Document:

2020 Employee Share Purchase Plan (00090123-5).DOCX

Exhibit 10.29
WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
2020 EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
1.Purpose and History. The purpose of the Waste Connections, Inc. 2020 Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is to advance the interests of Waste Connections, Inc., a corporation existing under the OBCA‎ (the “Company”), and its shareholders by providing Eligible Employees (as defined below) of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries (as defined below) with an opportunity to acquire an ownership interest in the Company by purchasing Shares (as defined below) through payroll deductions. It is the intention of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries that the Plan qualify and operate: (i) with respect to Canadian Participants, as an “employee savings or thrift plan” (as defined in Canada Revenue Agency Interpretation Bulletin IT-502, Employee Benefit Plans and Employee Trusts, or any successor publication thereto), for the purposes of the Tax Act (as defined below); and (ii) with respect to U.S. Participants, as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Accordingly, provisions of the Plan shall be construed so as to extend and limit participation and operation in a manner consistent with the requirements of an employee savings or thrift plan and Section 423 of the Code, as applicable.
2.Definitions.

(a)“Administrator” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
(b)“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c)‎‎“Canadian Participant” means an Eligible Employee who is resident in Canada for the ‎purposes of the Tax Act and/or who participates in the Plan by virtue of his or her employment services rendered to the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries in Canada.  ‎For greater certainty, a Participant may be both a Canadian Participant and a U.S. Participant.
(d)“Code” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
(e)“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board (or any successor committee).
(f)“Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
(g)“Compensation” means, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator on a uniform basis for all Participants and prior to the Offering Period to which such determination applies, the regular base salary or wages paid to an Eligible Employee by reason of his or her employment with the Company or a Designated Subsidiary (determined prior to any reduction thereof by operation of a salary reduction election under a plan described in Section 401(k) of the Code or Section 125 of the Code, if any) during an Offering Period, and shall not include (i) any reimbursements of expenses, (ii) any housing, relocation, automobile, travel or other similar cash allowances, (iii) any overtime payments or shift premiums, (iv) any sign-on bonus, (v) any sales commission payments, (vi) any disability payments, or (vii) any non-cash compensation or equity incentive awards.
(h)“Designated Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that has been designated by the Administrator from time to time, in its sole discretion, as eligible to participate in the Plan.

(i)“Eligible Employee” means, with respect to any Offering Period, an individual who is an employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, except that an employee whose customary employment is 20 hours or less per week is not an Eligible Employee. In accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.421-1(h)(2), an employee that is a U.S. Participant will be considered to be employed during military or sick leave or any other bona fide leave of absence that does not exceed three months and during any period longer than three months if his or her right to reemployment is guaranteed by statute or contract.
(j)“End Date” means the last business day of the Offering Period.
(k)“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(l)“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) the closing price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, in relation to Participants whose Compensation is paid in U.S. dollars or any other foreign currency; (ii) the closing price of the Shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange, in relation to Participants whose Compensation is paid in Canadian dollars; or (iii) if the Shares are not listed on such stock exchanges, the value as is determined solely by the Board, acting in good faith.
(m)‎“Insider” has the meaning given to such term by the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange.
(n)“Insider Participation Limits” has the meaning given to such term in Section 7(d).
(o)“OBCA” means the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), together with the ‎regulations thereto, as may be amended from time to time.‎
(p)“Offering Date” means the first business day of an Offering Period.
(q)“Offering Period” means an offering to Participants to purchase Shares under the Plan established pursuant to Section 4.
(r)“Option Price” means an amount equal to 95% of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the End Date of the applicable Offering Period.
(s)“Participant” means an Eligible Employee who elects to participate in one or more Offering Periods under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.
(t)“Participation Form” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
(u)“Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
(v)“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(w)‎“Security-Based Compensation Arrangements” means any stock option, stock ‎option plan, employee stock purchase plan or any other compensation or incentive mechanism of the ‎Company involving the issuance or potential issuance of Shares, including a share purchase from treasury ‎which is financially assisted by the Company by way of a loan, guarantee or otherwise, including the ‎Plan.‎
(x)“Shares” means common shares in the capital of the Company, or the kind of shares of equity or other securities into which such Shares may be changed in accordance with Section 12(b).

