Blue Sheet
. Principles & Policies of the Reform Party of Canada - 1996-97
A Fresh Start for Canadians
Preface The Reform Party's Principles and Policies 1996-97 contains the official principles and policies of the Reform Party of Canada as adopted by Party Assemblies.
The Reform Party is guided by the Statement of Principles which remains largely unchanged since the Party was founded in 1987.
This edition includes changes to policies adopted by resolutions of the Party Assembly in Vancouver, June 6-9, 1996. These changes include amendments, additions and deletions to previous policy statements.
This edition of Principles and Policies is especially important because it forms the basis of the Reform Party's election platform - A Fresh Start for Canadians.
The policy development process leading to each Assembly is a cornerstone of our grassroots party. It begins with Reform Party members at the constituency level creating resolutions. Through a selections process, constituencies then decide which resolutions will finally reach the floor of the Assembly for final debate and voting.
Any questions about this policy development process can be addressed to the national office of the Reform Party of Canada.
To become a member of the Reform Party of Canada, and participate in the development of our principles, policies and platform, please complete the membership application form at the back of this publication.
Democratic politics is not a spectator sport. I invite you to join with us in developing the policies that will give Canada a Fresh Start for the 21st Century.
Yours Truly,
Chairman, Reform Party of Canada
Contents Fiscal Reform
Jobs, Tax Reform, Balanced Budget, Deficit Reduction, Parliamentary Spending, Spending Effectiveness, Equalization, Government Procurement, Government Regulations, Privatization and Crown Corporations, Public Utilities Income Tax Transfer Act (PUITTA)Economic Reform
Agriculture, Banking System, Domestic Trade and Transportation, Energy, Fisheries, Industrial Development and Diversification, Labour-Management Relations, Monetary Policy and Interest Rates, Public Service, Research and Development, TelecommunicationsNational Unity
Decentralization and the Equality of Provinces, Secession Contingency PlansConstitutional Reform
Triple-E Senate, Equality, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Constitutional Amendments, Regional Fairness Tests, Status of the Territories, Aboriginal AffairsJustice Reform
Family Violence, Young Offenders, Justice, Firearms, Parole, Federal Court System, Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceSocial Reform
Alternatives to the Welfare State, Income Security / Support, Canada Pension Plan, Unemployment Insurance, Training and Education, Family, Child Care, Health Care, Culture and Official Languages, Multiculturalism, ImmigrationEnvironmental Reform
Sustainable Development, Coordinated Action, Pollution Control, Environmentally-Sensitive ZoningExternal Relations
International Trade, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Foreign AidPolitical Reform
Representation in Parliament, Recall, Referendum and Citizens' Initiative, Electoral Reform, Parliamentary Reform, M.P. Pensions and Benefit Packages
Notes:
|
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.
Reform believes that balanced budgets, tax relief, and other key policies for
strengthening the private sector are essential to providing Canadians with more
and better JOBS. These and other job-creating reforms are presented in the
following sections on fiscal and economic reforms. Fiscal Reform A. The Reform Party supports the elimination of special treatment, credits, write-offs and deductions,
especially where the Income Tax Act establishes income or expenditure definitions that do not conform
to generally accepted accounting standards. B. The Reform Party supports a taxation policy that has as its principal objective the raising of funds to
pay for government programs, and opposes the use of tax concessions as an instrument for
manipulating investment behaviour and industry. C. The Reform Party will work toward a simple, visible and flat system of taxation. D. The Reform Party opposes any increases in the rate of the GST, and favours a staged elimination of
this tax as part of an overall program of tax reform and spending restraint once the budget is balanced.
In any event, the Reform Party will remove the GST when a simple, visible and flat-rate system of
taxation is introduced. E. The Reform Party supports having the amount of all taxes on any commodity or service clearly
identified for the consumer. F. The Reform Party supports a revision of the federal income tax regulations to end discrimination
against parents who provide child care at home. G. The Reform Party supports equitable tax treatment for one-income families with dependent
children. H. The Reform Party supports a National Tax Increase Alert to use all legal means available to assist
Canadians to resist further federal tax increases. I. The Reform Party supports an income tax cut within our existing deficit reduction framework. J. The Reform Party supports user fees for government services only when users are clearly
identifiable, the fees are equitable with all other users of similar services and a comparable amount of
government tax is eliminated. K. The Reform Party opposes the collection of fuel taxes, licensing fees and toll levies, and placing
them in consolidated revenues. All revenues collected from these taxes should be directed against the
actual expenditures of the transport sector where the taxes were collected. A. A Reform Government will introduce legislation mandating government spending limits and requiring
that all future increases in total revenue be exceeded by reductions in overall expenditure until the
budget is balanced. Such legislation would also require the Government of Canada to balance the
federal budget in each three-year period or to call an election on the issue. The first such period would
commence three years from the passage of this legislation. B. The Federal Government should not be permitted to run a deficit or to raise tax levels unless
authorized by a national referendum. C. The Reform Party supports the adoption of standard accounting principles for government financial
reporting, based as closely as possible on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (G.A.A.P.). A. The Reform Party supports a general program of expenditure reduction leading to a lower level of
taxation, a lower cost of doing business and a lower cost of living, according to the following priorities: B. The Reform Party has advocated across-the-board reductions in federal discretionary spending
during high inflationary times to reduce interest rate differentials between Canada and the United
States. C. The Reform Party supports applying both GST revenue and proceeds from the sales of crown
assets to a Debt Retirement Fund rather than general revenue. D. The Reform Party supports the periodic evaluation of all statutory programs to determine if the
program is being delivered efficiently, whether the objectives are still relevant, are being achieved, or
can be achieved in another way. A. The Reform Party supports the re-examination of the appointed positions on boards, agencies and
councils with the object of eliminating patronage positions, not just individual appointments. B. The Reform Party supports the elimination of federal funding to all special interest groups. C. The Reform Party believes that federal regional development programs are detrimental to a region
and should be gradually eliminated. A. The Reform Party supports a new federal budgeting system which rewards programs and
departments with incentives (financially or otherwise) for operating more efficiently without impacting
government service. B. The Reform Party supports full access by the Auditor General to all federal financial documents,
including, but not limited to, all cabinet documents. Reporting on documents may be limited to the
extent that the Auditor General finds necessary for reasons of national security or current confidential
negotiations. C. The Reform Party supports requiring the government of the day and all crown corporations to
publicly address all issues raised in the Auditor General's Report. D. The Reform Party supports developing a federal reporting system that clearly shows the proportion
of funds spent on program administration compared to dollars that reach the clients of the program. A. The Reform Party supports reductions to equalization payments in a manner which would refocus
equalization payments on the poorest recipient provinces. A. The Reform Party favours a government procurement policy based on fairness, price, and quality,
rather than on lobbying and political motives. A. The Reform Party supports the reduction, simplification and improvement of all government
regulations. Privatization and Crown Corporations A. The Reform Party believes governments should not compete with the private sector. We support
placing the ownership and control of corporations in the sector that can perform their function most
cost-effectively, with greatest accountability to owners, and the least likelihood of incurring public debt.
