THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REFORM PARTY OF CANADA
C E R T I F I C A T E
The undersigned hereby certify that the attached Constitution is the Constitution of the Reform Party of Canada as amended at the Assembly of the Party held in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 6-9, 1996.
Dated at the City of Calgary, in the Province of Alberta, this 15th day of July, 1996.
Constitution adopted at the Winnipeg Founding Convention, October 20, 1987, and amended at the Saskatoon Assembly, April, 1991, the Winnipeg Assembly, October, 1992 and the Ottawa Assembly, October 1994.
ARTICLE 1. NAME AND PRINCIPLES
(a) The name of the Party shall be REFORM PARTY OF CANADA.
(b) The principles of the Party are those set forth in Schedule A appended hereto which are incorporated into and form a part of this Constitution and can only be amended by a Constitution Amending Majority Vote at a Party Assembly or by formal referendum.
(c) The policies and objectives of the Party are those set forth in the Reform Party of Canada Statement of Principles and Policies. The policies and objectives of the Party may be amended only in accordance with Article 8 hereof or by a Policy Majority Vote at a Party Assembly.
(d) Between Assemblies, interim policies and objectives of the Party shall be those determined by the Leader or the Caucus in consultation with the Caucus and Executive Council and approved by Executive Council, provided that such interim policies and objectives shall not be inconsistent with those established in accordance with Article 1(c) above.
ARTICLE 2. MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership in the Party is open to all persons who are Canadian citizens, who are ordinarily resident in Canada, who are 18 years of age or over and who support the principles of the Party. Associate membership in the Party is open to all persons who possess the above qualifications are 14 years of age and older but not yet 18 years of age, and landed immigrants of a minimum 14 years of age. Except in 2(b), (c) and (d), "members" and "membership" do not include associate members.
(b) Eligible persons may apply for membership in the Party and shall become members upon payment of the applicable membership fee to the Party and entry on the Membership List at the National Office, or upon receipt of payment by an Officer or Director of the Constituency Association who shall upon receipt, date and sign his copy of the application form and enter the name on the Membership List maintained by the Constituency. These conditions for membership shall be clearly stated on the application form. Memberships in the Party shall be for a period of 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years from the date of acceptance, at the option of the member, and may be renewed for further periods upon payment of the applicable membership fee.
(c) Only natural persons may be members of the Party. No corporation, trade union, society, or other organization shall be eligible for membership.
(d) Membership in the Party shall be terminated in the following cases:
(i) failure by the member to pay the applicable member fee;
(ii) resignation by the member submitted in writing to the Party;
(iii) for just cause, including conduct judged improper, unbecoming, or likely to adversely affect the interests and reputation of the Party, as determined by the Executive Council of the Party, subject to arbitration at the request of the aggrieved party.
(e) A member whose dues have lapsed not more than 60 days shall, upon payment of the applicable membership fee, be considered a member in good standing retroactive to the date when his or her membership lapsed.
ARTICLE 3. CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATIONS
(a) Members shall be organized according to their residence in the electoral districts of Canada entitled to return a member to serve in the House of Commons of Canada or, where the Executive Council so decides, according to their residence in the electoral districts of Canada named and described in a representation order declared pursuant to the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act of Canada.
(b) Members may form a Constituency Association in an Electoral District in which at least 40 members of the Party reside. To obtain recognition as the Constituency Association of the Reform Party of Canada, the Association shall:
(i) actively support and promote the principles of the Party;
(ii) adopt the Constituency Constitution which is incorporated into and forms part of the Party Constitution;
(iii) apply in writing to the Executive Council for recognition, including a copy of the member approved Constitution, the minutes of the meeting in which it was approved, and a list of the Officers and Directors of the Association.
(c) Unless earlier adopted by a Constituency, the Constituency Constitution set forth in Schedule B hereto shall be the Constitution of all Constituency Associations of and from December 31, 1993 and unless by that date, options with respect to the election of Directors and to the election of Officers have been exercised by the Constituency Association, Option B - Unitary System and Option C - Board Elected, shall apply.
(d) Subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, notwithstanding Articles 1(d) and 8(a)(i), the financial affairs of each Constituency Association shall be under the control of its members, acting through the Constituency Association Board of Directors who shall be responsible to ensure that the said financial affairs are conducted in a manner consistent with the principles of the Party, the Constitution of the Party and the Constitution of the Constituency Association. Where the number of members of the Party residing in the Electoral District in which the Constituency Association was formed becomes less than 40 members, the Executive Council in its absolute discretion may withdraw recognition of the Constituency Association whereupon it shall cease to be a Constituency Association of the Party.
