Ziggy – A non-owner can attend a meeting if they have sought and obtained permission to do so, and may exercise a proxy under certain circumstances.
Tenants are permitted to attend meetings under certain circumstances, and to exercise a proxy vote under certain circumstances.
A support person can attend a general meeting with an owner unless the owners corporation passes a motion to restrict the meeting to lot owners, their proxies, and those who are otherwise entitled to vote (such as mortgagees or covenant chargees or company nominees) only.
Whether the support person is permitted to speak at the meeting is a matter for those at the meeting. A support person must be invited to speak. A support person’s right to speak is not automatic.
A support person is different from a proxy. A proxy is permitted to speak at a meeting. A proxy has the same rights as the owner who has granted the proxy.
If an owner is uncomfortable speaking at a meeting and yet wants their opinion heard at a meeting then it would be best to appoint a proxy who would act on their behalf at the meeting. The owner would not then not be permitted to speak (unless invited to do so) or vote at the meeting as they have given their right to speak and vote to their proxy.
Non owners may be asked to leave the meeting for short periods of time when sensitive subject matter is discussed, including financial subject matter.