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(y)“Subsidiary” means any body corporate that qualifies as a ‎subsidiary of the Company under Section 1(2) of the OBCA, provided that, in respect of US ‎Participants, it is a corporation, other than the Company, in an unbroken chain of corporations, beginning with the ‎Company, and, at the time an option is granted under the Plan, each of the corporations, other than the ‎last corporation in the unbroken chain, owns stock possessing fifty (50) percent or more of the total ‎combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
(z)‎‎“Tax Act” means the Income Tax Act (Canada), together with the regulations thereto, each as amended from time to time. ‎
(aa)‎‎“U.S. Participant” means an Eligible Employee who is a resident or citizen of the United ‎States for the purposes of the Code and/or who is subject to taxation under the Code in respect ‎of any option awarded or granted under the Plan. ‎ For greater certainty, a Participant may be both a Canadian Participant and a U.S. Participant.
(bb)“Withdrawal Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 10(a).

3.Plan Administration.

(a)Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, or, in the absence of the Committee, the Board itself (such administrator, the “Administrator”). Any power of the Committee may also be exercised by the Board. To the extent that any permitted action taken by the Board conflicts with action taken by the Committee, the Board action shall control.
(b)Powers and Duties of the Administrator. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall be authorized and empowered to do all things that it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration of the Plan, including without limitation:

(i)to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and to define terms not otherwise defined in the Plan;
(ii)to determine which persons are eligible to participate in the Plan;
(iii)to interpret and construe the Plan and any rules and regulations under the Plan, and to make exceptions to any such provisions if the Administrator, in good faith, determines that it is appropriate to do so;
(iv)to decide all questions concerning the Plan and to determine all ambiguities, inconsistencies and omissions in the terms of the Plan;
(v)to appoint such agents, counsel, accountants, consultants and other persons as may be required to assist in administering the Plan;
(vi)to allocate and delegate its responsibilities under the Plan and to designate other persons to carry out any of its responsibilities under the Plan;
(vii)where applicable, determine when an action taken under the Plan becomes administratively practicable;
(viii)to prescribe and amend such forms as may be necessary or appropriate for Eligible Employees to make elections under the Plan or to otherwise administer the Plan; and

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(ix)to do such other acts as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan in accordance with its terms, or as may be provided for or required by law.

(c)Determinations by the Administrator. All decisions, determinations and interpretations by the Administrator regarding the Plan and any rules and regulations under the Plan shall be final and binding on all Participants, beneficiaries, heirs, assigns or other persons holding or claiming rights under the Plan. The Administrator shall consider such factors as it deems relevant, in its sole and absolute discretion, in making such decisions, determinations and interpretations, including the recommendations or advice of any officer or other employee of the Company and such attorneys, consultants and accountants as it may select. Members of the Board and members of the Committee acting in their capacity as Administrator under the Plan shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel.
(d)No Liability of Committee or Board Members. No member of the Committee or the Board shall be personally liable by reason of any contract or other instrument executed by such member or on his or her behalf in his or her capacity as a member of the Committee or the Board nor for any mistake of judgment made in good faith, and the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and the Board and each other employee, officer or director of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan may be allocated or delegated, against any cost or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any amount paid in settlement of a claim) arising out of any act or failure to act in connection with the Plan unless arising out of such person’s own fraud or willful bad faith; provided, however, that approval of the Board shall be required for the payment of any amount in settlement of a claim against any such person. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Amalgamation or By-law No. 1, as a matter of law, any contract with the Company, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
(e)Rules for Foreign Jurisdictions. The Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of share certificates. The Administrator may also adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, and, with respect to Subsidiaries outside the United States, determine that a sub-plan shall not be considered to be part of an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code.
(f)Currency. If, in connection with the administration of the Plan including in determining the Fair Market Value, an amount needs to be converted from US dollars to Canadian dollars or vice versa, such amount will be converted using the applicable exchange rate posted for such day by the Bank of Canada‎, or, for Participants other than Canadian Participants, such other source ‎determined by the Administrator.‎

4.Offering Periods.

(a)Shares shall be offered for purchase under the Plan through a series of successive Offering Periods until the earlier of (i) the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan, as described in Section 12 below, have been purchased, and (ii) the termination of the Plan.

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(b)Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator before the beginning of the applicable Offering Period, Offering Periods shall be of a duration of six (6) months; provided that in no event shall an Offering Period exceed twelve (12) months in duration.

5.Participation in Offering Periods.

(a)An Eligible Employee may elect to participate in an Offering Period under the Plan by completing a form authorizing payroll deductions, in the form provided by the Company or caused to be provided by the Company (such as through a third-party service provider designated by the Administrator) (the “Participation Form”), and filing such Participation Form with the Company during the enrollment period established by the Administrator prior to the beginning of the Offering Period and in accordance with the instructions in such Participation Form. The Participation Form will become effective on the first Offering Date to occur after such form is properly filed with the Company.
(b)Subject to the provisions of Section 6, payroll deductions for a Participant shall begin with the first payroll date after the Offering Date as of which the Participant’s Participation Form has become effective and shall continue until the Plan is terminated, subject to the Participant’s withdrawal or termination of employment as provided in Section 10.