(e) Subject to Article 3(d) above and the other provisions of this Constitution, the affairs of each Constituency Association shall be under the control of its members, acting through the Constituency Association Board of Directors who shall be responsible to ensure that the said affairs are conducted in a manner consistent with the principles of the Party, the Constitution of the Party, the Constitution of the Constituency Association, and not prejudicial to the interests or well-being of any other Constituency Association, or of the Party.
(f) Presidents' lists of riding association Presidents in provinces, territories and/or for all of Canada shall be made available to any President of a recognized Constituency Association who makes a request for such a list in writing to National Office or to the Regional Office(s).
ARTICLE 4. CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT, NOMINATION AND DEVELOPMENT
(a) Each recognized Constituency Association shall conduct a thorough search and may strike a nominating committee to find the best possible candidate(s) to represent the people of that constituency in the House of Commons.
(b) Each recognized Constituency Association shall have the exclusive right to recommend potential candidates to the Executive Council of the Party. The Executive Council of the Party shall arrange to conduct candidate training and development programs for all potential candidates.
(c) Each duly recognized Constituency Association shall have the right to nominate the official candidate of the Party at a general meeting of the members of the Constituency Association subject always to the right of the Executive Council, in its absolute discretion where it feels the overall best interest of the party is involved, to intervene with respect to any nomination and to nullify the nomination of any candidate.
(d) Where the Executive Council intervenes to nullify the nomination of a candidate, the Secretary shall notify the candidate and the Constituency Association in writing within 7 days, which notification shall contain a statement of the reason for the intervention. The candidate and the authorized representatives of the Constituency Association shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Council or its representatives before a decision is rendered, which decision shall be final and binding. Nothing herein prevents the Constituency Association from nominating another candidate, which nomination shall be subject to 4(c) and (d).
(e) The Leader shall not withhold, under the provisions of the Canada Elections Act, the endorsement of a nominee as candidate nominated by a recognized Constituency Association except in compliance with Article 4(d).
ARTICLE 5. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
(a) The Executive Council of the Party shall consist of the following members:
(i) the Leader;
(ii) a maximum of 3 Councillors resident in each Province and one Councillor resident in each Territory, which provinces or territories are qualified for maximum representation on the Executive Council; and
(iii) the Chief Executive Officer or Reform Fund Canada, who shall be a non-voting member thereof.
(b) A Province or Territory shall be entitled to elect one Councillor to the Executive Council provided it has one recognized Constituency Association. A Province or Territory shall be entitled to the maximum number of Councillors provided for in Article 5(a) hereof in the event that it has the lesser of 10 recognized Constituency Associations, or recognized Constituency Associations in at least one-third of the federal ridings in that Province or Territory.
(c) The Councillors to be elected in accordance with Articles 5(a) and 5(b) shall be elected by the alternative vote method at an Assembly by the delegates from the Province or Territory in which the Councillor resides.
(d) The Executive Council shall abide by the principles and implement the policies and objectives of the Party and shall be responsible for the affairs of the Party, subject always to resolutions of any Party Assembly and to this Constitution.
(e) Following their election, the members of the Executive Council shall:
(i) elect from their members the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and the Secretary; and as and when required,
(ii) from among its members or members of the Party, establish such committees as it deems necessary for the proper and efficient functioning of the Party, with the Chairman of all such committees being an elected member of the Executive Council.
(f) The Executive Council shall meet at the call of the Chairman, at the call of the Leader, or upon written request to the Secretary of at least 5 members of the Executive Council. Before commencement of a meeting of the Executive Council there shall be an opening quorum of a majority of its members. Members of the Executive Council shall vote in person. A member of the Executive Council may participate in a meeting of the Executive Council by means of telephone conference that permits all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and the member so participating in a meeting shall be deemed to be present at the meeting and shall be included in the quorum. A meeting shall be deemed to take place when a quorum of members of the Executive Council participates in a telephone conference notwithstanding that no two of the members participating in such telephone conference are present in the same room. This provision relating to meetings by telephone conference shall, with all necessary changes, apply to each committee of, or established by, the Executive Council.
(g) Each Committee shall consist of a Chairman and such other Party members as may be appointed by the Executive Council. Each Committee shall be accountable directly to and report to the Executive Council. Before the commencement of a meeting of any Committee of or established by the Executive Council, there shall be an opening quorum of a majority of the members thereof.
(h) The minutes of Executive Council meetings shall be provided to Council members and upon request to the Presidents of recognized Constituency Associations. Summaries of the minutes shall be sent to the Presidents and Secretaries of recognized Constituency Associations. The summaries must include a statement of attendance, all Executive decisions and the results of all votes unless the omission of any specific item is authorized by the Executive Council and the general nature of the omission is disclosed.
(i) The Executive Council may, with the approval of two-thirds of its members present and voting, appoint additional persons to be interim members of the Executive Council in order to fill any vacancy on the Executive Council between Assemblies; provided that the person appointed shall reside in the Province or Territory in which the vacancy occurred and is a member in good standing of the Party.
