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Resolutions

Virtual 2021 Annual General Meeting, May 25, 2021

CMA Board member, Eric Chan, a member of the Resolutions Committee presented to the membership a resolution proposed by Martin Segger, seconded by Bob Janes. The full document, including rationale is included in the AGM package.

WHEREAS, the vision of the Canadian Museums Association is to be the leading voice for the museum profession in Canada, calling for museums as “permanent institutions in the service of society and its development” to steward the “tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment” (2);

AND WHEREAS, the mission of the CMA is to uphold “the highest professional standards and ethics” and to connect and engage members “with pressing issues and a common purpose” (3);

AND WHEREAS, the ethical values of the CMA include “honesty, fairness, respect, excellence and accountability which the larger community applies to the rational evaluation of moral issues” and “in a wider context, museums recognize the ethical implications of global issues which confront society at large, such as peace, security, freedom and the urgent need to preserve our environment” (4);

AND WHEREAS, in 2015, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), (Paris Agreement) identified climate change as an “urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet… [requiring] the widest possible cooperation” (5);

AND WHEREAS, in 2018, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report confirmed the catastrophic consequences of our current trajectory and highlighted that bold action by 2030 will be critical for limiting global heating to 1.5°C—the threshold necessary to mitigate the most disastrous effects (6);

AND WHEREAS, the International Council of Museums at its General Assembly Meeting in Kyoto in September 2019 adopted a resolution ‘On Sustainability and the Implementation of Agenda 2030, Transforming Our World’ which calls on museums world-wide to acknowledge and reduce our environmental impact, including our carbon footprint, and help secure a sustainable future for all inhabitants of the planet: human and non-human (7);

AND WHEREAS, the Canadian Assembly of First Nations at their Annual General Assembly in Fredericton, 2020, passed a resolution declaring “a global climate emergency” and resolved to develop a First Nation-led climate strategy in cooperation with federal and provincial governments to keep global warming below 1.5C and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. (8)

AND WHEREAS, in 2019, the Government of Canada’s assessment report has since found that Canada is warming at twice the global average, and up to three times as quickly in the northern regions of the country (9);

AND WHEREAS, the Government of Canada and each province and territory of Canada has enacted legislation articulating carbon reduction to achieve an overall goal of carbon neutrality and frameworks of measurable actions to obtain carbon emission reductions in order to achieve that goal (10);

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the CMA declares a climate emergency and pledges to work towards achieving an overall zero carbon standard within its own arena of administrative practice, while also striving to encourage all Canadian museums to adopt measures to achieve institutional net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 if at all possible, or by 2050 at the very latest (11);

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CMA calls upon the museum community to integrate the paradigm shifts in thought and action required to build environmental sustainability into the roles and responsibilities of museums and museum professionals;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CMA will seek a dialogue with Government of Canada, provincial museums associations and other affiliate organization in the Canadian museum community to assemble a multi-year, climate action strategy, including the articulation of measurable goals;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the CMA will encourage its membership to position climate justice at the core of ethical practice, and encourage of its partners, allied organizations, communities and levels of government to do the same.

Moved by Martine Segger, seconded by Bob Janes. Carried.

There was extensive discussion of the resolution including Staff Comments and suggestions, presentations by Emlyn Koster and Doug Worts. After a lengthy debate the question was called.

February 2020

CMA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING RESOLUTIONS POLICY AND PROCEDURES

The purpose of the policy and procedures is to establish a mechanism for submitting resolutions at the Annual General Meeting that will:

  • Assist members of the CMA in directing its Board of Directors;

  • Assist the President of the CMA in chairing its Annual General Meeting.
  1. In conformity with the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Regulations, any resolution from CMA members to the Annual General Meeting must be presented to the Resolutions Committee 30 to 60 days before anniversary of the previous annual meeting of members.

  2. All resolutions must be in writing. The member can include a statement in support of the proposal. If the member requests that the statement be included with the AGM notice to members, the statement shall not exceed 500 words in total and shall include the name and address of the member. As specified in the Act, the member will be responsible for the costs associated with the sending of the statement to members.

  3. All resolutions will be received by a Resolutions Committee which consists of the Officers of the CMA (i.e., President, Vice-President), the CMA’s legal advisor and others appointed by the CMA Board.

  4. The primary responsibility of the Resolutions Committee is to ensure that all resolutions meet the requirements of the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Regulations.

  5. A second responsibility of the Resolutions Committee is to consider the implications and resources required if the resolution were to be adopted as moved, and to advise the President and the Board accordingly.

  6. Resolutions may be brought forward on any issue that relates in a significant way to the activities or affairs of the CMA. (Background: It has long been CMA practice to speak for museums and museum personnel as a whole and to avoid becoming an arbiter in any individual problem. The purpose of a resolution is to direct the Board; it is then the Board’s role to direct the Secretariat.)

  7. A representative of the Resolutions Committee will notify the member who submitted the resolution, in writing and within 21 days after the CMA has received the proposed resolution of any motion deemed inappropriate and will specify the reasons for the ruling.

  8. If a resolution duly made and carried results in a challenge to the priorities established in the approved Strategic Plan, it will be the responsibility of the CMA Board to resolve the conflict in priorities.

 

April 11, 2018

CMA COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION RESOLUTION to CMA Annual General Meeting

The Canadian Museums Association (CMA) believes that museums, art galleries and related institutions have a responsibility to consult, advocate, engage and collaborate with communities to help build a diverse and socially inclusive world.

The CMA recognizes its responsibility to respect the dignity of its members and those it serves in museums, and cultural institutions and their audiences regardless of race, creed, nationality, ancestry, language, religion, age, colour, geography, socio-economic status, disability, family status, social condition, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, political or religious belief.

In efforts to redress many injustices including the legacy of residential schools and to contribute to the process of reconciliation, the CMA affirms the importance of a renewed commitment to promote reconciliation and to determine the level of compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The CMA Secretariat is currently located on traditional unceded Algonquin territory. The CMA extends sincere appreciation for the opportunity to live and learn on this territory in mutual respect and gratitude.

Moved by: Barb Cameron, Director

Seconded by: Jack Lohman, Vice-President