6.Payroll Deductions.

(a)By completing and filing a Participation Form in accordance with the instructions in such Participation Form, an Eligible Employee shall elect to have payroll deductions withheld from his or her Compensation on each payroll date during the time he or she is a Participant in the Plan in amounts equal to or greater than one percent (1%), but not exceeding ten percent (10%), of the Compensation which the Participant receives on each such payroll date during the Offering Period, subject to the provisions set forth in Section 7. Such payroll deductions shall be in whole percentages only.  Pursuant to the Participation Form, the Participant shall direct the Company or Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, to contribute such withheld amounts to the Plan as described in this Section 6.
(b)All payroll deductions authorized by a Participant shall be withheld by the Company or Designated Subsidiary, as applicable, net of any applicable withholding tax or other source deductions, and credited to a notional account established under the Plan for the Participant. The funds represented by such notional accounts shall be held as part of the Company’s or Designated Subsidiary’s general assets, and neither the Company nor any Designated Subsidiary shall be obligated to segregate such funds, but all such funds shall be held pursuant to the Plan on behalf of and for the notional accounts of each individual Participant and such Participant shall be the beneficial owner of funds until such time as the funds are used to purchase Shares in accordance with the Plan.  Aside from the contributions made by a Participant through his or her payroll deductions, a Participant shall  not make any separate cash payment or contribution to such notional account or to the Plan.
(c)Subject to Section 10 and Section 13, a Participant may increase or decrease the amount of his or her payroll deductions under the Plan for subsequent Offering Periods by completing an amended Participation Form and filing it with the Company within the time period specified by the Administrator and in accordance with the instructions in such Participation Form.
(d)A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan at any time as provided in Section 10.

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7.Grant and Exercise of Option.

(a)On each Offering Date, a Participant shall be granted, by operation of the Plan, an option to purchase a number of Shares at the Option Price, determined in accordance with Section 7(b), subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(c). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Participant shall be granted an option under the Plan for any Offering Period if:

(i)immediately after the grant, the Participant (or any other person whose stock ownership would be attributed to such Participant pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own shares (including any shares that the Participant may purchase under outstanding options) possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of shares of the Company or of any Subsidiary; or
(ii)the Participant’s rights to purchase Shares under all “employee stock purchase plans” (within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries would accrue at a rate which exceeds US$25,000 of the Fair Market Value of such Shares (determined at the time the option is granted) for each calendar year in which the option is outstanding at any time.

(b)Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan pursuant to Section 10 or incurs a termination of employment, the Participant’s option for an Offering Period shall be automatically exercised on the End Date of such Offering Period to purchase such whole number of Shares determined by dividing the accumulated payroll deductions in the Participant’s notional account on such End Date by the Option Price, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(c). No fractional Shares will be purchased and any accumulated payroll deductions not used to purchase Shares shall be refunded (without interest) to the Participant; provided, however, that the Administrator may determine in its discretion that an amount representing a fractional share that was not used to purchase Shares during an Offering Period may be carried over to a subsequent Offering Period.
(c)Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the number of Shares that a Participant may purchase during an Offering Period may not exceed the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased without exceeding the limitation described in Section 7(a)(ii).
(d)The aggregate number of Shares issuable to Insiders under the Plan and all other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding Shares. During any one-year period, the aggregate number of Shares issued to Insiders under the Plan and all other Security-Based Compensation Arrangements of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding Shares. Collectively, the restrictions referred to in this Section 7(d) are referred to as the “Insider Participation Limits.”

8.Delivery of Shares. As soon as administratively practicable after the End Date of each Offering Period, the Company will deposit or deliver, or cause to be deposited or delivered, the Shares purchased by each Participant upon exercise of the Participant’s option for such Offering Period in an account established for the Participant at a brokerage firm or other financial services firm selected by the Administrator, to be held in book entry form.  Any Shares acquired with a Participant's contributions under the Plan shall be immediately vested in and become the property of such Participant.
9.No Shareholder Rights. No Participant (or other person claiming through such Participant) shall, by reason of the Plan or any rights granted pursuant thereto, or by the fact that there are payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s notional account sufficient to purchase Shares, have any rights of a shareholder of the Company (including without limitation any right to receive dividends or other 

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distributions paid with respect to Shares) until Shares have been deposited or delivered to such Participant in the manner provided in Section 8.
10.Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.

