Preamble

Believing that all persons have a natural right to the full enjoyment of a peaceful and productive life, we do hereby unite ourselves to create the Canadian Peace Congress. The Canadian Peace Congress stands for: peace, disarmament and genuine global security; integrity and sovereignty of states; economic development and social justice; human rights and cultural heritage; and ecological preservation. With concerted and active leadership, we believe that solidarity, enlarging popular movements and raising the level of public awareness can secure global peaceful co-existence.

Since its inception in 1949, the Canadian Peace Congress has been guided by the words of the founding President of the World Peace Council, Frederic Joliot-Curie: “Peace is Everybody’s Business”.

Article 1 – Name

1.1 The official name of the organization shall be “Canadian Peace Congress”. No other name shall be used in the advertisement or representation of the organization with the exception that “Congress” and the acronym (CPCon) may be used in correspondence and materials published by the Canadian Peace Congress to abbreviate the official name.

Article 2 – Structure

2.1 The Canadian Peace Congress is an open, democratic, independent and self-governing organization. The principles, values and mandate of the Canadian Peace Congress are set below:

Article 3 – Principles

3.1 The Canadian Peace Congress is dedicated to making peace a material force and determining factor in human affairs. It is inspired by the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

3.2 The Canadian Peace Congress and its members adhere to the vision, mission and goals of the World Peace Council and conduct affairs according to the following principles:

Peaceful Co-existence Among States

• Prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction
• Ending of arms races and militarization of economies
• Prohibition of weapons in outer space
• Abolition of foreign military bases
• Total and universal disarmament under effective international control
• Respect for the territorial integrity of states
• Non-interference in the internal affairs of states
• Negotiation and non-use of force in the settlement of disputes
• Trade and cultural relations based upon respect, mutual benefit and friendship

Freedom of People

• Elimination of all forms of colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination
• Right of states to choose their path of development
• Respect for the full rights and self-determination of all nations and peoples
• Right of people to food and the benefits of economic and social development
• Preservation of the environment and ecological integrity
• Solidarity, cooperation and unity among those supporting peace, social justice and environmental/ecological preservation.

Article 4 –Values

4.1 The Canadian Peace Congress and its members conduct affairs according to the following values:

a. Integrity – We will be honest, fair, respectful and trustworthy in our activities and relationships.
b. Open Communication – We will communicate and consult internally and externally in an open, direct, respectful and collegial manner.
c. Team Work – We will collectively engage in the affairs of the Canadian Peace Congress, collaborate with others and encourage “Associate” (individual) and “Affiliate” (national organization) members of the Canadian Peace Congress to be active in local Peace Councils.
d. Accountability – We will be accountable for our actions, decisions and performance and to each other.
e. Transparency – The Canadian Peace Congress will organize its affairs so as to be open to review by members on an ongoing basis.
f. Fiscal Responsibility – The Canadian Peace Congress will conduct its affairs in a fiscally responsible manner. Members will make financial contributions to the Canadian Peace Congress.
g. Learning and Development – We will provide opportunities for each other to be informed, to learn new skills and engage in affairs of the Canadian Peace Congress.
h. Recognition – We will acknowledge the accomplishments of the Canadian Peace Congress, its members and others who support world peace.
i. Diversity – We will value people of all backgrounds, ancestry and cultures.

Article 5 – Mandate

5.1 The Canadian Peace Congress is mandated to do the following:

a. develop, maintain and implement a “Peace Program for Canada”;
b. obtain and maintain membership in the World Peace Council;
c. build, promote and support Peace Councils throughout Canada; and
d. to promote campaigns and initiatives to promote solidarity, cooperation and unity among everyone supporting peace, social justice and environmental/ecological preservation.

Article 6 – Membership

6.1 Membership is voluntary and open to all residents or citizens of Canada who support the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress.

6.2 Membership in the Canadian Peace Congress consists of community peace councils (“Peace Council” status), associated individuals (“Associate” status), and or affiliated organizations that are national or multi-national in scope (“Affiliate” status).

6.3 All members of the Canadian Peace Congress shall sign a membership card and will receive a copy of the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress.

6.4 Honorary membership may be granted by a Conference or the Executive Council to a member or friend of the Canadian Peace Congress who has done exemplary work in support of world peace. Honorary members are exempt from membership fees.

