Structure of the National Coordination Team for the Coalition of Independents
The National Coordination Team (NCT) of the Coalition of Independent Candidates is structured to facilitate administrative functions, resource-sharing, and interprovincial coordination while ensuring that all major decisions affecting the membership are made by unanimous consent of the members.
The NCT does not impose any policies, directives, or campaign strategies on independent candidates. Instead, it exists solely to manage administrative tasks and provide support for the Provincial Partnerships and independent candidates within the coalition.
1. Governance and Election Process
• The NCT is composed of elected administrators, chosen annually by unanimous consent of
the members.
• The following positions are elected each year:
• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Director of Outreach & Communications
• Director of Technology & Data Management
• Director of Legal & Compliance
• These positions are strictly administrative and do not hold decision-making authority over
the membership or candidates.
• All major coalition decisions are made collectively by the membership through unanimous
consent.
2. Roles and Responsibilities of the National Coordination Team
President (Administrative Lead)
• Acts as the primary facilitator of the National Coordination Team.
• Oversees the efficient functioning of the NCT and interprovincial coordination.
• Represents the NCT in an administrative capacity, ensuring that all provincial teams have
access to necessary resources.
• Ensures that decisions made by unanimous consent of the members are properly
executed.
• Does not set policies or direct campaign activities of independent candidates.
Vice President (Support & Oversight)
• Assists the President in administrative tasks.
• Takes over facilitator duties if the President is unavailable.
• Ensures that all team members fulfill their administrative roles effectively.
• Works closely with Provincial Partnerships to maintain an open line of communication.
Secretary (Records & Transparency)
• Maintains accurate records of coalition meetings and decisions.
• Ensures meeting minutes, resolutions, and documentation are properly recorded and
accessible to members.
• Handles correspondence and official coalition documentation.
• Ensures transparency by making records available to members upon request.
Treasurer (Financial Oversight & Reporting)
• Manages coalition finances, including operational expenses and donations.
• Provides regular financial reports to the membership to ensure transparency.
• Ensures compliance with financial regulations (if applicable to coalition operations).
• Does not control or manage candidate campaign funds, only coalition operational funds.
Director of Outreach & Communications
• Manages coalition-wide public relations and media efforts.
• Oversees social media platforms, press releases, and public messaging on coalition
initiatives.
• Facilitates communication between Provincial Partnerships and independent candidates.
• Does not dictate messaging for individual candidates but ensures visibility for the
coalition’s independent movement.
Director of Technology & Data Management
• Maintains the coalition website, online resource platform, and communication tools.
• Ensures secure data storage for coalition records.
• Oversees the development of tools to support Provincial Partnerships and candidates,
such as online forums, campaign resources, and internal communications.
• Does not control or monitor individual candidates’ campaign data.
Director of Legal & Compliance
• Ensures that coalition operations comply with Elections Canada regulations and other
relevant laws.
• Provides legal guidance on coalition operations but does not impose policies on members.
• Assists Provincial Partnerships with regulatory compliance if requested.
• Does not interfere in individual candidates’ legal or campaign matters.
3. Key Principles of the National Coordination Team
• No Authority Over Candidates:
• The NCT does not direct or control independent candidates’ campaigns, platforms, or
political decisions.
• All candidates remain fully autonomous and accountable only to their constituents.
• Decisions Made by Membership:
• All major coalition decisions (such as policies, partnerships, and strategic initiatives) are
made exclusively by the membership through unanimous consent.
• The NCT only carries out the administrative tasks necessary to execute those decisions.
• Provincial Partnerships as the Core Structure:
• Each province operates independently under its own registered Provincial Partnership.
• The National Coordination Team exists only as a support body for those partnerships.
• Annual Elections with Unanimous Consent:
• All NCT administrators are elected annually by unanimous consent.
• If unanimous consent is not reached, the position remains unfilled until agreement is
reached.
4. Implementation & Operations
A. Annual Elections
• Elections for the NCT occur once per year.
• Candidates for administrative positions are nominated by members and must receive
unanimous consent to be appointed.
B. Accountability & Reporting
• The NCT provides quarterly updates on coalition activities, including financial statements,
outreach progress, and legal compliance.
• The Secretary ensures that all reports are made available to members for transparency.
C. Communication & Coordination
• Regular national strategy calls will be held for Provincial Partnerships to coordinate efforts.
• A shared resource platform will provide tools, templates, and best practices for candidates.
5. Conclusion
This structure ensures that the Coalition of Independent Candidates remains a true coalition—where decision-making power lies with the membership, not with administrators. The National Coordination Team is strictly administrative, facilitating support and resource-sharing without imposing any authority over candidates.
Through Provincial Partnerships and a well-organized but non-controlling National Coordination Team, the coalition can effectively support independent candidates across Canada while preserving their full autonomy.