(a)A Participant may terminate his or her participation in the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Company (“Withdrawal Notice”) within the time period specified by the Administrator. The Withdrawal Notice shall state that the Participant wishes to terminate his or her participation in the Plan, specify the applicable End Date and request the cessation of further payroll deductions under the Plan. As soon as administratively practicable, payroll deductions will cease for the Participant’s purchase of Shares for such Offering Period and for any subsequent Offering Period and any accumulated payroll deductions shall be refunded to the Participant (without interest) as soon as administratively practicable following the Administrator’s receipt of the Withdrawal Notice. A Participant’s withdrawal from the Plan pursuant to this Section shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in a subsequent Offering Period by completing and filing a new Participation Form pursuant to Section 5, or in any similar plan that may hereafter be adopted by the Company.
(b)If a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or by a Designated Subsidiary for any reason, all payroll deductions and all rights to purchase Shares granted to the Participant with respect to the Offering Period then in effect shall immediately cease, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion in compliance with Treas. Reg. §1.423-2(f). The amount of payroll deductions accumulated in such Participant’s notional account shall be refunded (without interest) to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable (or in the case of the Participant’s death, to the executor or administrator of the Participant’s estate, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed, to such other person as the Administrator may designate). For purposes of the Plan, the date of the Participant’s termination of employment shall be the Participant’s last date of actual employment and shall not include any period during which such Participant receives any severance payments or any other post-termination payments or benefits. A transfer of employment between the Company and a Designated Subsidiary or between one Designated Subsidiary and another Designated Subsidiary, or an absence or leave described in Section 2(i), shall not be deemed a termination of employment under this Section. A Participant who is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence that lasts longer than three months without a right to return to active employment will be treated for purposes of this Section as if such Participant ceased to be employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary as of the date immediately following the end of such three-month period.

11.Interest. No interest or other compensation shall accrue on a Participant’s payroll deductions under the Plan and any amounts refunded to a Participant shall be refunded without interest or other compensation.
12.Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a)Subject to Section 12(b), the maximum number of Shares which may be delivered to Participants under the Plan is equal to one million (1,000,000) Shares. If, on any End Date, the total number of Shares that are subject to options granted for the applicable Offering Period exceeds the number of Shares then available for delivery under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan in a uniform and equitable manner, as determined by the Administrator. In the event the Company makes a pro rata allocation of the Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan, the Company shall give written notice of such reduction of the number of Shares subject to the option to each affected Participant and shall refund (without interest) any excess funds accumulated in each Participant’s notional account as soon as administratively practicable after the End Date of such Offering Period.

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(b)The number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan, the maximum number of Shares each Participant may purchase per Offering Period, as well as the Option Price and the number of Shares covered by each option granted under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be equitably adjusted by the Administrator to reflect any reorganization, reclassification, combination of shares, share split, reverse share split, spin-off, dividend or distribution of securities, property or cash (other than regular, periodic cash dividends), or any other similar event or transaction that affects the number or kind of Shares outstanding. Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Administrator shall have the authority to adjust not only the number of securities, but also the class and kind of securities subject to the Plan and to make appropriate adjustments in the price of such securities if other than Shares of the Company, so long as any such action complies with applicable law.
(c)The Shares delivered to Participants under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of Shares purchased on the ‎open market on behalf of the applicable Participant, such determination to be made by the Company in its sole discretion. Where Shares are acquired on the open market, the Company shall be responsible for funding, from its own funds, the difference between the acquisition cost of such Shares (including any brokerage fees or other charges and expenses related to the acquisition of such Shares) and the Option Price payable from the Participant's contributions. ‎ For greater certainty, (i) no Participant shall have any right to demand that the Company issue previously unissued Shares to the Participant, and (ii) notwithstanding any election by the Company to deliver previously unissued Shares to a Participant, the Company reserves the right to change its election in respect thereof at any time until payment is actually made.

13.Corporate Transactions.