We believe that there is overwhelming evidence that this would be the private sector in the vast
majority of cases. B. The Reform Party supports the complete privatization of Petro-Canada and applying the proceeds
towards the national debt. C. The Reform Party supports private competition in the delivery of mail. D. The Reform Party supports ensuring that rural and remote areas receive postal services comparable
in quality and cost to services in urban areas. Public Utilities Income Tax Transfer Act (PUITTA) A. The Reform Party believes citizens of a province who receive services from a private corporation
should not be penalized financially by a federal tax policy which treats private corporations differently
than crown corporations. B. The Reform Party believes corporations in the same market should be taxed on an equal basis by
the Federal Government. Economic Reform A. The Reform Party supports a self-reliant and economically viable agricultural industry which will use
market mechanisms (including the free operation of comparative advantage between regions and
commodities, free entry into all sectors of production and marketing, and global free trade) to meet the
needs of consumers for safe and secure food supplies. B. The Reform Party supports the phased reduction and elimination of all subsidies, support programs,
trade restrictions and non-tariff barriers in conjunction with other countries and domestic sectors, and
the reform of supply/price controls in domestic and international agriculture. The Reform Party
recognizes Canada's multi-lateral trade obligations to replace import quotas with tariffs at levels
sufficient to ensure the ongoing viability of the supply-managed sector in the new market-driven
environment. C. The Reform Party will vigorously use federal safety net programs to support Canadian food
producers who are struggling against conditions outside their control, such as foreign subsidies, trade
distorting influences, market cycles and natural hazards. To the greatest extent possible, these
programs should be production and market neutral, not commodity specific, and available equitably to
all sectors. D. The Reform Party believes that agricultural policies should be sensitive to health, safety, and
environmental concerns. They should facilitate market-responsive trade and production regulations,
assure the application of fair business practices, recognize the necessity of ongoing research incentives
focused on resource conservation technologies and sustainable production practices, and encourage
better human resource management and training. E. The Reform Party supports using scientific information to determine if an agricultural or food
biotechnology product meets Canadian health and safety requirements. If it does, the acceptability of
that product in the marketplace should be determined by consumer choice and not political
interference. F. The Reform Party will allow producers to make their own marketing decisions and to direct,
structure, and voluntarily participate in producer organizations (including marketing boards,
commissions, and co-operatives) in the manner they believe best serves their interests. G. The Reform Party supports creating an efficient and responsive transportation system which moves
Canadian agricultural products to market by any expeditious mode and route, and in any form or state
of processing, based exclusively on cost effectiveness for producer and consumer. H. The Reform Party supports amendments to the Canada Labour Code to include the mechanism of
Final Offer Selection arbitration pertaining to those sectors related to agriculture product handling and
transportation, and allowing agricultural producers and processors to export products through alternate
ports and methods of shipping. I. The Reform Party will make Canada's agricultural industry more efficient by clarifying funding
responsibilities and jurisdictions between the federal and provincial governments, and by eliminating
costly interprovincial trade barriers. The Federal Government should accept responsibility for farm
support and safety net programs, and the provinces for the development of products for which they
have a comparative advantage. A. The Reform Party supports a more competitive banking system, including the presence of regional
banks. B. The Reform Party supports federal legislation protecting Canadians from a monopoly of financial
services by any one sector. Particularly, banks should not be allowed to enter further into insurance or
auto leasing. A moratorium should be placed on any further partial-deregulation until the financial
system can be thoroughly reviewed to increase competition. The review must also ensure the stability
of the financial system and prudent regulation to protect consumers. Domestic Trade and Transportation A. The Reform Party supports removing interprovincial trade barriers through provincial agreements
that include trade dispute settlement mechanisms. If the provinces fail to cooperate in removing
interprovincial trade barriers, the Reform Party supports constitutional challenges to such impediments
wherever possible. B. The Reform Party supports upgrading transportation and increasing port facilities so that Canada
may capitalize on burgeoning export trade opportunities. A. The Reform Party supports an energy policy based on market mechanisms with the objective of
meeting the demands of consumers for safe, secure supplies of energy at competitive prices. B. The Reform Party has supported the elimination of the National Energy Program despite a period of
low oil prices, and will oppose any new National Energy Program under any circumstances, by any
political party, as a fundamental attack on the economic rights of any province or territory and the
political unity of this country. C. The Reform Party supports private-sector development of energy mega-projects without Federal
Government subsidies, grants, loan guarantees, or special tax treatment. The role of government with
respect to mega-projects is to provide the appropriate regulation, including environmental regulation,
and to support appropriate infrastructure development. D. The Reform Party supports the integration of energy development and environmental conservation
by ensuring that the “cost” of energy development includes the cost of environmental protection, and
by supporting energy conservation and the development of alternate energy sources for environmental
protection. Where possible, we will rely primarily on marketplace mechanisms to achieve these
objectives. E. The Reform Party supports streamlining administrative and regulatory processes in the energy sector
to minimize unnecessary regulatory burden. A. The Reform Party supports establishing an economically and environmentally sustainable fisheries
industry by: B. The Reform Party supports international action to stop “drift-net” fishing until an agreement on the
rational harvesting of world oceans can be reached by all parties. C. The Reform Party opposes entrenching the right to harvest fish commercially in aboriginal land claim
settlements. D. The Reform Party supports only one commercial fishery with the same rules, regulations and fees
for all. Further, there should be no restriction on the transferability of licences. Industrial Development and Diversification A. The Reform Party supports de-politicizing economic decision-making in Canada by eliminating
grants, subsidies, pricing policies, and all federal taxes (direct or indirect) on provincial natural
resources, except income tax of general application. B. The Reform Party supports removing all measures that insulate industries, businesses, financial
institutions, professions, and trade unions from domestic and foreign competition. C. The Reform Party supports vigorous measures to ensure the successful operation of the
marketplace, such as promoting competition and competitive pricing, and strengthening and vigorously
enforcing competition and anti-combines legislation, with severe penalties for collusion or price fixing. D. The Reform Party supports orienting Federal Government activities toward the nurturing of human
and physical infrastructure. E. The Reform Party supports giving greater priority to the development of skills, particularly those that
provide future job flexibility (such as literacy and computer education). As well, such training should be
made more flexible in terms of the type of institution providing the training. We would encourage
cooperative training in industry. F. The Reform Party maintains that physical infrastructure spending should be based on economic
criteria, rather than on the basis of artificial, temporary job creation. The Reform Party opposes the
use of infrastructure funds for projects which could be managed better by the private sector based on
market considerations. Infrastructure spending should be based on regional fairness criteria. G. The Reform Party supports development through research aimed at particular industry objectives,
particularly private sector research in commercial areas where feasible. H. The Reform Party will create, through minimizing regulation and providing limited coordination and
infrastructure, an environment which will encourage private investment to make use of advanced
technology in the commercial development of space-based industry. A. The Reform Party supports the right of workers to organize democratically, to bargain collectively
and to strike peacefully. B. The Reform Party supports the harmonization of labour-management relations, and rejects the view
that labour and management must constitute warring camps. C. The Reform Party supports the right of all Canadians, particularly the young, to enter the work
force and achieve their potential. Unions and professional bodies may ensure standards, but should not
block qualified people from working or from gaining the necessary qualifications. D. The Reform Party supports the right of individual employees to refuse to allow any portion of their
union dues to be paid for any cause that the employee does not personally support and which is not
related to the function of the union. E. The Reform Party supports the right of all job applicants to be evaluated solely on the basis of
merit. Monetary Policy and Interest Rates A. The Reform Party supports a monetary policy which promotes a slow, non-inflationary and steady
growth in the money supply. B. The Reform Party opposes the use of national macroeconomic policy to address specific regional