(j) The term of office of all members of the Executive Council, except the Leader, shall run from their election until the next election for members to the Executive Council at the next Assembly. No member of the Executive Council, except the Leader, shall serve more than 3 consecutive terms.
(k) The Chairman shall be the Chief Operating Officer of the Party.
(l) The following shall not be entitled to be elected or appointed a voting member of the Executive Council:
(i) Members of Parliament
(ii) Senators;
(iii) employees of Members of Parliament or Senators; and
(iv) full-time employees of Reform Fund Canada or the Party.
ARTICLE 5A. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL - PARTY CAUCUS LIAISON COMMITTEE
(a) A Liaison Committee shall be established to ensure a close and harmonious working relationship between the Reform Party grassroots membership and the caucus of Reformers elected to the House of Commons. The Liaison Committee shall comprise seven members: three Reform Members of the House of Commons elected by the Reform House of Commons Caucus, three members of the Reform Party Executive Council elected by the Council, and the national leader as an ex officio member.
(i) The Committee shall elect its own chairperson.
(ii) Those elected to the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the respective electing bodies, but not for more than five years.
(b) If and when there is an elected Senate with Reform members, sub-article (a) above shall be replaced by the following sub-article:
A Liaison Committee shall be established to ensure a close and harmonious working relationship between the Reform Party grassroots membership and the caucuses of Reformers elected to Parliament. The Liaison Committee shall comprise nine members: two Reform members of the House of Commons elected by the Reform House of Commons Caucus, two Reform Senators elected by the Reform Senate Caucus, four members of the Reform Party Executive Council elected by the Council, and the national leader as an ex officio member.
(i) The Committee shall elect its own chairperson.
(ii) Those elected to the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the respective electing bodies, but not for more than five years.
(c) The Liaison Committee shall be responsible to:
(i) Maintain a continuous open line of communication between the caucuses and the party membership through the party's elected Executive Council.
(ii) Serve as a channel through which:
- The caucuses can seek the counsel and guidance of the party's Executive Council on matters of policy and procedure;
- The party's membership can support the members of the caucuses in their role as members of Parliament;
- The party membership can be kept informed of issues coming before Parliament with which Reform members will have to deal.
ARTICLE 6. THE LEADER
(a) The Leader shall be elected by the members of the Party by secret vote.
(b) To be entitled to vote in a Leadership Vote, a member of the Party must have been a member in good standing of the Party according to the records maintained by the Party at its National Office on the date on which the Leadership Vote is announced by the Executive Council.
(c) At every Assembly, each voting delegate shall be asked "Do you want a Leadership Vote to be called?" Responses shall be by secret ballot by paper or by using appropriate telephonic and computer technology. The results of the ballot shall be announced to the Assembly before the end of the afternoon session on the same day.
(d) If more than 50% of the votes cast are in the affirmative, the Executive Council shall, within 15 days of the Assembly Vote, announce when a Leadership Vote will be held and notice shall be given to all members of the Party by the Executive Council within a further 21 days. The Leadership Vote must be held not sooner than 3 months and not later than 6 months from the date of the vote held at the Assembly.
(e) When the office of Leader becomes vacant, a Leadership Vote must be called by the Executive Council within 15 days from the time that the office becomes vacant, and notice shall be given to all members of the Party within a further 21 days. The Leadership Vote shall be held not less than 3 months and not more than 6 months from the date it is announced. In the event of a vacancy, an Interim Leader may be appointed by the Executive Council.
(f) The Executive Council shall be empowered to establish the procedure and mechanisms including appropriate telephonic and computer technology, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof, whereby the Leadership Vote shall be conducted.
ARTICLE 7. ASSEMBLIES
(a) The Assembly of the Party shall be a meeting of the persons referred to in Articles 7(d) and 7(f). Subject to the provisions of Article 8 hereof with respect to referendum voting by the Party membership, the Assembly shall be the highest authority and supreme governing body of the Party.
(b) An Assembly shall be held at least every two years at a time and place fixed by the Executive Council. Executive Council may provide that person referred to in Articles 7(d) and 7(f), though not present at the place of Assembly, may communicate with those present through the use of appropriate satellite, telephonic and computer technology and shall be deemed present at the place of Assembly. An Assembly also shall be held forthwith after written request for same to the Secretary by one-quarter of all recognized Constituency Associations. "Forthwith" in 7(b) shall mean as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event not later than 120 days after the receipt by the Secretary of the minimum number of written Constituency Associations request as herein provided. At least 60 days written notice of the holding of any Assembly shall be sent to all members of the Party who have been members in good standing of the Party for at least 14 days before the date of such notice. In the event of interruption of postal service, the required written notice shall be sent by courier or telecopier to the President of each recognized Constituency Association.