(a)In the event of the proposed liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the Administrator shall, in its discretion, provide for one of the following courses of action: (i) the Offering Period then in effect shall end as of a date selected by the Administrator before the consummation of such liquidation or dissolution of the Company, and each outstanding option granted under the Plan shall be automatically exercised as of such date, or (ii) the Offering Period then in effect shall be terminated as of a date selected by the Administrator before the consummation of such liquidation or dissolution of the Company, and each outstanding option granted under the Plan shall be automatically cancelled and any payroll deductions accumulated for such Offering Period shall be refunded (without interest) to the applicable Participant as soon as administratively practicable.
(b)In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger or consolidation of the Company (except for (x) a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated or (y) a transaction where the acquiring or surviving company is directly or indirectly owned, immediately after such transaction, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of Shares in the Company immediately before such transaction), the Administrator shall, in its discretion, provide for one of the following courses of action: (i) each outstanding option granted under the Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by the successor entity (or a parent or subsidiary thereof), (ii) the Offering Period then in effect shall end as of a date selected by the Administrator before the consummation of such sale, merger or consolidation of the Company, and each outstanding option granted under the Plan shall be automatically exercised as of such date, or (iii) the Offering Period then in effect shall be terminated as of a date selected by the Administrator before the consummation of such sale, merger or consolidation of the Company, and each outstanding option granted under the Plan shall be automatically cancelled and any payroll deductions accumulated for such Offering Period shall be refunded (without interest) to the applicable Participant as soon as administratively practicable.

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14.Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to a Participant’s notional account nor any rights relating to the exercise of an option or to receive Shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution in accordance with Section 10(b)) by the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw in accordance with Section 10(a). During the Participant’s lifetime, a Participant’s option to purchase Shares under the Plan is exercisable only by the Participant.
15.Restrictions on Issuance and Transfer of Shares.

(a)The issuance or delivery of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state, provincial or foreign securities laws. An option granted for an Offering Period may not be exercised if the issuance or delivery of Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state, provincial or foreign securities laws or other laws or regulations. In addition, no option granted for an Offering Period may be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall, at the time of exercise, be in effect with respect to the Shares issuable or deliverable upon exercise of the option, or (ii) in the opinion of the legal counsel of the Company, the Shares issuable or deliverable upon exercise of the option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or applicable securities laws in Canada. As a condition to the exercise of an option granted for an Offering Period, the Administrator may require the Participant to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law, and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Administrator. If at or before the time of the exercise of an option granted for an Offering Period, the Administrator determines that the issuance or delivery of Shares pursuant to such exercise would not comply with applicable federal, state, provincial or foreign securities laws, all payroll deductions accumulated for such Offering Period shall be refunded (without interest) to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable.
(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, to the extent that any Participant is subject to the provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations  promulgated thereunder, such Participant’s participation in the Plan shall be subject to, and such Participant shall be required to comply with, any and all additional restrictions and/or requirements imposed by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, in order to ensure that the exemption made available pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act is available with respect to all transactions pursuant to the Plan effected by or on behalf of any such Participant.

16.Amendment or Termination. The Plan may be amended or terminated at any time and for any reason by the Committee or the Board; provided that, no amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of each Participant holding an outstanding option under the Plan, materially and adversely affect such Participant’s rights under the Plan; provided, further that, upon termination of the Plan by the Board, any accumulated payroll deductions shall be refunded (without interest) to Participants as soon as administratively practicable thereafter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment adopted by the Committee or the Board shall be effective without the approval of the shareholders of the Company if shareholder approval of the amendment is then required under Section 423 of the Code and provided further that, without approval of the Company’s shareholders, no amendment or modification of the Plan may:

(a)increase the limits imposed in Section 3(a) on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan;
(b)remove or exceed the Insider Participation Limits; 

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(c)lower the purchase price payable for Shares under the Plan;
(d)extend eligibility to participate in the Plan to persons that are not Eligible Employees; or 
(e)amend this Section 16.

17.Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, any notice or other communication given pursuant to the Plan shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered or mailed by United States registered, certified or overnight mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Company at its principal place of business or to the Participant at the address on the payroll records of the Company or, in either case, at such other address as one party may subsequently furnish to the other party in writing. Additionally, if such notice or communication is by the Company to the Participant, the Company may provide such notice electronically (including via email). Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of postmark, in the case of notice by mail, or on the date of delivery, if delivered in person or electronically.
18.Miscellaneous.