microeconomic problems. A. The Reform Party supports the establishment of public service staffing requirements based on the
number of workers required to perform necessary functions of government efficiently. Promotion and
remuneration should recognize performance, efficiency and merit. A The Reform Party supports the development of a Canadian science strategy by working with the
scientific community to establish stable, long-term funding for basic scientific research and improve the
management of scientific resources. B. The Reform Party supports developing a Canadian research and development strategy to facilitate
the commercialization of basic research and actively encourage grassroots investment in emerging
technologies. A. The Reform Party supports a telecommunications policy characterized by an open marketplace
which is free from undue government interference and maintains and respects individual privacy and
intellectual property rights. B. The Reform Party supports a review of the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications
Commission's mandate, foreign ownership restrictions, and a commercial open bidding process for
telecommunications licences, as appropriate. National Unity Decentralization and the Equality of Provinces A. The Reform Party commits itself to rebuilding our national home through the creation of a new and
better Canada built on solid foundations that include equality for all provinces and citizens, renewed
democracy in our political system, financial responsibility by governments, affordable social programs,
an effective and accountable criminal justice system, conservation of our environment, respect for
cultural diversity, and productive relations with other peoples of the world. B. The Reform Party supports the renewal of the Canadian confederation as a more balanced
federation, in which the arsenal of centralizing powers at the hands of the Federal Government and the
over-concentration of power in the hands of the executive and Cabinet are placed under reasonable
restraints. Legislative authority should rest with the level of government able to govern most effectively
in each area, with a bias towards decentralization in cases of uncertainty. C. The Reform Party supports equality for all provinces, special status for none, and a strong
continuing role for the Federal Government to maintain a common economic space, eliminate internal
trade barriers, and represent Canada effectively in international trade negotiations. D. The Reform Party supports the principle that the provinces should have exclusive jurisdiction over
apprenticeship programs, culture, education, health, housing, language, manpower training, natural
resources, sport fishing, sports & recreation, social assistance and tourism. Canada would field a single
team at international sports competitions. E. The Reform Party supports legally entrenched measures that would forbid the Federal Government
from using its “spending power” to interfere in areas of provincial jurisdiction. F. The Reform Party maintains that the role of the Federal Government in provincially run social
programs such as education, health and social assistance should be to develop national standards
through cooperative agreements rather than to impose standards unilaterally and withhold transfer
payments when these standards are not met. G. The Reform Party supports the establishment of an agreement to replace federal cash grants to the
provinces with unconditional transfers of the tax base of each province, adjusted for differential
provincial economic development so that the provincial tax revenues collected in each province will
grow in parallel with the growth in the province's economy and population. This will allow the content
and particulars of provincial policy to be set by provincial governments clearly accountable to the
electorate of that province. H. The Reform Party supports the strengthening of the role of municipal governments in the delivery of
essential services, as a decentralization measure. I. The Reform Party supports legal measures prohibiting the Federal Government from funding private
court challenges of provincial laws. J. The Reform Party supports the abolition of the federal power to strike down provincial laws
(“disallowance” and “reservation”) and to legislate under the professed “declaratory power”, in areas
of provincial jurisdiction. K. The Reform Party supports the adoption of a process whereby appointments to the Board of
Directors of the Bank of Canada would be made by the provincial legislatures rather than by the Prime
Minister. L. The Reform Party supports the adoption of a process whereby the Lieutenant Governor of each
province would be selected by the provincial legislature rather than by the Prime Minister. A. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the Canadian Government
should be guided in any negotiations by three principles: democratic legitimacy, the rule of law and the
primacy of the interests of Canada. B. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, any secession negotiations
should take into account the interests of Canada's remaining provinces. C. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the Canadian Government
should insist upon the right of citizens within that province, including Aboriginal peoples, to remain part
of Canada and to petition Parliament for that purpose. Boundary changes would be based on local
referendum results. D. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, unless a negotiated settlement
satisfactory to Canada were achieved, if applicable, all current marine resources should remain
Canadian. E. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the Canadian citizenship and
Canadian passports of the people of that province choosing to leave Canada should be revoked. F. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, that that province should pay
a share of the federal debt equivalent to its share of Canada's population. G. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, to ensure creditor confidence,
any disputes over payment of the debt should be resolved by international arbitration. H. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, all moveable federal assets
located in that province should remain the property of Canada. The Canadian Government should
seek to maximize its return from any disposal of moveable or fixed assets. I. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, that province could use the
Canadian dollar but should have no say in Canadian monetary policy. J. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, foreign governments should
not be permitted to recognize the independence of that province prior to the Federal Government
having done so. K. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the Canadian Government
would retain its veto over that province's participation in international trade agreements and should
exercise this veto in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence. L. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, Canada should not participate
in the development of any bilateral trade deals with that province unless they are in Canada's interest. M. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, if applicable, the Canadian
Government should insist on full, unhindered rights of transportation and transmission across the
territory of that province joining Canadians from coast to coast. N. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the Canadian Government
should require that the province enter into no international agreements which compromise Canadian
security or Canada's current defence treaty obligations. O. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, all fixed military assets in that
province should be disposed of by Canada on terms acceptable to Canada. All movable assets would
remain Canadian property and would be removed from that province at the convenience of Canada. P. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the final terms and conditions
of secession should be ratified by all Canadians in a referendum. Q. The Reform Party maintains that in the event that a province secedes, the Canadian Government
should affirm that this province would have no prospect of reentry into Confederation, except on terms
and conditions wholly satisfactory to Canada. Constitutional Reform A. The Reform Party fully endorses the Triple-E Senate concept as outlined in the Draft Constitutional
Amendment prepared by legal experts and ratified by Party members in May, 1988. A. The Reform Party affirms the equality of every individual before and under the law and the right to
equal protection and benefit of the law. We believe all federal legislation should reflect this principle of
equality, which is negated by granting group rights. B. The Reform Party supports the judicial interpretation of the equality guarantee in Section 15(1) of
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as mandating equality of opportunity rather than equality of
outcome. Charter of Rights and Freedoms A. The Reform Party proposes that all amendments to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms must be
approved in a national referendum. Among the changes that should be considered are those
recommended in the Reform Party's Charter of Rights and Freedoms Task Force report, dated April
1, 1996 and ratified by Party members in June 1996. B. The Reform Party supports amending the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to recognize the right of
every person to own, use and enjoy property (including real, intellectual and personal property) and to
contract freely. The Charter should state that no person shall be deprived of the ownership, use or
enjoyment of property or contract without full, just and timely compensation and the due process of
law. C. The Reform Party supports the inclusion, in this amendment to the Charter, of an additional
provision stating that in matters of property, contract and commerce, individuals shall be assured of all
the procedural protections guaranteed by Sections 7 to 14 of the Charter. D. As a first step towards the formal entrenchment of property rights in the Charter, a Reform
Government would use the unilateral amending formula under Section 44 of the Constitution Act, 1982
to limit the Federal Government's ability to restrict property rights. This limitation would be binding
