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the Participants’ proportionate interests in this Global Debenture as of the record date for such exchange, as directed by CDS.  On or after any such exchange, but only to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances, the Issuer shall make all payments in respect of such certificated Debentures in definitive form to the registered holders thereof, notwithstanding such exchange occurred after the record date for any payment and prior to such payment date.

Section 8 – Registration

The Issuer will keep at its designated office in the City of Ottawa a registry in which shall be entered the names and addresses of the registered holders of Debentures and particulars of the Debentures held by them respectively and in which transfers, exchanges and substitutions of Debentures may be registered.

Section 9 – Title

The Issuer shall not be bound to see to the execution of any trust affecting the ownership of any Debenture or be affected by notice of any equity that may be subsisting in respect thereof.  The Issuer shall deem and treat registered holders of Debentures, including this Global Debenture, as the absolute owners thereof for all purposes whatsoever notwithstanding any notice to the contrary and all payments to or to the order of registered holders shall be valid and effectual to discharge the liability of the Issuer on the Debentures to the extent of the amount or amounts so paid.

Sections 10 to 17 – Payments of Principal and Interest

Section 10

In each year during the currency of the Debentures interest shall be payable as follows: the first interest payment in the amount of $2,812,500.00 will be made on November 11, 2021 (accrued from May 11, 2021) and thereafter interest payments in the aggregate amount of $5,625,000.00 will be made in each year of the currency of the Debentures in semi-annual instalments ($2,812,500.00 on each of May 11 and November 11). The additional amount of $5,124,969.17 shall be deposited on or before May 11 (commencing on May 11, 2022) by the Issuer into the sinking fund previously established under By-law No. 2020-110 for the payment of the principal of the debentures issued thereunder at maturity (the “Sinking Fund”), all in accordance with the provisions of the Debenture By-law, the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, the Policy and the Report (as defined in the Debenture By-law).

Section 11

The record date for purposes of payment of principal and of interest on the Debentures is as of 5:00 pm on the sixteenth calendar day preceding the relevant Payment Date, including the maturity date. Principal of and interest on the Debentures are payable by the Issuer to the persons registered as holders in the registry on the relevant record date. The Issuer shall not be required to register any transfer, exchange or substitution of Debentures during the period from any record date to the corresponding Payment Date.

Section 12

The Issuer shall make all payments in respect of semi-annual interest on the Debentures on each Payment Date commencing on November 11, 2021 for the initial payment of interest, thereafter semi-annually on each of May 11 and November 11, and of the principal at maturity electronically in final and irrevocable same-day funds in accordance with the applicable requirements of CDS, so long as this Global Debenture is held by CDS.

Section 13

In the case that certificated Debentures in definitive form are issued, the Issuer shall make all payments in respect of principal and outstanding interest in lawful money of Canada at maturity upon presentation and surrender thereof at any specified branch in Canada of the Issuer’s bank designated in the definitive Debentures, and prior to maturity, shall make payments of interest by cheque sent by mail to the registered addresses of the registered holders or, if authorized in writing, by electronic transfer.

Section 14

Whenever it is necessary to compute any amount of interest in respect of the Debentures for a period of less than one full year, other than with respect to regular semi-annual interest payments, such interest shall be calculated on the basis of the actual number of days in the period and a year of 365 days or 366 days, if applicable. 

Section 15

Payments in respect of contributions to the Sinking Fund as well as principal of and interest on the Debentures shall be made only on a day on which banking institutions in Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario, are not authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed (a “Business Day”), and if any date for payment is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day and no further interest shall be paid in respect of the delay in such payment.

Section 16

Where a Debenture is registered in more than one name, the principal of and interest from time to time payable on such Debenture shall be paid to or to the order of all the joint registered holders thereof, failing written instructions to the contrary from all such joint registered holders, and such payment shall constitute a valid discharge to the Issuer.

Section 17

In the case of the death of one or more joint registered holders, despite sections 9 and 16 of the Conditions, the principal of and interest on any Debentures registered in their names may be paid to the survivor or survivors of such holders and such payment shall constitute a valid discharge to the Issuer.

Sections 18 to 21 – Transfers, Exchanges and Substitutions

Section 18

Debentures are transferable or exchangeable at the office of the Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer of the Issuer upon presentation for such purpose accompanied by an instrument of transfer or exchange in a form approved by the Issuer and which form is in accordance with the prevailing Canadian transfer legislation and practices, executed by the registered holder thereof or such holder’s duly authorized attorney or legal personal representative, whereupon and upon registration of such transfer or exchange and cancellation of the Debenture or Debentures presented, a new Debenture or Debentures of an equal aggregate principal amount in any authorized denomination or denominations will be delivered as directed by the transferor, in the case of a transfer or as directed by the registered holder in the case of an exchange.

Section 19

The Issuer shall issue and deliver Debentures in exchange for or in substitution for Debentures outstanding on the registry with the same maturity date and of like form in the event of a mutilation, defacement, loss, mysterious or unexplainable disappearance, theft, destruction or dematerialization, provided that the applicant therefor shall have: (i) paid such costs as may have been incurred in connection therewith; (ii) (in the case of a mutilated, defaced, lost, mysteriously or unexplainably missing, stolen, destroyed or dematerialized Debenture) furnished the Issuer with such evidence (including evidence as to the certificate number of the Debenture in question) and indemnity in respect thereof satisfactory to the Issuer in its discretion; and (iii) surrendered to the Issuer any mutilated or defaced Debenture in respect of which new Debentures are to be issued in substitution.

Section 20

Each Debenture executed and delivered upon any registration of transfer or exchange for or in substitution for any Debenture or part thereof shall carry all the rights to interest, if any, accrued and unpaid which were carried by such Debenture or part thereof and shall be so dated.

Section 21

Subject to an agreement that the Issuer may enter into to the contrary, the Issuer shall not impose any fees in respect of the Debentures, in the normal course of business, other than reasonable fees for the issue of new Debentures or for the issue of new cheques in substitution for Debentures that are mutilated, defaced, lost, mysteriously or unexplainably missing, stolen, destroyed or dematerialized, or interest cheques that are mutilated, defaced, lost, mysteriously or unexplainably missing, stolen or destroyed.

Section 22 – Purchases

Subject to the investment policies and goals of the Issuer and the applicable legislation, the Issuer may, if not in default under the Debentures, at any time purchase Debentures in the open market or by tender or by private contract at any price and on such terms and conditions (including without limitation, the manner by which any tender offer may be communicated or accepted and the persons to whom it may be addressed) as the Issuer may in its discretion determine.

Section 23 – Additional Debentures

The Issuer reserves the right to issue additional sinking fund debentures of the same maturity, interest rate and terms and conditions.

Section 24 – Notices

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice required to be given to a registered holder of one or more of the Debentures will be sufficiently given if a copy of such notice is mailed or otherwise delivered to the registered address of such registered holder. If the Issuer or any registered holder is required to give any notice in connection with the Debentures on or before any day and that day is not a Business Day then such notice may be given on the next following Business Day.

Section 25 – Time

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference herein to a time shall be considered to be a reference to Toronto time.

Section 26 – Governing Law

The Debentures are governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable in Ontario.