FEDERAL
WHITBY-OSHAWA ELECTORAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
1. The Whitby-Oshawa Green Party of Canada Electoral District
Association (the "EDA") is a subunit of, and is bound by the
constitution and bylaws of the Green Party of Canada ("federal party").
2. The EDA is formed pursuant to the provisions of the Canada
Elections Act. The boundaries of the EDA are the boundaries of the
Electoral District of Whitby-Oshawa as those boundaries are set from
time to time by the Government of Canada.
3. All members in good standing of the Green Party of Canada
residing within the boundaries of Whitby-Oshawa are "members" of the
EDA. Only members of the EDA who have been members for more than 14
days are entitled to vote at meetings of the EDA.
4. Notwithstanding 3) above, a "lapsed member" whose membership has
been lapsed for less than 12 months, may renew their membership at a
meeting and is entitled to vote at that meeting
5. The EDA operates in coordination with a parallel Constituency
Association ("CA") which is constituted in the provincial riding of
Whitby-Oshawa as a subunit of the Green Party of Ontario ("provincial
party") under the Election Act of Ontario. Together these two
organizations constitute the Whitby-Oshawa Green Party Riding
Association ("RA")
6. The RA shall set the time and place of an annual general meeting
("AGM") once per calendar year and not more than fifteen months
following the previous AGM. Failure to hold an AGM within this time
period will allow the (federal) Party, if they so choose, to deregister
the EDA with Elections Canada. The Financial Agent of the EDA at the
time of such deregistration will be expected to conclude their
responsibilities to Elections Canada in an orderly manner.
7. The executive shall ensure that notice is sent to all members of
record (both federal and provincial) at least 30 days prior to the AGM.
Notice shall be by email and/or postal mail.
8. The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the members.
9. The business of the AGM shall include the election of the
Executive of the RA. The Executive shall be the governing body of the
RA between general meetings.
10. The Executive of the RA shall be comprised of:
1) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to be elected only by the
members of the federal EDA. The CEO must be a member of the federal
Party
2) President to be elected only by the members of the provincial CA. The president must be a member of the provincial party
The above two positions may be filled by the same individual
3) Financial Agent (FA) to be elected only by the members of the federal EDA. The FA must be a member of the federal Party
4) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to be elected only by the members of
the provincial CA. The CFO must be a member of the provincial party
The above 2 positions may be filled by the same individual
The above 4 positions have specific legal obligations under
(respectively) the Election Act of Canada and the Election Act of
Ontario
5) Communications Chair
6) Membership Chair
7) Fundraising Chair
8) Organizing Chair
9) Secretary
Provided that positions 5 through 9 may be combined into 2 or more positions as the executive sees fit
Members of both the federal EDA and the provincial CA may vote for these positions
11. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive, the Executive may
appoint a replacement who shall hold office until the position can be
filled by election at the next AGM.
12. The executive may create non-voting executive positions as it sees fit
13. The accounts of the EDA shall be audited in accordance with requirements of the Canada Elections Act.
Candidate Selection
15. The EDA shall nominate a Green Party candidate to contest the
Whitby-Oshawa constituency for any federal election or by-election in
accordance with rules and standards set out by the Green Party of
Canada and the Canada Elections Act.
16. Individuals seeking the party nomination must be members of the
Green Party of Canada, and must be nominated, in writing and in the
required format, by at least five members in good standing of the EDA
who are resident within the constituency. The candidate need not be a
resident of the constituency. Said nomination form must be delivered to
the Chief Executive Officer of the EDA, or another individual
designated by the executive, at least 4 weeks prior to the date of the
nominating meeting. The CEO or designate will verify the nomination
within 72 hours
17. The Executive must set the date for the nomination meeting and
provide notice to all members of the EDA by mail and/or email, no later
than 30 days prior to the nomination meeting.
18. In the event that only 1 individual submits a valid nomination
form as set out in article 16, a vote by the federal party members
present will be held between the candidate and "None Of The Above"
[NOTA]. In the event that 2 or more candidates are duly nominated,
voting at the nomination meeting will be by preferential ballot. A
candidate shall be declared nominated as the Party's candidate when he
or she receives at least 50% of the total number of the first votes or,
if there is no clear majority on the first vote, at least 50% of the
sum total of first votes and preferential second or subsequent votes.
19. Notwithstanding articles 16 & 17, if a federal election has
been called before a nomination meeting has been held or if the Party
designates an urgent situation, the Executive shall set the nomination
meeting as soon as possible, provided that members be notified by
telephone or email no less than 48 hours prior to the nomination
meeting. In this event, the nomination process may be abbreviated at
the discretion of the executive.
20. Quorum for a nomination meeting shall be 10% of the members of the EDA.
Amendment
21. This constitution may be amended by a 75% vote of approval of a
general meeting, except that no change may be considered by the meeting
unless notice of the change proposed has been given to all members by
email and/or postal mail at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the
general meeting.
22. The EDA will continue as long as the Whitby-Oshawa Electoral
District exists unless the EDA is deregistered by Elections Canada. In
the event of riding redistribution, the executive is authorized to
reorganize the association within the new boundaries pending changes in
the constitution.
23. The EDA may not merge or join with any other political party.
Notwithstanding article 21, above, this article may not be amended.
WHITBY-OSHAWA CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
1. The Whitby-Oshawa Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association
(the "CA") is a subunit of, and is bound by the constitution and bylaws
of the Green Party of Ontario ("provincial party").