only on the Federal Government. A. The Reform Party maintains that Canada should remain a single united country and that unity can
only be maintained by a clear commitment to Canada as one nation, in which the demands and
aspirations of all regions are entitled to equal status in constitutional negotiations and political debate. B. The Reform Party supports a bottom-up process of public consultation in any constitutional
negotiations, including electing delegates to Constitutional Conventions at provincial or regional levels. C. A Reform Government will introduce a motion in the House of Commons stating that in the future,
Parliament shall not vote on any constitutional amendment affecting all of Canada, including any
changes to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, unless that amendment has been approved in a
national referendum. D. The Reform Party supports the replacement of the various existing formulae for amending different
parts of the Constitution with amending formulae that replace the ratification power of Parliament and
the provincial legislatures with that of the people, as expressed in binding referenda. A. The Reform Party supports public analysis of the regional distribution of all federal funds as a
routine legislative process. Distribution would be analyzed on an east-west and north-south basis. B. In calculating federal-provincial transfer payments, the Reform Party supports including economic
rents from hydroelectric activities as provincial revenue. A. The Reform Party supports the right of the Territories to achieve full provincial status. A. The Reform Party supports beginning a new relationship with aboriginal peoples of Canada with a
Constitutional Convention of aboriginal representatives from across Canada to discuss the application
of Reform Party policy. B. The Reform Party's ultimate goal in aboriginal matters is that all aboriginal people be full and equal
participants in Canadian citizenship, indistinguishable in law and treatment from other Canadians. C. The Reform Party supports fully honouring treaties according to their original intent and Court
decisions. Property owners forced to defend their property rights as a result of Aboriginal land claims
will be compensated for defence of the claim. D. The Reform Party supports keeping the administration of Indian and Inuit affairs with the Federal
Government. Non-status Indians and Metis will remain under provincial jurisdiction. E. The Reform Party maintains that any form of Indian self-government will be a delegated form of
government and all lands within the borders of Canada will remain part of Canada. The laws of
Canada (and the Provinces and Territories) including the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of
Rights and Freedoms will apply to Indian governments. Any laws enacted by Indian governments must
conform with the laws of Canada. F. The Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada will have authority over Indian government
elections. G. The settlement of land claims will be negotiated publicly and all settlements will outline specific
terms, be final, and conclude within a specific time frame. Final settlements will be affordable to
Canada and the provinces. H. The Reform Party advocates the public disclosure of the value and extent of all current land claims
as a first step in addressing Indian land claims. I. Over time, Indian governments will be obligated to fund their operations from within their own
communities. Individuals and communities should be free to choose whether they wish to support
Indian political organizations. J. The Reform Party supports giving the Auditor General of Canada full authority to review the
management of federal funds by Indian governments. K. The Reform Party supports the right of individuals living on reserves and eligible for government
benefits to choose to receive those benefits either directly from the Federal Government or through
Indian government. L. The Reform Party supports the right of individuals entitled to reside on settlement lands to choose to
hold their entitlement privately or in common. M. The Reform Party supports eliminating the taxation exemption under the Indian Act of Canada as
aboriginal economic conditions improve. N. The Reform Party supports viewing new land settlements or self-government agreements in the
context of “One Canada” - equality for and among all persons. Therefore, the Indian Act of Canada
will be repealed and replaced by legislation respecting the above principles. Justice Reform A. The Reform Party recognizes that child abuse and family violence attack the very foundations of
organized society. The Party supports enacting, communicating, and enforcing laws that protect family
members against such acts. Effective programs aimed at prevention of family violence will be a priority. A. The Reform Party supports repealing the Young Offenders Act and establishing a definition of
juvenile offender within the Criminal Code. Until such time, the Reform Party supports amending the
Young Offenders Act so that it will: A. The Reform Party supports a judicial system which places the punishment of crime and the
protection of law-abiding citizens and their property ahead of all other objectives. B. The Reform Party maintains that the right of citizens to use all reasonable means to protect
themselves and their property against criminal acts should have priority over the rights of the offender. C. The Reform Party supports granting victims of crime official standing in court and parole hearings,
and requiring courts and parole boards to review victim impact statements before sentencing. To the
greatest extent possible, victims should be compensated by offenders for financial loss resulting from
criminal acts. D. The Reform Party supports a national Victims' Bill of Rights, which would restore a balance within
the criminal justice system by placing the rights of victims above the rights of the criminal. E. The Reform Party supports greater certainty in sentencing by introducing a sentencing guideline grid
in the Criminal Code. Some low risk offenders should have access to reduced sentences by
successfully completing a regimented life-enhancement program. F. The Reform Party supports adding a new definition to the Criminal Code which deems any person
who commits on two or more separate occasions an offence causing serious personal injury a
dangerous offender and subject to an indeterminate period of imprisonment. G. The Reform Party opposes granting voting privileges to convicted prisoners. H. The Reform Party supports amending the Criminal Code to allow police with probable cause to
demand DNA samples from crime suspects. I. The Reform Party supports reviewing the right of judges to place publicity bans on trials. J. The Reform Party supports repealing section 745 of the Criminal Code. All persons convicted of
first degree murder should be imprisoned for life, with no chance of parole or conditional release in any
form for twenty-five years. K. The Reform Party supports legislation that prevents criminals from collecting damages from private
citizens for injuries sustained during a criminal act, including injuries resulting from a victim's attempt at
self-defence. Self-defence includes any justified use of force. L. The Reform Party would support legislation that would allow the publication of the names of all
convicted offenders, including young offenders. M. The Reform Party supports eliminating the immigration appeal process for non-citizens convicted of
an indictable offence. Offenders should be deported once convicted or after serving their sentence, as
determined by the court. N. The Reform Party believes that any adult convicted of helping a young offender commit a crime
should pay the same penalty as if the adult committed the crime personally. Adults contributing to the
delinquency of a minor should also be charged. O. The Reform Party supports legislation requiring criminals to serve sentences for multiple convictions
consecutively, not concurrently. A. A Reform Government will introduce legislation to severely punish the criminal misuse of firearms
and protect the right of law-abiding citizens to own and use firearms. B. The Reform Party recognizes the need for broad public consultation in formulating firearm
legislation, including opinions of law enforcement officers, informed firearms owners, and other
Canadians. C. The Reform Party supports repealing Bill C-68 and replacing it with a workable and practical
alternative which will include severe automatic penalties for those who use firearms in criminal acts.
Plea bargaining on firearms offences will not be allowed. D. The Reform Party supports mandatory training and testing for first time owners prior to obtaining a
firearm. E. The Reform Party opposes measures which permit the government to confiscate legally obtained
firearms from law-abiding citizens. The Reform Party opposes changes to firearms legislation through
Order-in-Council. A. The Reform Party supports requiring violent offenders to serve their full sentences. Once released,
some violent offenders and all repeat offenders should be under parole supervision for the rest of their
lives. B. The Reform Party supports permitting low risk inmates to participate in civic or business projects
which enhance their skills and prepare them for productive life after release. Day parole should only be
granted to non-violent offenders attending projects within the community. A portion of the money
earned from such work should be directed towards victim compensation. Early release and parole
should be directly related to successful participation in work projects. C. The Reform Party supports amending the Criminal Code to adopt a specific sexual predator law
that ensures continued monitoring, even after such convicts are released from custody. Prior to release,
sexual predators should be examined by a panel of experts to certify that the offender does not pose a
threat to society. D. The Reform Party opposes the selection of parole board members on the basis of patronage.
Parole board members should be chosen based on merit, and should be properly trained in the justice
process. A. The Reform Party supports replacing the current system of appointing federal judges with a
democratic and accountable method. B. The provincial legislatures, rather than the Prime Minister, should make appointments to the
Supreme Court and all courts where judges are currently appointed by the Federal Government.