(c) At the time of notifying the members of the Party as to the Assembly, the Executive Council shall appoint sub-committees as follows:
(i) an Assembly Arrangements sub-committee whose duties are to organize the Assembly;
(ii) a Nominations sub-committee whose duties are to review all nominations for party office and to ensure that at least one candidate stands for each elective office;
(iii) a Resolutions sub-committee whose duties are to prepare a call for resolutions for Party Assemblies and review and comment on all resolutions submitted for consideration by the Party Assembly. The Resolutions sub-committee should ensure that all resolutions submitted to it are published and provided to all Constituency presidents and all delegates to the Assembly;
(iv) a Credentials sub-committee whose duties are to make final decisions as to accreditation of all delegates and other persons attending the Assembly; and
(v) such other sub-committees as are required to accomplish the purposes of a particular Assembly.
All members of each of the above sub-committees shall be members of the Party, and shall not be paid employees of the Party.
(d) The voting delegates entitled to attend and vote at each Assembly shall be members of the Party who were in good standing not less than 60 days prior to the date of the Assembly and shall consist of the following:
(i) from each recognized Constituency Association one delegate for 40 members, one delegate for each additional 40 members or major fraction thereof up to a total of 240 members, and one delegate for each additional 100 members or major fraction thereof, provided that each Constituency Association shall be entitled to not less than 3 delegates;
(ii) members of the Executive Council, and,
(iii) sitting members of the House of Commons or Senate of Canada who are members of the Party.
(e) Each delegate to an Assembly shall have one vote only. All votes by delegates to an Assembly for the election of members of the Executive Council shall be by secret ballot by paper or by using appropriate telephonic and computer technology.
(f) Upon payment of the registration fee, any member or associate member of the Party in good standing, who is not otherwise a delegate entitled to vote, shall have the right to attend and speak at all meetings of an Assembly but shall not have voting rights.
(g) Resolutions at a Party Assembly, unless otherwise in this Constitution provided, shall require a majority of the votes cast to be carried (herein called a "Majority Vote"). A resolution establishing or amending Party policy or objectives to be carried must receive not only a majority of the votes cast but must also receive a majority vote of the delegates from a majority of the Provinces (with the Territories together counting as one Province) which qualify for maximum representation on the Executive Council of the Party in accordance with Article 5(b) (herein called a "Policy Majority Vote"). A resolution amending this Constitution, including the principles of the Party, to be carried must receive not only a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, but must also receive a majority vote of the delegates from a majority of the Provinces (with the Territories together counting as one Province) which qualify for maximum representation on the Executive Council of the Party in accordance with Article 5(b) (herein called a "Constitution Amending Majority Vote").
ARTICLE 8. POLLS AND REFERENDA
(a) The Executive Council of the Party shall be empowered from time to time:
(i) to conduct a poll of the membership by mail or telephone, on any important constitutional, social, economic, or political issue, the results of which will be taken as advice by the Leader, the caucus, and the Executive Council but which will not be binding; and
(ii) to request an opinion on some important constitutional, social, economic or political proposal of each Party member by secret ballot by paper or by using appropriate telephonic and computer technology.
(b) The members of the Party may initiate a formal referendum of the Party membership by submitting a petition to the Secretary of the Party requesting such a referendum and signed by not less than 5% of the Party membership. The Executive Council of the Party is responsible for conducting such a referendum by official secret ballot by appropriate telephonic and computer technology within 90 days of receiving such a request.
ARTICLE 9. FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION
(a) The financial affairs of the Party shall be managed by Reform Fund Canada, a non-profit, corporate entity created for such purpose and organized by the Party on the following basis:
(i) the Articles of Reform Fund Canada shall provide that the members of Reform Fund Canada shall be the voting members of the Executive Council;
(ii) the Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of Reform Fund Canada shall be appointed by the Executive Council from amongst their own members, with the exception of the Chief Executive Officer who may but need not be an elected member of the Executive Council. In the event that the Chief Executive Officer appointed is a voting member of the Executive Council, the voting position shall be vacant.
(b) Each member of the Executive Council and each Director and Officer of Reform Fund Canada shall be free from all personal liability for any debts, actions, claims, demands, liabilities or commitments of any kind made by the Party, and in particular the Party and Reform Fund Canada shall indemnify and hold harmless each said member, Director and Officer against any such debt, action, claim, demand, liability or commitment.
(c) Only Reform Fund Canada may, and no member shall, commit the Party to any indebtedness of any kind, either for goods, services or otherwise. Any member committing the Party in contravention hereof shall save harmless and indemnify the Party against any claim, demand, action, debt or cause of action which may arise as a result of such unauthorized commitment. The members of the Executive Council in their capacity as the shareholders of Reform Fund Canada shall ensure that annual audited financial statements are made available to any member of the Party upon request.