2. The CA is formed pursuant to the provisions of the Ontario
Elections Act and/or the Ontario Election Finances Act or any Act or
Acts that replace them.. The boundaries of the CA are the boundaries of
the Whitby-Oshawa Constituency as those boundaries are set from time to
time by the Government of Ontario in the Representation Act or any Act
that replaces it.
3. All members in good standing of the Green Party of Ontario
residing within the boundaries of Whitby-Oshawa are "members" of the
CA. Only members of the CA who have been members for more than 14 days
are entitled to vote at meetings of the CA.
4. Notwithstanding 3) above, a "lapsed member" whose membership has
been lapsed for less than 12 months, may renew their membership at a
meeting and is entitled to vote at that meeting
5. The CA operates in coordination with a parallel Electoral
District Association ("EDA") which is constituted in the federal riding
of Whitby-Oshawa as a subunit of the Green Party of Canada ("federal
party") under the Election Act of Canada. Together these two
organizations constitute the Whitby-Oshawa Green Party Riding
Association ("RA")
6. The RA shall set the time and place of an annual general meeting
("AGM") once per calendar year and not more than fifteen months
following the previous AGM. Failure to hold an AGM within this time
period will allow the (provincial) Party, if they so choose, to
deregister the CA with Elections Ontario. The CFO of the CA at the time
of such deregistration will be expected to conclude their
responsibilities to Elections Ontario in an orderly manner.
7. The executive shall ensure that notice is sent to all members of
record (both federal and provincial) at least 30 days prior to the AGM.
Notice shall be by email and/or postal mail.
8. The quorum for the AGM will be 10% of the members.
9. The business of the AGM shall include the election of the
Executive of the RA. The Executive shall be the governing body of the
RA between general meetings.
10. The Executive of the RA shall be comprised of:
1) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to be elected only by the
members of the federal EDA. The CEO must be a member of the federal
Party
2) President to be elected only by the members of the provincial CA. The president must be a member of the provincial party
The above two positions may be filled by the same individual
3) Financial Agent (FA) to be elected only by the members of the federal EDA. The FA must be a member of the federal Party
4) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to be elected only by the members of
the provincial CA. The CFO must be a member of the provincial party
The above 2 positions may be filled by the same individual
The above 4 positions have specific legal obligations under
(respectively) the Election Act of Canada and the Ontario Election Act
5) Communications Chair
6) Membership Chair
7) Fundraising Chair
8) Organizing Chair
9) Secretary
Provided that positions 5 through 9 may be combined into 2 or more positions as the executive sees fit.
Members of both the federal EDA and the provincial CA may vote for these positions.
11. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive, the Executive may
appoint a replacement who shall hold office until the position can be
filled by election at the next AGM.
12. The executive may create non-voting executive positions as it sees fit
13. The accounts of the CA shall be audited in accordance with
requirements of the Ontario Elections Act and the Ontario Elections
Finances Act.
14. The AGM will appoint an auditor as per the requirements of
Elections Ontario, provided that if the position becomes vacant between
AGMs, the executive may appoint a new auditor.
Candidate Selection
15. The CA shall nominate a Green Party candidate to contest the
Whitby-Oshawa constituency for any provincial election or by-election
in accordance with rules and standards set out by the Green Party of
Ontario and the Ontario Elections Act and the Ontario Elections
Finances Act.
16. Individuals seeking the party nomination must be members of the
provincial Party, and must be nominated, in writing and in the required
format, by at least five members in good standing of the Green Party of
Ontario who are resident within the constituency. The candidate need
not be a resident of the constituency. Said nomination form must be
delivered to the President of the CA, or another individual designated
by the executive, at least 4 weeks prior to the date of the nominating
meeting. The President or designate will verify the nomination within
72 hours
17. The Executive must set the date for the nomination meeting and
provide notice to all members of the CA by mail and/or email, no later
than 30 days prior to the nomination meeting.
18. In the event that only 1 individual submits a valid nomination
form as set out in article 16, a vote by the provincial party members
present will be held between the candidate and "None Of The Above"
[NOTA]. In the event that 2 or more candidates are duly nominated,
voting at the nomination meeting will be by preferential ballot. A
candidate shall be declared nominated as the Party's candidate when he
or she receives at least 50% of the total number of the first votes or,
if there is no clear majority on the first vote, at least 50% of the
sum total of first votes and preferential second or subsequent votes.
19. Notwithstanding articles 16 & 17, if a provincial election
has been called before a nomination meeting has been held or if the
Party designates an urgent situation, the Executive shall set the
nomination meeting as soon as possible, provided that members be
notified by telephone or email no less than 48 hours prior to the
nomination meeting. In this event, the nomination process may be
abbreviated at the discretion of the executive.
20. Quorum for a nomination meeting shall be 10% of the members of the CA.
Amendment
21. This constitution may be amended by a 75% vote of approval of a
general meeting, except that no change may be considered by the meeting
unless notice of the change proposed has been given to all members by
email and/or postal mail at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the
general meeting.
22. The CA will continue as long as the Whitby-Oshawa Constituency
exists unless the CA is deregistered by Elections Ontario. In the event
of riding redistribution, the executive is authorized to reorganize the
association within the new boundaries pending changes in the
constitution.
23. The CA may not merge or join with any other political party.
Notwithstanding article 21, above, this article may not be amended.