Appointments would be ratified by a Triple-E Senate, and would be considered acceptable only if they
have been made by a vote of the legislature, rather than by means of selection by the premier or
provincial government. C. The Reform Party supports adequate regional representation on the Supreme Court. D. The Reform Party supports appointing Supreme Court justices for fixed, non-renewable terms of
ten years. A. The Reform Party supports the traditional role of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a police
force representative of and responsive to the populations it serves in Canada's regions. Social Reform Alternatives to the Welfare State A. The Reform Party opposes the view that universal social programs run by bureaucrats are the best
and only way to care for the poor, the sick, the old and the young. B. The Reform Party supports greater compassion in the delivery mechanisms for social policy. We
would actively encourage families, communities, non-governmental organizations and the private sector
to resume their duties and responsibilities in social service areas. C. The Reform Party supports focusing social benefits on those who need the help (in a rational and
compassionate manner). D. The Reform Party supports greater financial sustainability in social policy and this requires a
commitment to sound financial management. No citizen should be denied services because of financial
status or inability to pay, but this does not necessitate the full subsidization of those able to pay all or
part of the costs themselves. E. The Reform Party supports a more simplified and comprehensive social policy. We believe a
simplified income-tax system would reveal data enabling governments to determine eligibility for social
policies intended to raise the purchasing power of low-income individuals, without complex means or
needs tests. F. The Reform Party supports the idea of requiring those recipients of employment insurance and
welfare/social assistance, who are capable of doing so, to perform community service or job training
or to undertake a form of education while receiving benefits. A. The Reform Party supports the development of a family or household-oriented comprehensive
social security system administered through the income-tax system. This could replace many forms of
social policy, such as the Spousal Exemption, Child Tax Credit, federal contributions to social
assistance payments, retirement plans, federal social housing programs, day-care deductions, and
minimum wage laws. We will explore existing options such as the guaranteed annual income, security
investment fund, and negative income tax. A. The Reform Party believes in ensuring a secure retirement income for all Canadians. We would
protect benefits for current seniors and all CPP contributors and would provide individuals with the
means to control and direct their retirement savings through mandatory contributions into self-directed
Super-RRSPs. A. The Reform Party supports the return of Unemployment Insurance (UI) to its original function — an
employer-employee funded and administered program to provide temporary income in the event of
unexpected job loss. B. The Reform Party supports the immediate elimination of discriminatory UI elements, such as
regional entrance requirements and regionally-extended benefit phases, in ways that do not increase
the costs of the program. C. The Reform Party supports investigating the feasibility of replacing the compulsory, government
operated, privately funded, taxpayer subsidized UI program with a voluntary, personally financed,
privately administered, government-regulated Registered Unemployment Savings Plan (RUSP). A. The Reform Party believes that the Federal Government should: B. The Reform Party supports national standards in all levels of education and apprenticeships.
Through cooperative inter-provincial agreements, the Federal Government should foster: A. The Reform Party believes a family should be defined as individuals related by blood, marriage or
adoption. Marriage is the union of a man and a woman as recognized by the state and this definition
will be used in the provision of spousal benefits for any program funded or administered by the Federal
Government. B. The Reform Party affirms the duty of parents to raise their children responsibly according to their
own conscience and beliefs, and further affirms that no person, government, or agency has a right to
interfere in the exercise of that duty, as long as the actions of parents do not constitute abuse or
neglect. A. The Reform Party supports child-care programs that subsidize financial need, not the method of
child care chosen, and that subsidize children and parents, not institutions and professionals. B. The Reform Party opposes any expenditure-increasing child-care initiative in light of the current
fiscal situation of the Government of Canada. C. The Reform Party supports government regulation of day-care standards. D. The Reform Party opposes state-run day-care. A. The Reform Party supports the value of Medicare in providing essential, comprehensive national
health services, publicly funded, portable across Canada and universally accessible to all Canadians
regardless of financial status. B. The Reform Party supports defining Medicare's essential services in consultation with users, health
care professionals, the provinces and the Federal Government. Non-essential services would not be
reimbursed by Medicare. C. The Reform Party supports Canadians' freedom to access essential and non-essential health care
services, beyond Medicare, if they so choose. D. The Reform Party supports converting federal cash transfers to the provinces for health into
additional “tax points”, which would provide a stable and growing revenue source for longer term
provincial funding of Medicare. E. The Reform Party supports the complete rearrangement of the concept of health care insurance,
such as: basic deductibles; medisave accounts; choice of insurance coverage; and complete coverage
for catastrophic illness. F. The Reform Party supports adding HIV to the list of infectious, reportable diseases. Culture and Official Languages A. The Reform Party supports the freedom of Canadian cultural communities to grow and develop
without needless protection and government regulation, encouraging a cultural free market which offers
choice, while lowering costs to consumers as services are provided by those sectors which are able to
do so most cost-effectively. B. The Reform Party supports a language policy based on freedom of speech. We reject
comprehensive language legislation, whether in the nature of enforced bilingualism or unilingualism,
regardless of the level of government. The Reform Party supports personal bilingualism. C. The Reform Party opposes the concept of Canada as “a meeting of two founding races, cultures,
and languages” as an inappropriate description of the reality of the regions outside Central Canada,
unfair to the vast majority of unilingual Canadians, and completely inconsistent in its own application. D. The Reform Party supports the replacement of the Official Languages Act with a new language law
that reflects the demographic reality of Canada and the provinces. The Reform Party supports “asking
the people”, through a referendum, to approve this new law. E. The Reform Party supports official bilingualism in key federal institutions, such as Parliament and the
Supreme Court, and in critical federal services in parts of the country where need is sufficient to
warrant services on a cost-effective basis. F. The Reform Party supports a recognition of French in Quebec and English elsewhere as the
predominant language of work and society. G. The Reform Party supports protection of minority education rights, possibly by interprovincial
agreement. H. The Reform Party supports removal of bilingual bonuses to federal public servants as a
cost-reduction measure. A. The Reform Party stands for the acceptance and integration of immigrants into the mainstream of
Canadian life. The Reform Party would focus Federal Government activities on enhancing the
citizenship of all Canadians regardless of race, language or culture. B. The Reform Party of Canada opposes the current concept of multiculturalism and hyphenated
Canadianism pursued by the Government of Canada. We would end funding of the multiculturalism
program and support the abolition of the Department of Multiculturalism. C. The Reform Party supports and shall uphold the principle that individuals or groups are free to
preserve their cultural heritage using their own resources. A. The Reform Party supports an immigration policy that focuses on Canada's economic needs and
welcomes genuine refugees. We remain convinced that immigration has been, and can be again, a
positive source of economic growth, cultural diversity, and social renewal. Immigrants should possess
the human capital necessary to adjust quickly and independently to the needs of Canadian society and
the job market. B. The Reform Party opposes any immigration policy based on race or creed. C. The Reform Party supports restricting sponsorship privileges to immediate family members
(spouses, minor dependent children, and aged dependent parents). All others should apply for entry
through the normal selective process. D. The Reform Party supports accepting genuine refugees who find their way to Canada. A genuine
refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution and qualifies under the strict requirements of the United
Nations Convention. E. The Reform Party supports immediate deportation of bogus refugees and other illegal entrants;
persons who promote such activities should be subject to severe penalties without exception. The
Constitution may have to be amended to ensure that Parliament ultimately controls entry into Canada;
in the interim, the Charter's “notwithstanding” provision should be used to ensure this is the case. F. The Reform Party opposes the use of immigration policy to solve the crisis of the welfare state
through forced-growth population policy. The problem of the pension costs of an aging population is
neither caused nor cured by immigration policy. G. The Reform Party supports submitting all major changes to immigration, including sponsorship
requirements and amnesties, to referendum. H. The Reform Party supports amending the Immigration Act so that a sponsored immigrant must
become a Canadian citizen to qualify for social services or health care. I. The Reform Party supports an immigration policy that requires children born in Canada to take the
citizenship of their parents. Children born in Canada to landed immigrants would assume Canadian
citizenship. J. The Reform Party maintains that immigration levels should be established at a maximum of 150,000
per year in any year where the unemployment rate exceeds 10%, with increases in immigration as the
unemployment rate falls below 10%. Environmental Reform A. The Reform Party supports ensuring that all Canadians dwell in a clean and healthy environment.