6.5 Members of the Canadian Peace Congress as defined in 6.1 and 6.2 pay dues in accordance with Article 11 and participate in the organization, activities and campaigns of the Canadian Peace Congress.

Article 7 – Qualifications for Office

7.1 Only members in good standing shall be able to: hold office, vote, be a member of the Executive Council, or be a member of a committee.

7.2 Other than President, only representatives of Peace Councils shall hold positions on the Executive Council of the Canadian Peace Congress.

7.3 Each Peace Council who is a member of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be entitled to a seat on the Executive Council of the Canadian Peace Congress.

Article 8 –Conference

8.1 A Conference of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be held at least every two years to: elect a President and members to the Executive Council, discuss the “Peace Program for Canada” and review the affairs of the Canadian Peace Congress.

8.2 A special or extraordinary Conference shall be called on the request of the majority of Peace Councils through submitted resolutions, or on the request of a majority of members of the Canadian Peace Congress through signed petition, or by resolution of the Executive Council.

8.3 A delegate to a Conference shall have a designated status: “Peace Council” member, “Associate” member, “Affiliate” member, or “Guest”.

8.4 Credentials and status of delegates to a Conference shall be determined by records of the Canadian Peace Congress and accepted by the Conference. Each Peace Council shall submit a written resolution to the Executive Council naming their delegate and alternate(s) to a Conference at least twenty days prior to the forthcoming Conference.

8.5 Members of the outgoing Executive Council shall be ex-officio delegates to a Conference with status equal to an “Associate” delegate. A member of the outgoing Executive Council may be designated as a “Peace Council” delegate by the representing Peace Council.

8.6 Only “Peace Council” delegates shall vote on the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress. Changes to the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be approved by “Peace Council” delegates representing at least eighty-five percent (85%) of Peace Councils that are members of the Canadian Peace Congress in good standing.

8.7 Proposed amendments to the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Council at least thirty (30) days prior to a Conference and be circulated to members.

8.8 The Rules of Order and the Agenda for a Conference shall be established by simple majority votes of delegates attending the Conference. The Executive Council shall prepare and circulate prior to any Conference the recommended Rules of Order and the proposed Agenda for the forthcoming Conference.

Article 9 – Executive Council

9.1 The Executive Council shall be the governing body of the Canadian Peace Congress between Conferences.

9.2 The Executive Council is responsible for fulfilling the mandate of the Canadian Peace Congress, administering the Congress’s funds and records, and carrying out the day-to-day work of the Canadian Peace Congress.

9.3 The officers of the Executive Council shall consist of President, Vice-President, Financial Secretary and other portfolios as determined by the Executive Council.

9.4 The Executive Council shall establish and maintain a mailing address for the Canadian Peace Congress.

9.5 In case of default by a member of the Executive Council or upon the membership of a new Peace Council, the Executive Council is entitled to co-opt a replacement or new member to the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall not co-opt a member to the Executive Council unless he/she is sanctioned by resolution of the representing Peace Council.

9.6 A member of the Executive Council may be declared in default by resolution of the Executive Council. Such resolution shall demonstrate cause and be circulated to all members of the Canadian Peace Congress at the discretion of the executive council.

Article 10 – Responsibilities of the Executive Council Members

10.1 The President will:

a. Represent the voice of the Canadian Peace Congress;
b. Be the Canadian Peace Congress representative to the World Peace Council; and
c. Report on the affairs and activities of the Canadian Peace Congress and the World Peace Council.

10.2 The Vice-President will:

a. Assist the President in his/her duties; and
b. Assume the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.

10.3 The Financial Secretary will:

a. Report on the financial dealings of the Canadian Peace Congress.

10.4 Other members of the Executive Council will:

a. Fulfill duties and responsibilities as decided by the Executive Council.

10.5 Peace Council representatives on the Executive Council shall report on the activities of the Peace Councils they represent.

10.6 The Aboriginal representative on the executive council:

a. Belongs to a recognized aboriginal organization
b. Is a member of a Peace Council in good standing
c. Represents the interests of Aboriginal Peoples to the Peace Congress, advises and brings forward Aboriginal concerns to the Peace Congress and represents the Peace Congress to Aboriginal peoples.