(a)Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of the date it is approved by the Company’s shareholders.
(b)Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the province of ‎Ontario, and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, except with respect to those provisions of the Plan concerning the Code, which shall be ‎governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as superseded ‎by applicable United States federal law.‎
(c)Taxes of a Canadian Participant.  Any income taxes, withholding taxes or other levies on income of a Canadian Participant applied by any governmental authority arising from the Plan or the Canadian Participant’s participation therein shall be the responsibility of such Canadian Participant, including, without limitation, any taxes payable on:

(i)The amount of a contribution made by way of payroll deduction;
(ii)The benefit derived from acquiring Shares at an Option Price which is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share;
(iii)The transfer of Shares to the Canadian Participant or a person designated by the Participant, including a sale or other disposition of the Shares; and
(iv)Any dividends received by a Participant on Shares.
(d)Taxes of a U.S. Participant.  Any taxes on income of a U.S. Participant applied by any governmental authority arising from the Plan or the U.S. Participant’s participation therein, including taxes which result from a disposition of Shares acquired under the Plan’s terms, shall be the responsibility of such U.S. Participant.
(e)Withholding. To the extent required by applicable federal, state, provincial, local or foreign law, the Administrator may and/or a Participant shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or applicable Designated Subsidiary for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise with respect to any payroll deduction, option granted under the Plan, or the issuance or delivery or sale of any Shares. The Company shall not be required to recognize any Participant rights under an option 

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granted under the Plan, to issue Shares or to recognize the disposition of such Shares until such obligations, if any, are satisfied. To the extent permitted or required by the Administrator, these obligations may or shall be satisfied by the Company withholding cash from any compensation otherwise payable to or for the benefit of a Participant, the Company withholding a portion of the Shares that otherwise would be issued to a Participant upon exercise of an option granted under the Plan or by the Participant tendering to the Company cash or, if allowed by the Administrator, Shares. All such withheld amounts shall be remitted to the appropriate government authority in accordance with the applicable federal, state, provincial, or other applicable legislation.
(f)No Liability. Participation in this Plan by a Participant is voluntary.  The value of Shares acquired by a Participant pursuant to the Plan is not guaranteed.  Neither the Company nor ‎any Designated Subsidiary shall be liable to any Participant for any loss resulting from a decline in the market value of any ‎Shares.  Each Participant agrees to accept all risks associated with the holding of Shares. ‎
(g)Rules of Construction. Whenever used in the Plan, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, (i) any references to paragraphs, subparagraphs, sections or subsections are to those parts of the Plan, (ii) the plural includes the singular and the singular includes the plural; (iii) “includes” and “including” are each “without limitation”; (iv) “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” refer to the entire Plan and not to any particular paragraph, subparagraph, section or subsection; (v) all pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the identity of the entities or persons referred to may require; (vi) references to a statute or regulation or statutory or regulatory provision shall refer to that provision (or to a successor provision of similar import) as currently in effect, as amended, or as reenacted, and to any regulations and other formal guidance of general applicability issued thereunder; and (vii) references to a law shall include any statute, regulation, rule, court case, or other requirement established by an exchange or a governmental authority or agency, and applicable law shall include any tax law that imposes requirements in order to avoid adverse tax consequences.
(h)Headings and Captions. The headings to sections, subsections, and paragraphs of the Plan are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
(i)No Right to Employment. The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, and participation in the Plan does not give any Eligible Employee or Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, a Designated Subsidiary or any other subsidiary of the Company, nor give any person a right or claim to any benefit under the Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the terms of the Plan.
(j)Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of the Plan and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.
(k)Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan is unfunded and shall not create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company, any Designated Subsidiary, or the Administrator and a Participant or any other person.

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11Mary Anne Whitney - Letter Agreement re Separation Benefits Plan (00095044).DOC

Exhibit 10.30

February 1, 2021
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	Mary Anne Whitney
3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110
The Woodlands, Texas  77380
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	Re:
	The Waste Connections US, Inc. Separation Benefits Plan

Dear Mary Anne:
This letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) relates to the Separation Benefits Plan (and Summary Plan Description) of Waste Connections US, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), effective July 24, 2018 (the “Plan”). 
Through this Letter Agreement, you are being offered the opportunity to become a participant in the Plan (a “Participant”), and thereby to be eligible to receive the severance and change in control benefits set forth therein, effective as of February 1, 2021 (the “Participant Effective Date”).  A copy of the Plan is attached to this Letter Agreement.  You should read it carefully and become comfortable with its terms and conditions, and those set forth below. 
By signing below, you will be acknowledging and agreeing to the following provisions: 
		1.	that you have received and reviewed a copy of the Plan;

		2.	that terms not defined in this Letter Agreement but beginning with a capital letter have the meaning assigned to them in the Plan;

		3.	that participation in the Plan requires that you agree irrevocably and voluntarily to the terms of the Plan (including, without limitation, the covenants set forth in Sections 5, 6 and 12 of the Plan) and the terms set forth below; and