The Party supports sustainable development because, without economic development and the income
generated therefrom, the environment will not be protected or enjoyed. B. The Reform Party believes environmental considerations must carry equal weight with economic,
social, and technical considerations in the development of a project. C. The Reform Party supports integrating environmental and economic objectives in management
philosophy, structure, procedures and planning in which the Federal Government has constitutional
jurisdiction. D. The Reform Party supports the initiation of a public education program of environmentally
conscious purchasing. The Federal Government should be environmentally conscious in its purchasing
and encourage the private sector to do the same. E. The Reform Party supports the Federal Government participating in international commissions to
regulate clear cutting of forests, ocean transportation of environmentally hazardous materials and the
fishing of international waters. A. The Reform Party supports the establishment of clear federal-provincial jurisdiction over
environmental matters through negotiations with the provinces. The Reform Party also supports the
development and application of environmental criteria through a joint federal-provincial process where
appropriate so as to reduce duplication, confusion and unnecessary regulation. B. The Reform Party supports federal leadership and commitment to sustainable development. This
includes developing partnerships with provincial governments, private industry, educational institutions,
and the public in order to promote meaningful progress in the area of environmental protection. C. The Reform Party supports the Multipartite Round Table approach to environment and economy,
as a means of finding common ground and building consensus in the development of measures to deal
with environmental issues. D. The Reform Party supports regional development to alleviate concentrated areas of industrial
activity and population. E. The Reform Party supports the development of acceptable environmental regulations through
consultation and cooperation between industry and the public. The government should be directed to
enforce these regulations firmly, fairly and equally. A. The Reform Party supports setting a specified time frame to ensure that water discharged from
industrial plants will be of equal or better quality than water taken into the plant for use, and that
gaseous emissions will not contain any harmful ingredients. B. The Reform Party supports a country-wide program to improve municipal sewage treatment
involving tertiary treatment facilities wherever possible. C. The Reform Party supports immediate long-term restoration programs for areas of the environment
damaged due to inadequate or improperly enforced regulations. D. The Reform Party supports the principle that the polluter shall pay for its pollution controls, that this
be stringently enforced in an unbiased manner, and that penalties be severe enough that polluters will
not consider them a “licence fee” to pollute. E. The Reform Party supports fines and jail sentences for officers and executives of companies
violating environmental laws. Environmentally-Sensitive Zoning A. The Reform Party supports the concept of “environmentally-sensitive zoning.” External Relations A. The Reform Party supports free trade in principle. B. The Reform Party supports making free trade work to Canada's greater advantage by removing
interprovincial trade barriers, lowering the tax burden, and shifting emphasis from welfare to retraining
and technological development. C. The Reform Party supports amending the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and the North
American Free Trade Agreement to maintain exclusive and unrestricted Canadian control of Canadian
water in all forms. D. The Reform Party supports a comprehensive effort to realign Canada's economic policies to be
consistent with our international trade requirements. This realignment must include industrial
development policies, science and research policies, regulatory policies, taxation policies,
transportation policies, education policies, and fiscal and monetary policies. E. The Reform Party supports forming interprovincial trade groups to promote external trade relations,
beginning with Pacific Rim countries. A. The Reform Party supports the maintenance of a professional, well-equipped, and sufficiently
strong Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard to: B. The Reform Party supports the development of defence policies based on: C. The Reform Party supports the maintenance of Reserves equal to the number of regular troops in
the military force. Legislation should be passed to guarantee Reservists their jobs upon returning from
training and/or active duty. A. The Reform Party supports foreign policy guided by the values and principles of Canadians —
political democracy, economic freedom, and human rights. The Reform Party will strive for greater
integrity and consistency in the application of Canadian policy abroad and at home. B. The Reform Party supports a review of Canada's participation in international organizations and
would remain in organizations that are efficient, accountable and useful in promoting Canada's
international interests. C. The Reform Party supports restructuring the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
to provide it with a legislative mandate and make it smaller and more accountable. To ensure that
CIDA supports the priorities of grassroots Canadians, contribution to Canadian non-governmental
organizations should match, but not exceed, the privately raised funds of those organizations. A. The Reform Party supports a reduction in foreign aid, particularly in government-to-government
grants and low interest loans, until the federal deficit and debt are under control. Canada's foreign aid
policy should encourage individuals and private organizations to fund and administer foreign aid and
should emphasize the provision of Canadian goods and services rather than direct financial aid. B. The Reform Party opposes Federal Government foreign aid to governments which suppress basic
human rights. Years of traditional party government - characterized by broken promses and unfulfilled commitments - have
destroyed the faith of Canadians in political promises and platforms. How can that faith be restored? By political
reform designed to give the people themselves the democratic tools to hold their politicians accountable and force
governments to keep their commitments. These political reforms, designed to establish political accountability, are
inserted in the following section. Political Reform A. When a Reform M.P. votes in the Parliament of Canada, he or she represents: B. The Reform Party pledges that, having had a full opportunity to express their views and vote freely in Caucus, Reform
M.P.s shall vote according to the agreed-upon Caucus position in the House of Commons except under the following
conditions: C. The Reform Party supports changing Parliamentary rules to allow free votes in the House of Commons. We believe that
the defeat of a government measure in the House of Commons should not automatically mean the defeat of the government.
Defeat of a government motion should be followed by a formal motion of non-confidence, the passage of which would require
either the resignation of the government or dissolution of the House for a general election. D. The Reform Party supports that the Reform Caucus make public its voting record on government legislation at the end of
the yearly legislative reporting period. A. The Reform Party supports allowing constituents to initiate a recall procedure against their M.P. if they believe he or she
has violated his/her oath of office. B. The recall petition must contain the names, addresses and signatures of electors ordinarily resident in the member's electoral
district. The number required for a successful petition should be low enough to permit recall to be a genuine incentive to act in
a representative manner, but high enough to prevent its misuse. C. In order to avoid misuse, no recall application shall be accepted until at least twelve months after the most recent election,
unless a Member has misrepresented material facts about himself or herself during that election. D. Only one submission for the recall of any one Member shall be accepted during the term of a Parliament. Referendum and Citizens' Initiative A. The Reform Party supports a law guaranteeing the right of the people to initiate binding referenda on new legislation and
constitutional amendments, and on the repeal of any existing law or constitutional amendment. B. The Reform Party supports a direct democratic process without partisanship or suppression of opinion on the following: C. The Reform Party shall work toward enabling legislation for a binding national referendum on each of capital punishment
and abortion. D. The following process will be employed by Reform Members of Parliament on issues designated by the Reform Party
Assembly to be “Issues of Personal Conscience” — that is, on issues where there exists among Canadians a sharp divergence
of intensely-held, value-based personal convictions — the following process will be employed by Reform Members of
Parliament to decide public policy: E. The Reform Party believes the number of signatures needed to initiate a referendum should not represent an insurmountable
barrier, but should be high enough to prevent frivolous referendum questions from being placed on the ballot. Based on the
experience of other jurisdictions, a petition signed by a number of voters representing not less than three percent of the total
votes cast in the most recent federal election is reasonable. F. The Reform Party believes that, if possible, referendum issues should be placed on the ballot concurrently with a general
federal election. However, since some issues are too urgent to be delayed until election-time, all referenda initiated by petition
should be held within two years of the petition being submitted. G. The Reform Party supports legislation that ensures referenda are conducted in the fairest and most non-partisan manner
possible. In particular, the Federal Government should be forbidden from placing “counter-initiatives” on the same ballot as an
initiative question. H. The Reform Party supports restricting the Federal Government's ability to invoke section 33 of the Constitution Act, 1982
(the “Notwithstanding” Clause) so that Supreme Court rulings striking down federal laws can only be overridden by the
federal government if authorized by a majority of Canadians in a national referendum. A. The Reform Party supports holding elections every four years at a predetermined time of year. If a government were
defeated in the House of Commons, an election would be called immediately. The subsequent election would be four years
from the same predetermined time of the year. B. The Reform Party supports requiring by-elections be held within six months of a seat becoming vacant. C. The Reform Party opposes any assistance to political parties and political lobbies from public funds, including any refund of
candidate or party expenses, government advertising during the electoral period, the “renting” of Parliamentary staff for
reimbursement, tax credits for contributions to federal political parties, and the transfer of tax credits to leadership or
nomination campaigns, or to provincial or municipal parties. D. The Reform Party supports amendments to the Canada Elections Act to ensure that only eligible voters are enumerated,
cast only one ballot, and provide proof of identification before voting. The power to challenge eligibility would also be
returned to electoral officers and scrutineers at polling stations. A. The Reform Party supports repealing sections of the Canada Elections Act which make M.P.s beholden to their national
party executive or leader rather than their constituents (such as the provisions for the signing of nomination papers). B. The Reform Party supports amending the M.P.s' oath of office such that they swear or affirm allegiance to their Queen,
their constituents and to Canada. C. The Reform Party supports restrictions on the number and types of Orders-in-Council permitted by a government during
its term of office. In the interim, Reform Party M.P.s will strive to make Parliamentary committees effective in reviewing any
regulations before implementation. D. The Reform Party will insist that all laws applying to individuals and the private sector apply equally to the Government of
Canada, its personnel, its agencies and Parliament. M.P. Pensions and Benefit Packages A. The Reform Party opposes the current pension schemes for Members of Parliament. We would end full indexation of these
pensions. We would postpone eligibility for benefits until at least age 60, and further postpone eligibility by the amount of time
in which the person has already been paid prior to age 60. We would subject the M.P. pension to a tax-back according to a
formula identical to that of the Old Age Security. B. The Reform Party supports the provision of pensions for M.P.s only if those pensions are no more generous than private
sector norms and meet all requirements for a registered plan under the Income Tax Act. Reformers also support using an
independent body to make binding recommendations to Parliament with regard to M.P. pensions, and that these
recommendations be applied to the future benefits paid to both retired and currently sitting Members. C. The Reform Party supports a re-examination of M.P.s' and Senators' expense allowances, free services, staff privileges
and limousines in light of private sector standards and the failure of M.P.s to reform the House of Commons. Until a balanced
budget is achieved, the salaries and expenses of government M.P.s and their offices should be frozen. D. The Reform Party opposes paying multiple salaries to M.P.s who are also cabinet ministers or committee chairmen, or who
hold other Parliamentary positions. 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.
