CBA Coalitions Policy

Operational policy of the CBA approved by Board of Directors, August 2004. Revised August 2018.

Purpose

The CBA can gain advantages when it joins with like-minded organizations to form a coalition.  Through alliances with other community groups, the CBA can share resources, access information, achieve more strategic and effective messaging, increase CBA visibility, and enhance the credibility of the legal profession and the CBA.

There are also potential risks, centring on the concern with who is empowered to say what on behalf of the CBA, when and how.  The CBA could lose control of its message, with a possible risk of embarrassment or damage to ongoing relationships. The CBA could be held liable for the actions of others.  Participation could drain resources.  On-going commitments to a coalition may no longer reflect CBA priorities over time.

The purpose of this policy is:

  • To establish criteria to assess whether the CBA should join or form a coalition.
  • To establish the procedure for approving CBA participation in a coalition.

Criteria

The CBA will participate in joint action with other organizations where:

  • The objectives of the coalition are consistent with the policies and priorities of the CBA and its national constituent groups (Committees, Subcommittees, Sections, etc).
  • Coalition decision-making respects CBA input and approval processes.
  • The activities of the coalition will enhance the CBA’s credibility.

Procedure

  • Participation in a coalition by the CBA or a national constituent group must be authorized by the Board of Directors.
  • Requests for authorization should be addressed to the Executive Director, Advocacy.
  • Contents of Request
    The CBA constituent group wishing to join or form a coalition shall provide the following information:
    About the coalition:
    • name and contact information
    • members
    • objectives and key messages
    • governance, including decision-making and approval structures
    • any statements adopted by the coalition
    About CBA’s participation:
    • CBA policy vis-à-vis the objectives of the coalition
    • Proposed level of CBA participation (CBA, Section, Committee, etc)
    • Proposed CBA representative to the coalition
    • Implications (possible advantages and disadvantages) of CBA participation
    • Method for CBA input and influence of coalition’s public statements
    • Financial implications
    • Duration of CBA participation
  • The Policy Committee will review the request and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors.
  • The Board of Directors will consider the request and the recommendation of the Policy Committee in making its decision. 

Conditions for Participation in a Coalition

  • The CBA representative shall inform the Executive Director, Advocacy in advance of meetings and activities of the coalition and shall report on each meeting or activity afterwards.
  • Financial support for participation in and activities of the coalition is subject to the budgetary approval process.
  • The CBA public statement rules govern its approval of coalition statements or activities, unless the Board of Directors delegates that to the representative.
  • The coalition shall not use the CBA logo without prior approval of the Executive Director, Advocacy.
  • The Board can make other conditions of approval for participation as it sees fit.
  • Where participation in a coalition is approved, the Policy Committee will review the CBA’s continued participation as needed, and at least annually, in consultation with the group initially making the request, the CBA representative on the coalition, and the Executive Director, Advocacy.
  • The review requirement applies to coalitions in which the CBA participates when the policy is adopted, as well as to those approved under the policy.