		4.	that you have had the opportunity to carefully evaluate this opportunity, and desire to participate in the Plan according to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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Subject to the foregoing, we invite you to become a Participant in the Plan. Your participation in the Plan will be effective upon your signing and returning this Letter Agreement to the Company within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this Letter Agreement. 
You and the Company (hereinafter referred to as the “parties”) hereby AGREE as follows: 
		1.	Positions and Responsibilities.  During the Term, you will be directly employed by the Company, will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Waste Connections, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada (the “Parent”) and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company, and will perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned to you from time to time by the Parent’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and/or Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”).  You will devote your attention, energies and abilities in those capacities to the proper oversight and operation of the business of the WCI Group to the exclusion of any other occupation.  As Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Parent and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company, you will: (i) report to the CEO or his designee, (ii) be based at the Parent’s principal administrative offices in The Woodlands, Texas, and (iii) be responsible for all duties, authority and responsibility customary for such positions.  You will devote such time and attention to your duties as are reasonably necessary to the proper discharge of your responsibilities hereunder.  You agree to perform all duties consistent with: (a) policies established from time to time by the WCI Group; and (b) all applicable legal requirements.  For purposes of the Plan, you are hereby designated as a President/EVP Participant.

2.Compensation, Benefits and Reimbursement of Expenses.  
		a.	Base Salary.  The Company hereby agrees to pay you an annual base salary of Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000) (“Base Salary”).  Your Base Salary will be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, and your Base Salary is subject to withholding and social security, unemployment and other taxes.  Further increases in Base Salary will be considered by the Board.  

		b.	Performance Bonus.  You shall be entitled to an annual cash bonus (the “Bonus”) based on the Parent’s attainment of reasonable financial objectives to be determined annually by the Board.  Your target annual Bonus will equal Eighty Five Percent (85%) of the applicable year’s ending Base Salary and will be payable if the Board determines, in its sole and exclusive discretion, that that year’s financial objectives have been attained.  Nothing in the Plan or in this Letter Agreement shall invalidate any cash bonus plan approval by the Board or a Committee of the Board providing for higher payments in the event extraordinary or “stretch” goals are met.  

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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			The Bonus will be paid in accordance with the Parent’s bonus plan, as approved by the Board; provided, that in no case shall any portion of the Bonus with respect to any such fiscal year be paid more than three (3) months after the end of such fiscal year.

		c.	Grants of Equity Awards.  You shall be eligible for annual grants of restricted share unit awards, performance share unit awards or other Equity Awards on such terms and to such level of participation as the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board determines to be appropriate, bearing in mind your positions and responsibilities, provided that the target annual amount of such awards is expected to be equal in value to 187.5% of your Base Salary on the date of grant.  The terms of any such Equity Awards shall be governed by the relevant plans under which they are issued and described in detail in applicable agreements between the Parent and you.  

		d.	Other Benefits.  You will be entitled to paid annual vacation, which will accrue on the same basis as for other employees of the Company of similar rank, but which will in no event be less than four (4) weeks for any twelve (12) month period commencing January 1st of each year.  You also will be entitled to participate, on the same terms as other employees of the Company participate, in any medical, dental or other health plan, pension plan, profit-sharing plan and life insurance plan that the Company may adopt or maintain, any of which may be changed, terminated or eliminated by the Company at any time in its exclusive discretion.

		e.	Reimbursement of Other Expenses. The Company agrees to pay or reimburse you for all reasonable travel and other expenses incurred by you in connection with the performance of your duties on presentation of proper expense statements or vouchers. All such supporting information shall comply with all applicable Company policies relating to reimbursement for travel and other expenses.

		f.	Other Perquisites.  You shall be entitled to all perquisites provided to a President/EVP Participant, as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board, and as they may exist from time to time, including reimbursement of up to $20,000 annually for costs you incur for country club and professional association membership dues and professional financial and tax planning services.

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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3.Severance and Change in Control Benefits.
		a.	Termination without Cause or for Good Reason.  If your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by you for Good Reason, the Company will pay you, in lieu of any payments under Section 4 of the Plan for the remainder of the Term, a Severance Amount equal to 2.99 times the sum of your Base Salary as of the Date of Termination plus your target annual Bonus for the year in which the termination occurs.  This amount will be paid in accordance with Section 7(b) or Section 8(a) of the Plan, as applicable, in addition to any other payments specified therein.  

		b.	Payments on Change in Control.  If a Change in Control occurs during the Term and your employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or by you for Good Reason, in each case within two (2) years after the effective date of the Change in Control, then you will be entitled to receive and the Company agrees to pay to you, in lieu of payments under Section 4 of the Plan for the remainder of the Term, a Severance Amount equal to 2.99 times the sum of your Base Salary as of the Date of Termination plus your target annual Bonus for the year in which the termination occurs.  This amount will be paid in accordance with Section 10(a) of the Plan, in addition to any other payments specified therein.