Fiscal Reform
Economic Reform
National Unity
Constitutional Reform
Justice Reform
Social Reform
Environmental Reform
External Relations
Political Reform
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REFORM PARTY OF CANADA
|
Secretary, Reform Party of Canada | Recording Secretary |
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.
B7.10 If a Director ceases to hold office, the Board may appoint a replacement Director from the membership.
B7.11 A quorum of the Board of Directors is the greater of forty per cent (40%) or 6 members.
B7.12 The members may vote to give the Board of Directors the power to pass a resolution providing for the removal of
a Director who has missed three (3) consecutive Board meetings without reasonable explanation.
B7.13 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.
AN ASSOCIATION MAY CHOOSE ONE OF TWO OPTIONS FOR ELECTING ITS OFFICERS:
(C) A SYSTEM WHERE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTS ITS OWN OFFICERS;
OR
(D) A DIRECT ELECTION SYSTEM WHERE OFFICERS ARE ELECTED DIRECTLY
BY THE MEMBERS.
OPTION C: BOARD ELECTED
ARTICLE VIII: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
C8.1 The day to day affairs of the Association shall, subject to direction from the Board of Directors, be managed and
directed by an Executive Committee, which shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President(s), Secretary,
Treasurer and not more than three (3) additional members of the Board to a maximum number of seven (7).
C8.2 The Officers of the Association who shall be elected each year by the Directors from their numbers shall include:
(a) a President who shall preside at all meetings of the Association, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and who shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nomination Committee and Candidate Selection Committee.
(b) one (1) or two (2) Vice-Presidents, one of whom shall assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President;
(c) a Secretary who shall have custody of all official Association records, documents and all regulations of the Association, other than financial, and who shall prepare and maintain minutes of meetings of the Association, of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee, call meetings pursuant to Article 6.1 and Article 7.8 and who shall perform such other duties as the Board may direct;
(d) a Treasurer who shall administer the financial affairs of the Association and keep or cause to
be kept all such books of account and financial records as may be required to properly reflect the
financial affairs of the Association.
C8.3 An Officer may be removed from office by a resolution passed by not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the
Directors present and voting at a meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose on not less than
fourteen (14) days notice.
C8.4 If an Officer ceases to hold office, the Board of Directors may appoint a member of the Board to fill the position
for the unexpired term.
C8.5 Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or shall be called at the request of at least
three (3) other Executive Committee members.
C8.6 A quorum of the Executive Committee is a majority of its members.
C8.7 Reasonable effort shall be made to notify all Executive Committee members of meetings of the Committee.
C8.8 Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held by either personal or simultaneous telephone attendance or
by a combination thereof, but no decision shall be made without the concurrence of a majority of the Executive
Committee.
C8.9 All actions of the Executive Committee shall be recorded and the actions taken since the previous meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be presented for ratification to the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
OPTION D: MEMBER ELECTED
ARTICLE VIII: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
D8.1 The day to day affairs of the Association shall, subject to the direction from the Board of Directors, be managed
and directed by an Executive Committee, which shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President(s),
Secretary, Treasurer and not more than three (3) additional members of the Board to a maximum number of
seven (7).
D8.2 The Officers of the Association who shall be elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting of the
Association shall include:
(a) a President who shall preside at all meetings of the Association, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and who shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nomination Committee and the Candidate Selection Committee;
(b) one (1) or two (2) Vice-Presidents, one of whom shall assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President;
(c) a Secretary who shall have custody of all official Association records, documents and all regulations of the Association, other than financial, and who shall prepare and maintain minutes of meetings of the Association, of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee, call meetings pursuant to Article 6.1 and Article 7.8 and who shall perform such other duties as the Board may direct;
(d) A Treasurer who shall administer the financial affairs of the Association and keep or cause to
be kept all such books of account and financial records as may be required to properly reflect the
financial affairs of the Association.
D8.3 An Officer may be removed from office by a resolution passed by not less than seventy five per cent (75%) of the
members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose pursuant to Article VI.
D8.4 If an Officer ceases to hold office, the Board of Directors may appoint a member of the Board to fill the position
for the unexpired term.
D8.5 Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or shall be called at the request of at least
three (3) other Executive Committee members.
D8.6 A quorum of the Executive Committee is a majority of its members.
D8.7 Reasonable effort shall be made to notify all Executive Committee members of meetings of the Committee.
D8.8 Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held by personal attendance or simultaneous telephone
attendance or by a combination thereof, but no decision shall be made without the concurrence of a majority of
Executive Committee members.
D8.9 All actions of the Executive Committee shall be recorded and the actions taken since the previous meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be presented for ratification at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX: CANDIDATE SELECTION
9.1 No more than seven (7) months prior to a prospective Candidate Selection Meeting, a Candidate Selection
Committee shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and shall be comprised of two (2) members of the Board,
one of whom shall be named Chairman of the Committee, plus three (3) other members from the membership-at-large. Each Committee member must sign a pledge indicating that they will not become a nominee at that
Candidate Selection Meeting.
9.2 The Candidate Selection Committee shall:
(a) organize and administer a candidate recruitment, nomination and selection program;
(b) conduct a thorough search to find the best available nominees to seek election as the candidate to represent the constituency in the House of Commons in accordance with Party guidelines;
(c) require the calling of a general meeting of the Association for the purpose of selecting the Constituency Candidate ("the Candidate Selection Meeting,"); and
(d) provide opportunities for the dissemination or publication of the platform and priorities of all
nominees and may set spending limits for the campaigns of all nominees.