(d) The Leader and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Party, so long as they are not Members of Parliament, shall be offered remuneration in direct proportion to the amount of time given to the responsibilities of office, as determined from time to time by the Executive Council.
(e) The Executive Council is empowered to offer remuneration to other persons as required.
ARTICLE 10. PARTY OFFICES
The Party shall maintain a National Office and other offices at locations to be determined by the Executive Council.
ARTICLE 11. LIMITATIONS
This Constitution shall become null and void, and the Party shall cease to exist, on November 1st, 2000 A.D., unless this Constitution is re-enacted in its present or amended form by a two-thirds majority of the delegates to a Party Assembly held before that date.
ARTICLE 12. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
(a) The Executive Council, or any committee or task force established by the Executive Council or by a Party Assembly, or a recognized Constituency Association on approval of a majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Constituency Association called for that purpose, among others, may propose amendments to this Constitution. If the amendment is being proposed by a Constituency Association, a copy of the Notice to it's membership for the meeting and a copy of the minutes of the meeting must be presented with the proposed amendment.
(b) Notice of the proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be in writing and given to the Secretary of the Party at least 180 days prior to the date of the next scheduled Assembly. Upon receipt of the notice, the Secretary of the Party shall (if the notice complies with this Article) not later than 120 days prior to the date of the next scheduled Assembly, send all recognized Constituency Associations a copy of the proposed amendment. Not later than 90 days prior to the date of the next scheduled Assembly, all recognized Constituency Associations will be entitled to comment to Executive Council on the proposed amendments. Unless withdrawn by the proposing body, the proposed amendment shall be presented to the next Assembly of the Party.
ARTICLE 13. DUTY TO ENFORCE CONSTITUTION
It shall be the duty of the Leader and the Chairman of the Executive Council to uphold and enforce the provisions of this Constitution.
ARTICLE 14. SCRUTINEERS
Any member of the Executive Council, or any elected Member of Parliament for the Party, or any candidate, can be or can appoint a scrutineer for any voting provided for in the Constitution.
ARTICLE 15. NOTICES AND TIME
For all matters provided for in this Constitution dealing with notices and time periods:
(a) a period of time computed in days shall not include a Sunday or a national holiday where the period provided for is less than 10 days, but for all other periods of 10 days or more, all days shall be included;
(b) a period of time between two events shall be computed by excluding the date of the first event and including the date of the second event;
(c) notices may be given by 1st class mail, telecopier or personal delivery provided, however, that Territory may be given by bulk mail, and whenever notices are given by the foregoing methods the effective date of delivery shall be considered to be:
(i) for 1st class mail, on the later of the date of the postmark and the date of the delivery to the post office;
(ii) for telecopier, on the date of transmission;
(iii) for personal delivery, on the day of delivery to the recipient; and
(iv) for bulk mail, 3 days after delivery to the post office as evidenced by the post office receipt and the Secretary's certificate as to the addressees,
provided, however, that notices of Constituency Association meetings (subject to the Constitution of the particular Constituency Association), other than meetings dealing with those matters set out in clause 3(d)(i), (ii) and (iii), may be given orally in person or by telephone.
(d) notices to the Party, or the Executive Council, or the Secretary of the Party, shall be addressed to the National Office of the Party and marked to the attention of the appropriate person or body;
(e) notices to a member shall be addressed to such member at the member's address according to the most recent Party or Constituency records, as applicable;
(f) notices to a Constituency Association shall be addressed to the President (or failing a President at the time, to the Secretary) of the Constituency Association at the address of such officer according to the most recent Party records;
(g) any notice provision in this Constitution shall be considered to have been satisfied if reasonable compliance has been accomplished and no material prejudice is done as a result of the absence of strict technical compliance with the applicable notice provision.
SCHEDULE A
Attached to and Forming Part of the
Constitution of Reform Party of Canada
STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
1. We affirm our commitment to Canada as one nation, indivisible, and to our vision of Canada as a balanced federation of equal provinces and citizens.
2. We affirm the need to establish a Triple-E Senate in the Parliament of Canada - that is to say, a Senate which is Elected by the people, with Equal representation from each Province, and which is fully Effective in safeguarding regional interests.
3. We affirm that political parties should be guided by stated values and principles which are shared by their members and rooted in the political beliefs of Canadians.
4. We believe in dynamic and constructive change - in a renewal of the "reform tradition" of Canadian politics.
5. We believe that Canada's identity and vision for the future should be rooted in and inspired by a fresh appreciation of "our land" and the supreme importance to our well-being of exploring, developing, renewing, and conserving our natural resources and physical environment.
6. We believe that the people of Canada are this country's most valuable resource, and that the nurture and development of human knowledge, skills, and relationships are the keys to full participation in the knowledge-based service economy of the 21st century.
