EN/FR

Home  |  About CIRA  |  Membership  |  Journals |  IR Programs  |  Awards |  WEBINARs |
Job Postings |  Contact

 

 Our Association | Executive Officers & Committee | Past Presidents | CIRA Constitution |
Executive Roles & Responsibilities

CIRA Constitution

1. The Canadian Industrial Relations Association is hereby established as a voluntary association of such persons who become members under the terms of this Constitution. The Association shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the Association shall be used in promoting its objects.

The Association shall be empowered to:

  • a. raise funds as is necessary to further the aims and objectives of the Association;

  • b. acquire and dispose of such assets or property as is necessary to further the aims and objectives of the Association.

The fiscal year of the Association shall end on December 31 of each year.

2. The objects of the Association shall be to promote research, discussion, and education in the field of industrial relations in Canada, and to these ends the Association may:

a. sponsor conferences;

b. promote publications;

c. encourage provision of funds for research and publications;

d. enlist support from interested groups, organizations, persons, associations, unions or corporations; and

e. engage in such other activities, or take such other activities, as it seems desirable.

3. The Canadian Industrial Relations Association strongly affirms its support for the following core labour standards, which are internationally recognized to be fundamental human rights:

a. Freedom of Association

b. Right to organize and to bargain collectively

c. Prohibition of forced labour

d. Elimination of exploitative forms of child labour

e. Non-discrimination in employment or occupation

4. Membership in the Association shall be open to all persons and organizations having an academic or professional interest in the field of industrial relations. The Executive Committee, established hereunder, is empowered to prescribe the form of application for membership, to receive applications and to determine the qualification of applicants who shall become members upon the acceptance of their applications by the Executive Committee and payment of the annual fee.

5. There shall be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association at such time and place as may be fixed by the Executive Committee. The agenda and program of the Annual General Meeting shall be determined by the Executive Committee, subject to such directions as may be given at the preceding Annual General Meeting. Only members in good standing of the Association may vote at the AGM.

6. All members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at an AGM as follows:

a. The President shall issue a call for nominations to the CIRA membership no less than two weeks prior to the scheduled AGM.

b. Candidates must be members of CIRA, must indicate acceptance of the nomination prior to the AGM, and must be nominated by one member in good standing.

c. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for reviewing the nominations and presenting candidates to the membership for election at the AGM. In determining the candidates for election, the Executive Committee shall be guided by the objectives of ensuring gender parity, as well as geographic representation.

d. Should a vacancy occur, the Executive Committee shall coopt an individual from the membership to serve on the Executive Committee until the vacancy can be filled at the subsequent AGM.

7. Special General Meetings may be called by the Executive Committee if a motion to call the meeting is passed at any meeting of the Executive Committee or at a written request of 20 members in good standing of the Association, which includes a statement of the purpose of the meeting.

8. The business and program of the Association shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee consisting of the Officers of the Association, as defined hereunder, plus:

a. one member hereinafter known as the RI/IR Representative, being the editor-in-chief, or his/her designate, of the Relations industrielles/Industrial Relations Journal, edited by the Department of Industrial Relations at Université Laval;

b. one Graduate Student representative – 1-year term

c. one Community representative – 1-year term

d. three Members-at-large – 1-year terms

9. The Association shall have the following officers:

a. President – 2-year term

b. Past-President – 2-year term (the Past President will serve as an Officer of the Association for two years following his/her term as President)

d. Conference Chair – 1 year term

e. Treasurer – 2-year term

f. Membership Coordinator – 2-year term

g. Communications Officer – 2-year term

h. Secretary – 2-year term

10. In order to ensure continuity at the Executive Committee, the terms of the Officers are staggered two-year terms: President and Membership Coordinator are elected in odd years. Treasurer, Communications Officer and Secretary are elected in even years. All members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election. The maximum term of office shall be four consecutive years served in the same position. The RI/IR Representative is excluded from the maximum.

11. At any meeting of the Executive Committee, half of its members shall constitute a quorum, adjusted for any vacancies.

12. In case of urgent matters, an Officers Meeting may be called with the support of any two officers.  At any Officers Meeting, four officers shall constitute a quorum.

13. The Executive Committee shall set an annual membership fee that is reported to the Annual General Meeting.

14. The powers and duties herein conferred and imposed upon the Executive Committee shall be exercised with accountability to the membership and the Executive Committee shall report its activities at the Annual General Meeting.

15. Local or regional industrial relations associations may apply to charter with the national Canadian Industrial Relations Association provided that, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, the activities of the local or regional associations are not inconsistent with articles 2 and 3 of this constitution. The Executive shall have the power to implement this provision and shall report to the Annual General Meeting all decisions taken with regard to the affiliation or disaffiliation of local or regional associations.

16. The Association is bilingual such that its business may be carried out in either official language of Canada.

17. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting at any Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for that purpose, provided that previous notice of the proposed amendments shall have been given in the notice of the Annual or Special General Meeting at which they are to be considered.

Last amended at the 2026 AGM in Québec, QC.