9.3 Any member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee who declares an intention to seek the nomination
as a candidate in an upcoming federal election or by-election, shall forthwith resign as a member of the Board,
but shall be entitled, along with other nominees, to be notified of and to attend meetings of the Board as a non-voting observer until the Constituency candidate has been selected.
9.4 The Candidate Selection Committee shall, no more than three (3) months but not less than two (2) months prior
to the prospective Candidate Selection Meeting:
(a) declare the start of the official campaigning period for nominees;
(b) release a copy of the Association's membership list to each nominee who has properly filed papers; and
(c) provide opportunities for nominees to express their platforms.
9.5 At a Candidate Selection Meeting, no business other than the selection of a candidate shall be conducted until
after the selection of a candidate has been made.
9.6 A person seeking nomination as a candidate for the Party in the Constituency shall present to the President or
Secretary, before nominations are closed, a nomination paper signed by not less than ten (10) members of the
Association who are entitled to vote on the selection of a candidate. The nomination paper shall be signed also
by the nominee indicating acceptance of the nomination and support of the Party's principles. Every nominee
must have been a member of the Party for at least 30 days prior to the date of the candidate's nomination being
submitted, have a paid up membership extending to at least the latest possible date of the forthcoming election,
and be eligible to sit as a member in Parliament.
9.7 Nominations shall close at 5:00 p.m., fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the Candidate Selection Meeting, or,
when Multiple Candidate Selection Meetings are to be held, at 5:00 p.m., fourteen (14) days prior to the date of
the first such meeting.
9.8 At Candidate Selection Meetings, the Chairman shall:
(a) call the meeting to order;
(b) read the notice of the meeting;
(c) turn the meeting over to a Returning Officer to supervise speeches, voting, and vote counting.
9.9 Before the vote is taken, each nominee shall be given equal time to address the meeting. The time allotment
shall be determined by the Candidate Selection Committee and communicated to all nominees in advance, and
may be used by the nominee and/or the nominee's introducer as the nominee may choose.
9.10 On the ballot, the nominees shall be named in order chosen by lot.
9.11 Ballots shall be marked in secret by eligible voters and, with the approval of the Returning Officer, electronic
voting methods may be used, in the alternative.
9.12 Each nominee is entitled to have a scrutineer present when ballots are being counted.
9.13 The Board of Directors, after consultation with the Candidate Selection Committee, shall pass a resolution
determining whether the Candidate will be selected by either:
(a) a sequential ballot, where, if after the first vote no nominee receives more then fifty percent (50%) of the valid votes cast, then the nominee receiving the least number of votes shall withdraw and another vote shall be taken. This process shall be repeated until one nominee receives more then fifty percent (50%) of the valid votes cast. A nominee receiving over fifty percent (50%) of the valid votes cast shall be the Party Candidate for the Constituency; or
(b) a single preferential transferrable ballot wherein the voter numerically ranks the nominees in
the sequence of their choice.
9.14 The Board of Directors, in consultation with a person designated by the Party, may determine that more than one
Candidate Selection Meeting should be held for a particular federal election or by-election (herein referred to as
"Multiple Candidate Selection Meetings") whereupon the following rules and procedures shall apply:
(a) The Board of Directors, after consultation with the Candidate Selection Committee, shall decide the number of meetings to be held and the location, date and time of each such meeting.
(b) The same general rules and procedures as relate to a single Candidate Selection Meeting, shall apply to each Multiple Candidate Selection Meeting unless varied by this Article 9.14.
(c) Ballots at all Multiple Candidate Selection Meetings held shall be identical.
(d) At these meetings, voting shall be by way of single preferential transferrable ballot.
(e) Membership lists at all Multiple Candidate Selection Meetings shall be identical. In order to be eligible to vote at meetings when the Multiple Candidate Selection process is in effect, a person must have been a member for at least 30 days prior to the date of the first of the multiple meetings to be held.
(f) No person shall vote at more than one Candidate Selection Meeting in any election or by-election.
(g) All ballots cast shall be deposited by voters into sealed ballot boxes, and following the voting at each meeting the integrity of those ballot boxes shall be maintained by the Returning Officer.
(h) Votes for all nominees are cumulative, and if no nominee receives more than 50% on counting the "first" choices marked on the ballots then the nominee receiving the lowest number of 1st choice votes shall be dropped from the contest and his or her ballots shall be added to those of the remaining contestants according to their 2nd choice and this process shall be repeated until a nominee receives more then 50% of the total number of valid votes cast in the election.
(i) The Returning Officer shall supervise the counting of the ballots, and shall thereafter declare
and announce the winner.
9.15 If there is only one valid nominee, that person shall be the Party Candidate for the Constituency, and the Returning Officer shall so declare.
9.16 The Party Candidate selected shall be invited to address the meeting.
9.17 In the event of an unanticipated federal election or by-election, Articles 9.1, 9.2, 9.4 and 9.7 may be abrogated by
a resolution passed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X: NOTICES
10.1 Notice of meetings of the Association, together with notice of dates, times and locations of meetings, and items
to be dealt with thereat shall be given by, or under the direction of the Secretary to each member of record by
one or more of the following methods:
(a) mailing a copy of such notice to his or her address of record or transmitting a copy of the notice by facsimile to a number provided by the member for that purpose.
(b) personally delivering a copy of such notice,
(c) mailing to his or her address of record a copy of a Constituency Newsletter which prominently displays such notice or
(d) causing such notice to be published in a newspaper or newspapers having general circulation
through the Constituency.
10.2 Such notices shall be given not less than fourteen (14) days and not more than forty five (45) days prior to the
day on which any such meeting is to be held. In the event of an unanticipated federal election or by-election, the
Board of Directors may set such notice period as they deem appropriate.
10.3 Notice of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to all Directors by either the President or the
Secretary not less then seven (7) days prior to the day of the meeting. Such notices shall be given by mail, in
person, or by telephone. "Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors may be waived with the prior approval
of 75% of the members of the Board."
10.4 Notice of District meetings, where applicable, shall be given by the Secretary of the Association or by the Director
elected by the District to all members of record residing in the District by mail, in person, or by telephone not less
than fourteen (14) days prior to the day of the meeting.
ARTICLE XI: PARTY AFFILIATION
A recognized Association shall provide the National Office of the Party with the following:
(a) a copy of the Constituency Association Constitution as provided for in Article 3 of the Party Constitution, together with a copy of the minutes of the meeting at which such constitution was approved;
(b) notice of any substitution made pursuant to Article 13; and
(c) on an ongoing basis, the names of the Officers and of the members of the Board of Directors
with their mailing addresses and telephone numbers, and noting in order of priority, the officers to whom
communications from the Party are to be addressed.
ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended in accordance with Article XII of the Party Constitution.
ARTICLE XIII: SUBSTITUTION
An Association may substitute Article VII, Option A for Article VII, Option B or vice-versa, or Article VIII, Option C
for Article VIII, Option D or vice-versa by an affirmative vote of the members at a general meeting of the
Association for which notice of the proposed substitution has been given.
ARTICLE XIV: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Association shall be a twelve (12) month period.
ARTICLE XV: BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
In the event of a legal change to the boundaries of a Constituency, one person from each Constituency so
affected and one person appointed by Executive Council shall meet to decide the fair division of assets of the
affected Constituencies and the transfer and co-ordination of membership lists.
ARTICLE XVI: DUTY TO UPHOLD
It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee to uphold and enforce the provisions of
this Constitution.
ARTICLE XVII: REGULATIONS
The Board of Directors may pass regulations with respect to the operation of the Association which shall not conflict with this Constitution or the Party Constitution. Copies of regulations must be kept by the Secretary and copies thereof shall be sent to National Office.