7. We affirm the value and dignity of the individual person and the importance of strengthening and protecting the family unit as essential to the well-being of individuals and society.
8. We believe that every individual, group, province, and region in Canada is entitled to fundamental justice, and that fundamental justice entitles the people of each region to benefit equally, without discrimination, from participation in Confederation and from the programs and expenditures of the Government of Canada.
9. We believe in the value of enterprise and initiative, and that governments have a responsibility to foster and protect an environment in which initiative and enterprise can be exercised by individuals and groups.
10. We believe that the creation of wealth and productive jobs for Canadians is best achieved through the operations of a responsible, broadly-based, free-enterprise economy in which private property, freedom of contract, and the operations of free markets are encouraged and respected.
11. We believe that Canadians have a personal and collective responsibility to care and provide for the basic needs of people who are unable to care and provide for themselves.
12. We believe in freedom of conscience and religion, and the right of Canadians to advocate, without fear of intimidation or suppression, public policies which reflect their most deeply held values.
13. We believe that public policy in democratic societies should reflect the will of the majority of the citizens as determined by free and fair elections, referenda, and the decisions of legally constituted and representative Parliaments and Assemblies elected by the people.
14. We believe that the interest of minorities and the people of the under-populated regions of Canada should be safeguarded by constitutional guarantees and parliamentary institutions which effectively balance representation by population with regional representation.
15. We believe in the common sense of the common people, their right to be consulted on public policy matters before major decisions are made, their right to choose and recall their own representatives and to govern themselves through truly representative and responsible institutions, and their right to directly initiate legislation for which substantial public support is demonstrated.
16. We believe in the accountability of elected representatives to the people who elect them, and that the duty of elected members to their constituents should supersede their obligations to their political parties.
17. We believe that the legitimate role of government is to do for people whatever they need to have done, but cannot do at all - or do as well - for themselves individually or through non-governmental organizations.
18. We believe in public service - that governments, civil servants, politicians, and political parties exist to serve the people, and that they should demonstrate this service commitment at all times.
19. We believe that public money should be regarded by governments as "funds held in trust," and that governments should practice fiscal responsibility - in particular, the responsibility to balance expenditures and revenues.
20. We affirm our commitment to the rule of the law, and to the concept that governments and law-makers are not above the law.
21. We believe in true equality of Canadian citizens, with equal rights and responsibilities for all.
SCHEDULE B
Attached to and Forming Part of the
Constitution of the Reform Party of Canada
CONSTITUENCY CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the Association is Reform Party of Canada (insert name of Constituency) Constituency Association.
ARTICLE II: INTERPRETATION
2.1 In this Constitution:
(a) "Annual term" means a period of time between two consecutive annual general meetings;
(b) "Association" means Reform Party of Canada (insert name of Constituency) Constituency Association;
(c) "Board of Directors" or "the Board" means the Board by that name established under Article VII;
(d) "Candidate" means the person selected by the members of the Association as the Party Candidate for election to the House of Commons;
(e) "Community" means a geographic area within a District as designated by the Board of Directors from time to time, where applicable;
(f) "Constituency" means the Canadian Federal Electoral District of (insert name of Constituency);
(g) "Director" means any member of the Board of Directors and includes Directors elected by members of a District and Directors elected by the members of the Association;
(h) "District" means a geographic area within the Constituency as may be designated by the Board of Directors from time to time;
(i) "Executive Committee" means the committee by that name established under Article VIII;
(j) "Member" means a member of the Reform Party of Canada in good standing who resides in the Constituency;
(k) "Nominee" means a person standing for election in the Constituency as the Party Candidate for election to the House of Commons, who has complied with all filing requirements;
(l) "Party" means Reform Party of Canada;
(m) "Returning Officer" means a member who has been appointed by the Party to supervise the candidate selection at a Candidate Selection Meeting.
ARTICLE III: OBJECTIVES
3.1 The objectives of the Association are:
(a) to support and promote the principles, objectives and policies of the Party, and to maintain an effective Constituency organization for that purpose;
(b) to nominate a candidate to represent the Party in the Constituency at each federal election and by-election;
(c) to assist and promote the election of the Candidate of the Party in the Constituency at each federal election and by-election;
(d) to raise money and maintain a fund to support the Association and to assist candidates in federal elections and by-elections in the Constituency;
(e) to assist the Party in developing policies and election platforms.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
4.1 Membership in the Association is open to all persons who are Canadian citizens, who are ordinarily resident in the Constituency, who are 18 years of age or over and who support the principles of the Party.
4.2 Associate membership in the Association is open to all persons who are Canadian citizens, who are ordinarily resident in the Constituency, who support the principles of the Party and are at least 14 years of age but not older than 17 years of age and to all landed immigrants who are ordinarily resident in the Constituency, who support the principles of the Party and who are at least 14 years of age.