Article 11 – Finances

11.1 The fiscal year of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be January 1st to December 31st.

11.2 The Canadian Peace Congress may raise and spend money to further its mandate.

11.3 Before the end of a fiscal year, the Executive Council shall prepare and sanction a budget of the Canadian Peace Congress for the next fiscal year.

11.4 All monies received by the Canadian Peace Congress shall be deposited to a single account in a chartered bank or credit union in the name of the Canadian Peace Congress and brought to the attention of the bookkeeper of the Canadian Peace Congress. Withdrawals from the account shall be made on the signature of the bookkeeper of the Canadian Peace Congress and at least one authorized member of the Executive Council. The account shall be audited annually.

11.5 All revenues and expenditures of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be brought to the attention of the Executive Council for its sanction.

11.6 Financial statements of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be produced at least semi-annually in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

11.7 The Canadian Peace Congress shall establish an annual membership fee for each of the “Peace Council”, “Associate” and “Affiliate” categories of membership. Membership fees shall be determined by Conference resolution and may be modified by decision of the Executive Council annually thereafter until the next Conference.

11.8 The Canadian Peace Congress shall establish a base amount that will be used to calculate membership fees. This base amount shall be neither less than two (2) times nor greater than five (5) times the annual membership fee to the World Peace Council.

11.9 The membership fee of all “Peace Council” members shall be equal and be neither less than five (5) times nor greater than ten (10) times the membership fee of an “Associate” member. The membership fee of all “Affiliate” members shall be equal and be neither less than one (1) times nor greater than two (2) times the membership fee of an “Associate” member. The “Associate” membership fee shall be the same for all individuals. All membership fees shall be stated to the nearest five (5) dollars.

11.10 Membership fees are due by January 31st of each year for renewals and upon signing of the membership card for new members.

Article 12 – Committees

12.1 The Executive Council by resolution shall create a Financial Committee that will conduct and report on the day-to-day financial affairs of the Canadian Peace Congress. The Financial Secretary and bookkeeper of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be members on this Committee.

12.2 From time to time, the Executive Council by resolution may create and subsequently dissolve any committee of the Canadian Peace Congress it considers necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Canadian Peace Congress.

12.3 With the exception of passing bylaws and appointing committees, the Executive Council by resolution may delegate any of its duties and responsibilities to an appointed committee of the Canadian Peace Congress that it considers necessary for the efficient conduct of its affairs.

12.4 Only members of the Canadian Peace Congress may sit on committees of the Canadian Peace Congress.

12.5 A Conference of the Canadian Peace Congress by resolution may dissolve any committee of the Canadian Peace Congress.

Article 13 – Bylaws

13.1 The Executive Council may establish bylaws of the Canadian Peace Congress by resolution.

13.2 Bylaws are deemed to bind the Canadian Peace Congress, the Executive Council, committees of the Canadian Peace Congress and members of the Canadian Peace Congress to same extent as the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress.

13.3 All bylaws shall be consistent with the Constitution and Principles of the Canadian Peace Congress.

13.4 Bylaws of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be approved by members of the Executive Council with at least an eighty-five percent (85%) majority.

13.5 The Executive Council shall keep a record of all current and expired bylaws and they shall be reported at Congress Conventions and be made available to local Peace Councils upon request.

13.6 A Conference of the Canadian Peace Congress by resolution may revoke or amend any bylaw of the Canadian Peace Congress.

Article 14 – Dissolution

14.1 Dissolution of the Canadian Peace Congress shall be authorized by resolution passed at a duly constituted Conference of the Canadian Peace Congress. The authorizing resolution shall set out the following:

a. the assets and liabilities of the Canadian Peace Congress;
b. the claims of any creditors;
c. the number of members of the Canadian Peace Congress in good standing; and
d. the nature and extent of any member’s interest in the Canadian Peace Congress;

14.2 The Executive Council shall send notice to each and every member of the Canadian Peace Congress in good standing of the intent to dissolve the Canadian Peace Congress. Such notice shall be circulated to members 90 days prior to the date of the Conference.

14.3 Upon dissolution of the Canadian Peace Congress any outstanding surplus shall be allocated equally among Peace Councils who are members of the Canadian Peace Congress in good standing at the time of dissolution.

14.4 Termination of membership in the World Peace Council shall be cause for dissolution of the Canadian Peace Congress necessitating implementation of Clause 14.2.

 

Adopted at Winnipeg, Manitoba – 25 October 2008