May 16, 2010

CSA Governance Changes Considered at Annual Meeting

Bill Spiers, Special to ONSoccer.ca - As noted elsewhere, as of May 2, 2010 I am no longer on the Executive and Board of the OSA and no longer feel constrained as to what I can and cannot post. The following represents my personal views on the issue of governance changes at the CSA. This is an issue I have been concerned about over the past several years - the poor image of the CSA and the need for changes in the governance of our National Association.

You may or may not be aware that discussions on this topic have been going on for several years now. The CSA commissioned a study by Deloitte-Touche that was presented to the CSA Board in 2004. However, few if any of the Deloitte-Touche recommendations were implemented. In fact, the report was kept secret until leaked onto the internet in 2008 which only magnified the demands for changes in the way the CSA is run.

In response to those demands – or, perhaps, pressure from elsewhere – the CSA Board directed their Constitution Committee to discuss and provide recommendations on possible changes to improve the governance of the Association. The Constitution Committee worked diligently throughout 2009 and presented their first set of recommendation to the CSA Board in September 2009. They followed this with further presentations to the Board in December 2009 and March 2010.

Unfortunately, the CSA has once again chosen to keep these recommendations secret and refused to open them up for discussion and comment from the larger soccer community. So much for the principles of openness and transparency that the CSA so proudly trumpets in its strategic plan!

The CSA membership has been meeting in Winnipeg for their Annual Meeting over the May 14/16, 2010 weekend. Included on the schedule of events was a presentation to the delegates on governance renewal. At the AGM itself (May 15th.), the membership was to be asked to approve something – although I’m not sure what. And although I was on the OSA Executive until the recent OSA Annual Meeting, I’m not even sure exactly what governance changes were going to be proposed to the membership for consideration. However, from certain meetings I have attended and information I have gleaned from various sources, I believe the proposals were along the following lines:

1) The current Board of Directors comprising the Executive Committee, the Director-Professional and the Presidents of each Provincial/Territorial Associations (total of 20) would be replaced by a 13-member Board with no Executive Committee.

2) The new Board would comprise of:
• A President elected by the membership every 4 years (FIFA requirement)
• Six Directors elected by the membership at large but not more than one from any single Province or Territory
• Six appointed Directors

3) The appointed Directors would comprise of:
• One Director from the Professional game
• One Director to represent National Team athletes
• Four Directors at large

4) There would have to be a minimum of three Directors from each gender

5) No Director could be a member of the Board of a Provincial or Territorial Association

6) All Directors would have to have certain expertise, competencies and backgrounds that would help provide effective governance and leadership to the CSA.

(NOTE: A previous change to the CSA By-Laws – not part of the current proposals – had required that candidates for a position on the Board of Directors should have three or more of the following skills or competencies:

(i) leadership/human resources/volunteer management expertise
(ii) legal knowledge/government relations acumen
(iii) financial expertise or accounting background
(iv) public relations/marketing/communications expertise
(v) revenue development capabilities
(vi) sport management background
(vii) service for at least two years on a CSA committee
(viii) understanding of, and willingness to commit to, the time required to effectively serve on the Board and one or more Board committees)

7) A Nominations Committee would be charged with identifying qualified candidates for both the elected and appointed Director positions

8) All staff and operational committees would report to the Board through the General Secretary. Standing committees (Audit/Finance, Nominations, Governance, Risk Management, International Relations) would report directly to the Board

9) The Board agenda would be moved to one that concentrates on the key functions of strategic and resource planning, policy development and oversight rather than direct involvement in operational activities

10) To compensate the Provinces and Territories for the loss of a seat at the Board table, an Advisory Council or Members Forum – with one or more representatives from each Province and Territory - would be established to meet twice a year

Although I am disappointed at the lack of time for discussion and consultation on the proposals from the Constitution Committee, if my information is correct – or even close to being correct – this would be a major step forward for the CSA and one I whole-heartedly support.

Not, perhaps, the changes that some people wanted – e.g. “blow it up and start again” – but a significant change from the current structure. And because a number of the proposals are exactly the types of changes that critics of the CSA have been pushing for, it surprises me that the CSA wants to keep this quiet. They should be proudly announcing the progressive changes that are under consideration.

I am now anxiously awaiting news from Winnipeg as to the exact proposals for change that were being considered and the results of their deliberations. While I do not expect that the proposals will have been fully approved at the AGM – although that would be a pleasant surprise - I am hoping the CSA will continue down the path towards governance renewal and now open up the process for wider consultation within the soccer community.

Footnote:

I understand that my information was largely correct except that the six elected Directors would come from each of six regions – believed to be BC/Yukon, Alberta/NWT, Saskatchewan/Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Furthermore, although there was some opposition, the CSA membership approved the proposals and directed the Constitution Committee to move ahead with drafting appropriate By-Law Amendments for approval at a future general meeting.

Keep in mind, however, that these By-Law changes will require a 2/3 majority vote to be approved. Any combination of provinces with 1/3 of the voting delegates could still block these changes. Time to be vigilant and make sure you know where the leaders in your province stand on this important issue.