4.3 An eligible person shall become a member or associate member of the Association upon payment of the membership fee to the Party and entry upon the membership list at National Office, or upon receipt of payment by an officer or director of the Association who shall, upon receipt, date and sign his/her copy of the application form and cause the name to be entered on the membership list maintained by the Association.
4.4 Membership and Associate Membership in the Association shall be terminated in the following cases:
(a) failure of the member or associate member to pay the annual fee to the Party;
(b) resignation by the member or associate member submitted in writing to the Party;
(c) ceasing to be resident in the constituency; or
(d) for just cause, including conduct judged improper, unbecoming or likely to adversely affect the interests and reputation of the Party, as determined by the Executive Council of the Party, subject to arbitration at the request of the aggrieved party.
4.5 A member whose dues have lapsed not more than 60 days shall, upon payment of the annual fee to the Party, be considered a member or associate member in good standing retroactive to the date when his or her membership lapsed.
4.6 Members or associate members are members or associate members of the District in which they reside, where applicable.
ARTICLE V: VOTING
5.1 Only members of the Association in good standing may vote on matters coming before a general meeting of the Association. Motions require a majority vote of persons present and voting to pass. In the event of a tie vote, the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote.
5.2 Only members of the Association in good standing for at least 30 days immediately prior to the date of voting, or the first date of voting in the event of Multiple Candidate Selection Meetings, shall be entitled to vote on:
(a) the election of Directors and, where applicable, Officers of the Association;
(b) the election of delegates and alternates to any Party Assembly; and
(c) the selection of a candidate for election to the House of Commons.
5.3 Voting on matters set out in Article 5.2 shall be by secret ballot. No proxy voting is permitted.
5.4 A person who is a Canadian citizen and who is registered as an associate member 30 days immediately prior to the date of voting and has attained 18 years of age prior to or on the date of voting is entitled to vote on matters set out in Article 5.2.
5.5 Only members of the Association in good standing shall be qualified to stand for election under Article 5.2 (a) or (b).
5.6 The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nomination Committee in relation to the elections in Article 5.2 (a). Two members of the Board of Directors who are not standing for election under Article 5.2 (a) and three other members shall form the Nomination Committee. The Nomination Committee shall set and conduct a full and fair search for each position. Nominations for positions in Article 5.2 (a) and (b) shall not close until nominations from the floor have been called.
5.7 A meeting for the election of delegates and alternates pursuant to Article 5.2 (b) shall be called at least 60 days prior to the commencement date of a Party assembly.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
6.1 Meetings of the Association shall be called by the Executive Committee as required. The Secretary shall, within forty five (45) days of receipt by the Secretary of a written request signed by not less than twenty-five (25) members or 10% of the members, whichever is greater, call a meeting of the Association. Notice of such meetings shall state the matters to be dealt with at the meeting. No matters shall be dealt with at a meeting convened by the Secretary pursuant to such request except those stated in such request.
6.2 A quorum at meetings of the Association shall be thirty (30) members entitled to vote. A quorum at meetings of a District, where applicable, shall be fifteen (15) members entitled to vote. Should a quorum not be present within one-half hour of the time called for a meeting, that meeting, other than a meeting called by the Secretary pursuant to a request under Article 6.1, shall be set over to the same time and place one week hence, when the members then present and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.
6.3 Meetings of the Association shall be held within the boundaries of the Constituency unless a majority of the Board of Directors vote to hold the meeting in another suitable venue as close as possible to the Constituency boundaries. Meetings of a District, where applicable, shall be held within the boundaries of that District.
6.4 The Association shall in each year, within thirty (30) days of (insert the month chosen), hold an Annual General Meeting at which the following business shall be conducted:
(a) report by the Board of Directors;
(b) presentation of financial statements;
(c) election of Directors and, where applicable, Officers;
(d) other business as required.
In the event of a federal election or by-election falling within the allotted period, an Annual General Meeting may be postponed for up to 90 days.
6.5 Each District, where applicable, shall hold an annual District meeting, as determined by the Board of Directors.
AN ASSOCIATION MAY CHOOSE ONE OF TWO OPTIONS FOR ELECTING ITS DIRECTORS:
(A) A DISTRICT SYSTEM WHERE DIRECTORS ARE ELECTED BY DISTRICT AND BY THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP;
OR
(B) A UNITARY SYSTEM WHERE ALL DIRECTORS ARE ELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP AT LARGE AND NO DISTRICTS ARE CREATED.
OPTION A: DISTRICT SYSTEM
ARTICLE VII: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A7.1 The affairs of the Association shall, subject to direction from the members, be managed and directed by a Board of Directors.
