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Member Summary of
PARTG Report
In
2007, the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association
(CPRA) and its Provincial/Territorial Partners (P/T
Partners) formed a task group to improve the relationship
between them in a way that would better serve the parks
and recreation sector in Canada. Parks and Recreation
Ontario participated in the Partnership Agreement Renewal
Task Group (PARTG), which was co-chaired by Jim Marvel
(CPRA - BC Director) and Jennifer Reynolds (CPRA - Ontario
Director). The original mandate of the PARTG was to
focus on the various national/provincial-territorial
partnership agreements and recommend improvements. However,
as the work progressed, it became clear that there was
a need to undertake a more thorough review of the relationship
and broader levels of structural and operational improvements.
That led to a discussion about restructuring the formal
organizational elements and governance to effect the
improvements.
The
PARTG report summarizes in principle how a restructured
national body would operate as an alliance of P/T Partners.
PRO
would like to highlight the following points from the
report for your consideration. It is important to remember
that the report is only a proposal for restructuring.
The CPRA membership and the P/T Partners must endorse
the report before any governance or structural change
can take place.
- Strengthening
our sector
The
intent of the recommendations for a restructured national
body is to strengthen the national voice of our sector
in Canada. At the national level there will be a new
organization called the Canadian Parks and Recreation
Alliance (CPRA). It will replace the existing Canadian
Parks and Recreation Association, which will be altered
to create the new Alliance. The new Alliance will be
a not-for-profit with charitable status.
The
new Alliance will be made up of one representative organization
(currently the P/T Associations) from each province.
These P/T members will be the Board of Directors of
the new CPRA. Additional interested parties may also
join, but will not be voting members of the Board.
In
the new model, there will be a much stronger and seamless
connection between the two levels. In fact they will
be positioned to be two parts of a whole, rather than
separate, relatively
unconnected entities.
The
primary mission of the new CPRA will be to:
-Advocate
for the field nationally on issues of major concern;
-Promote
a national research agenda to support advocacy and to
improve the practices in the field;
-Develop
and ratify national policies and standards (where a
national standard, best practice, or approach is appropriate and helpful);
-Liaise
and collaborate with other national and international
organizations that are aligned with or share parts of
the CPRA mandate (to expand its influence and relevance,
and support its national advocacy role).
In
addition, the new CPRA will support the sector and its
PT members by:
-Providing
a national clearing house of important information regarding
the field (this is largely communication within the
field and among members);
-Providing
support for and nurture the creation of P/T Associations
where they need help;
-Identifying
and facilitating synergies between P/T Associations
(where one can help or support others);
-Hosting
national forums on topics that will support its research
and advocacy roles;
-Managing
an awards program (a recognition of and advancement
of best practices and people).
These
complimentary aims will serve to create a strong alliance
that is able to support the sector.
-
Membership and Governance
No
changes are proposed to P/T Association memberships.
Each of the twelve existing
P/T Associations (and a new one that may be added
in future) will continue to have members and will control
who their members are. As
stated previously, the new CPRA will be
an alliance of P/T Associations. Therefore, it will
have (potentially) thirteen members on the Board of
Directors. In addition, it will have three types of
non-voting Associate Members are proposed on page 4
of the PARTG report.
- Financial
Implications
Each
of the P/T Associations would continue to operate their
associations as they do now and finance them as they
see fit. There would be no change in how P/T Associations
are financed at the provincial/territorial level.
P/T
Associations would pay an annual fee for membership
in CPRA. That fee would be determined by a formula
which would recognize the unique structure of its general
membership, and the ability to pay of each P/T Association
member.
At
the commencement of the new CPRA, the intent would be
for it to be debt free and that a solid business model
will be in place that will ensure the long-term financial
stability of the alliance. Its financial position would
need to be completely clear and transparent.
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What happens next and what does this mean for you?
If
the CPRA membership and the P/T Partners endorse in
principle the recommendations of the PARTG report, then
the PARTG will dissolve and a new transition task group
will be formed to continue the work.
Currently,
by virtue of your PRO membership, you are a member of
CPRA. This will remain the same in the new alliance.
CPRA will still operate as a separate entity with an
AGM and other member services, such as national symposia.
What
it will mean is that you will have a stronger voice
at the national level and through PRO have a more direct
influence on the national agenda and priorities. The
new Alliance is more nimble and able to respond more
quickly to national issues and the needs of its members.
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