		c.	Additional Benefits.  In addition to the Severance Amount specified in Sections 3(a) and (b) above, for two years following your termination of employment for the reasons specified under either of those Sections, the Company shall make available to you and your eligible dependents coverage under the Company’s group medical insurance (including group health, dental, and visions benefits) (which shall be concurrent with any health care continuation benefits to which you or your eligible dependents are entitled under Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (also known as “COBRA”)); provided, however, that you shall be obligated to pay the Company for the portion of the premiums for such coverage on an after-tax basis equal to the amount paid by active employees for such coverage (the “Medical Insurance Benefit”). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, with regard to such continuation coverage, if the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing benefit without potentially violating applicable law or potentially incurring penalties, excise taxes and fees pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code and the Department of Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Medical Insurance Benefit shall terminate and you shall not be eligible to receive any further benefits related to the Medical Insurance Benefit other than as otherwise required by applicable law.

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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		4.	Right to Other Payments.  In consideration of becoming eligible to receive the severance and change in control benefits provided under the terms and conditions of the Plan, in addition to providing the waiver required by Section 7(e) or Section 8(c) of the Plan, as applicable, you agree to waive any and all rights, benefits, and privileges to severance benefits that you might otherwise be entitled to receive under any other plan or arrangement.

		5.	Change in Control.  For purposes of this Letter Agreement, in addition to the events described in the definition of “Change in Control” in Section 27(f) of the Plan, a Change in Control shall also occur if:

		a.	any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of a subsidiary of Parent that owns all or substantially all of the WCI Group’s United States operations;

		b.	there is a reorganization, merger or other business combination of a subsidiary of Parent that owns all or substantially all of the WCI Group’s United States operations with any other corporation, other than any such merger or other combination that would result in the voting securities of the subsidiary outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the subsidiary or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction; or 

		c.	there is a direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) by the WCI Group of all, or substantially all, of its United States operations.    

		6.	Entire Agreement.  You understand that the waiver set forth in Section 4 above is irrevocable and that this Letter Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to any subject matter covered herein.  You agree and acknowledge that this Letter Agreement and the Plan supersede and replace that certain letter agreement between you and the Company, dated October 19, 2018.

		7.	Survival. Your participation in the Plan will continue in effect following any termination that occurs while you are a Participant in the Plan with respect to all rights and obligations accruing as a result of such termination. 

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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		8.	Counterparts. This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and all of which together shall constitute one instrument. A facsimile, telecopy or other reproduction of this Letter Agreement may be executed by one or more parties and delivered by such party by facsimile or any similar electronic transmission device pursuant to which the signature of or on behalf of each such party can be seen. Such execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes.

		9.	Miscellaneous. This Letter Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire agreement between the WCI Group and you concerning the subject matter described herein, and fully supersede any and all prior oral or written agreements, promises or understandings between the WCI Group and you concerning the subject matter described herein including, without limitation, any acceleration provisions set forth in any agreement evidencing an Equity Award held by you. Further, you represent and acknowledge that in executing this Letter Agreement, you do not rely, and have not relied, on any prior oral or written communications by the WCI Group, and you expressly disclaim any reliance on any prior oral or written communications, agreements, promises, inducements, understandings, statements or representations in entering into this Letter Agreement. Therefore, you understand that you are precluded from bringing any fraud or fraudulent inducement claim against the WCI Group associated with any such communications, agreements, promises, inducements, understandings, statements or representations.  The Company and you are entering into this Letter Agreement based on each party’s own judgment.

		10.	Execution.  You recognize and agree that your execution of this Letter Agreement results in your enrollment and participation in the Plan, that you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Letter Agreement, and that you understand that this Letter Agreement may not be amended or modified except pursuant to Section 20 of the Plan. 

[Remainder of page left intentionally blank. Signatures to follow.]

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Letter Agreement, which shall be deemed effective as of the Participant Effective Date.
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WASTE CONNECTIONS US, INC.
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By:/s/ Worthing F. Jackman​ ​
Worthing F. Jackman
President and Chief Executive Officer
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PARTICIPANT
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/s/ Mary Anne Whitney​ ​
Mary Anne Whitney

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3 Waterway Square Place, Suite 110, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Tel (832) 442-2200 ● Fax (832) 442-2290 ● www.wasteconnections.com
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