A7.2 The Board of Directors shall be comprised of:
(a) the Directors and Officers of the Association; and
(b) the Party's Member of the House of Commons from the Constituency, or that Member's designated representative. If there is no elected Party Member from the Constituency, the Board shall include the Constituency Candidate for election to the House of Commons and this inclusion shall terminate one hundred and twenty (120) days following the federal election or by-election which he or she contested.
A7.3 The number of elected Directors of the Association, including Directors elected by the members of a District and Directors elected by the members, as established by the previous Board of Directors, shall not exceed thirty (30).
A7.4 Notwithstanding Article 7.3, the Board of Directors may appoint up to three (3) additional members to the Board as circumstances may require.
A7.5 The Board of Directors shall, within a reasonable time of establishment of the Association, designate Districts within the Constituency, and may alter the boundaries of such Districts from time to time as circumstances may require. The Board of Directors may designate Communities within the Districts.
Directors elected by the members of a District may appoint Community Councillors. The number of Districts that may be designated by the Board of Directors shall be not less than four (4) nor more than twelve (12).
A7.6 Except as otherwise herein provided, when a District meeting is held, the provisions of Articles IV, VI, VII and X.4 of this Constitution which apply to members or associate members, voting and meetings shall apply also to District members or associate members, voting and meetings.
A7.7 Directors shall be elected as follows:
(a) prior to the designation of Districts, the Board shall be comprised of only Directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting from the members at large;
(b) after the designation of Districts, the Board shall be comprised of:
(i) one Director elected by the members of each District, and
(ii) Directors elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting from the members at large.
A7.8 Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Secretary at the direction of the President or shall be called by the Secretary within a reasonable time of receiving written request for a meeting, signed by at least five (5) Directors.
A7.9 The term of office of the Directors, as determined from time to time by the membership at a general meeting, shall be either;
(a) two (2) annual terms, with one half of the total number of Directors elected at each consecutive Annual General Meeting or District Meeting, except for the first Board of Directors of the Association, half of whom shall be elected for two (2) annual terms and half for one (1) annual term (the Board of Directors to designate which districts elect for 1 term), or
(b) one (1) annual term.
A7.10 The Board of Directors shall appoint such committees as are required for the efficient operation of the Association.
A7.11 A Director elected by the members may be removed from office by a resolution passed by not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Association called for that purpose on not less than fourteen (14) days notice.
A7.12 A Director elected by the members of a District may be removed from office by a resolution passed by not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the District's members present and voting at a meeting of the District called for that purpose on not less then fourteen (14) days notice.
A7.13 If a Director elected by the members of the Association ceases to hold office, the Board may appoint a replacement Director from the membership.
A7.14 If a Director elected by the members of a District ceases to hold office a replacement Director may be appointed by the Board and if so appointed shall be from that District's membership.
A7.15 A quorum of the Board of Directors is the greater of forty percent (40%) or six (6) of its members.
A7.16 The members may vote to give the Board of Directors the power to pass a resolution providing for the removal of Director who has missed three (3) consecutive Board of Director's meetings without reasonable explanation.
A7.17 In the event that there are the same number or fewer nominees standing for election or an equivalent number of nominees standing for election than vacant Director positions, each member present and voting shall mark "yes" or "no" opposite the name of each nominee on the ballot. Every nominee receiving more affirmative than negative votes from the members present and voting and only those nominees shall be declared a Director.
OPTION B: UNITARY SYSTEM
ARTICLE VII: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
B7.1 The affairs of the Association shall, subject to direction from the members, be managed and directed by a Board of Directors.
B7.2 The Board of Directors shall be comprised of:
(a) the Directors and Officers of the Association; and
(b) the Party's Member of the House of Commons from the Constituency, or that Member's designated representative. If there is no elected Party Member from the Constituency, the Board shall include the Constituency Candidate for election to the House of Commons and this inclusion shall terminate one hundred and twenty (120) days following the federal election or by-election which he or she contested.
B7.3 The number of elected Directors of the Association shall not exceed thirty (30).
B7.4 Notwithstanding Article 7.3, the Board of Directors may appoint up to three (3) additional members to the Board as circumstances may require.
B7.5 Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from the members.
B7.6 Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the Secretary at the direction of the President or shall be called by the Secretary within a reasonable time of receiving written request for a meeting, signed by at least five (5) Directors.
B7.7 The term of office of the Directors, as determined from time to time by the membership at a general meeting, shall be either;
(a) two (2) annual terms, with one half of the total number of Directors elected at each consecutive Annual General Meeting, except for the first Board of Directors of the Association, half of whom shall be elected for two (2) annual terms and half for one (1) annual term, or
(b) one (1) annual term.
B7.8 The Board of Directors shall appoint such committees as are required for the efficient operation of the Association.
B7.9 A Director may be removed from office by a resolution passed by not less than seventy five per cent (75%) of members present and voting at a meeting of the Association called for that purpose on at least fourteen (14) days notice.
