Constitutional Amendments

The purpose of this page is to propose, discuss and decide on amendments to the Party's Constitution and Bylaws. Suggestions for amendments to a particular Article should be documented in the relevant section. It may simply be a concern or idea, or you can propose the actual amendment. Or if you don't like a proposed amendment, explain your objection and/or offer an alternative.

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Constitutional Amendments

Article 4 - MEMBERSHIP AND ASSOCIATE STATUS

• Replace Article 4, item 1 with the following -"Anyone who has signed the statement, "I am for individual liberty, free markets, property rights and limited government.” and has paid current membership dues, shall be a “Member” of the Party. [Words in Italics are new.]
  • Included in Allen.Small's Preliminary Rcommendations following 2018 General Election presented at the August 7, 2018 Meeting. --Jim McIntosh 16:11, 6 March 2019 (EST)

• Replace Article 4, item 2 with the following - "Anyone who has signed the statement, “I wish to be a non-voting Associate of the Ontario Libertarian Party,” and has paid current membership fees, shall be an Associate of the Party. [Words in Italics are new.]
  • This will make clear the difference between a Member (who has the privileges described elsewhere) and Associate (who does not have these privileges).--Jim McIntosh 21:50, 6 February 2019 (EST)

Article 5 - OFFICERS

• #7 in Allen's Recommendations says, "Redefine the duties of the Officers of the Exec Comm. – prior to the next Convention."
  • This will likely take at least an hour and we should not tackle it until everyone has read the Executive Standards on our Wiki. Not everything included in this document or items linked from it needs to be included in the Constitution (or Bylaws).--Jim McIntosh 17:37, 6 March 2019 (EST)

• Item 2 - "... The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Party."
  • Consideration - Corporations have CEOs, paid managers and a Board that sets direction for the corporation. I don't think our Chair is equivalent to a CEO, however we should consider adding some description of tasks or responsibilities. --Jim McIntosh 17:35, 6 March 2019 (EST)

• Item 6 b) The Treasurer shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the Party and shall be responsible for all obligations imposed on the Party by the Commission on Election Finances Elections Ontario. The term of the Chief Financial Officer shall coincide with the fiscal year of the party.
  • The Commission on Election Finances was merged into Elections Ontario in 1998.--Jim McIntosh 17:37, 6 March 2019 (EST)

Article 6 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• New item - to be inserted between items 1 and 2. Any Member stand for election to the Executive Committee must have been a Member of the Party for at least 60 days. The following items to be renumbered.
  • #3 in Allen Small's Recommendations, to ensure Members elected to the Executive Committee have some experience with the Party. This includes the Leader and Deputy Leader. However, it is moot if the amendment that the Leader and DL must have been members of the Executive for a year (Article 16). It could be added at the end of Article 5 - Officers.--Jim McIntosh 17:38, 6 March 2019 (EST)

Article ?

Add Level 2 headings for any Article with a proposed amendment.

Article 16 - ELECTION OF PARTY LEADER AND DEPUTY PARTY LEADER

• Amend Item 1 - No candidate may be nominated who has not been an Officer of the Party for at least a year or has not expressed a willingness to accept or is legally ineligible to run for the office of member of the Legislative Assembly by Ontario or Canadian law. [Change in italics.]
  • #4 in Allen Small's Recommendations. --Jim McIntosh 18:47, 6 March 2019 (EST)

• Item 3 - The Deputy Party Leader shall succeed the Party Leader in the event of a vacancy in that position.
  • No change recommended. There was some discussion when Allen resigned as Party Leader if the DL BECAME the Party Leader, or should be identified as "Interim" Party Leader. Mirriam-Webster's definition of "succeed" is, "to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate especially : to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title." It could be amended to read, "The Deputy Party Leader shall BECOME the Party Leader ..." if this would make it clearer. --Jim McIntosh 18:47, 6 March 2019 (EST)

Article 19 - ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcement in the official publication of the Party shall be deemed to be the notification required by this Constitution.

• Add the following paragraph - "Email may be used whenever written notice is required in the Constitution and Bylaws." --Jim McIntosh 22:15, 6 February 2019 (EST)

Bylaw Amendments

The Vision, Mission and Values were defined at a planning session, probably 15-20 years ago.  Probably not something to be done piecemeal by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee. A search through the Minutes, or through my files, may determine when and how it was done, or George may remember. As I recall, it was while Sam Apelbaum was Leader. I have provided the text from the existing Bylaws. --Jim McIntosh 22:05, 6 February 2019 (EST)

Article 1 - VISION

The Vision of the Party shall be: “People prospering in peaceful freedom through private property protection”

Article 2 - MISSION

The Mission of the Party shall be: “To enable endless possibilities through recognition of, respect for, and protection of individual liberty.”

Article 3 - VALUES

The Values of the Party shall be:

“We stand for personal responsibility.

“We stand for individual liberty, and controls and restrictions on governments.

“We recognize property rights.

“We stand for free and voluntary associations.

“We stand for freedom of expression.

“Government must be limited to protecting the liberty and property of its citizens from domestic and foreign aggressors.

“We believe in voluntary, not forced, mutual aid.

“We believe individual liberty promotes strength of character and integrity in a society.

“Government may not grant monopoly privileges to any individual or organization, including itself.

“We accept people as they are.”

Article 4 - MOTTO

The Motto of the Party shall be: “The Party of Choice.”

• There have been suggestions we could come up with a better motto or 'slogan.'
  • "The Party of limited government"
  • "We will defend your right to pursue your own happiness"
  • Other suggestions?

--Jim McIntosh 19:01, 6 March 2019 (EST)

Article 6 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

• Item 2 - The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as may be determined by action of the Committee, by call of the Chairman, or by written request of one-third or more of the members of the Executive Committee. Unless unanimously waived, a written notice of the time, place, and nature of all meetings shall be emailed or mailed to each member of the Executive Committee no less than 14 days prior to said meetings.
  • Delete "written" and allow email notice. --Jim McIntosh 19:18, 6 March 2019 (EST)