In order to be considered, policies must be:
SCOPE
- specific, complete, and relevant;
- reasonable and attainable;
- capable of being measured, assessed, or evaluated; and,
- of provincial, national, or international importance.
BASIC CONTENT REQUIREMENT
- Policy title, preamble, background and recommendations that accurately reflect the issue under consideration.
- Factual account of the concern, issue or problem.
- Explain the context of the policy: Why is it an issue? How long has it been an issue? Who does it affect? Why is the Alberta Chambers of Commerce the organization to bring this concern to?
- What are the arguments that would support a change to existing government policy? (e.g. Loss of new investment, loss of jobs, etc.)
- Identify the stakeholders affected by the issue. What have they said? What have they done?
- Reference relevant research materials that support your arguments (conjecture is not an acceptable approach in policy development).
- Address any opposing points of view by other stakeholders when developing policy recommendations. (e.g. If another organization has a sound, economic or scientific viewpoint that differs from the viewpoints being proposed in your policy, state that position and then defend your position with reasoned policy options.)
- What is the specific course of action to be tendered to government? (e.g. Is the request clear? Is it clear who is expected to act on it and in what timeframe? Does it communicate what next steps should occur should the government fail to provide the desired response?)
WHO MAY PARTICIPATE?
A member Chamber eligible to submit policy resolutions may submit no more than 3 proposed policy resolutions (including late resolutions) to each AGM. Resolutions may, however, be submitted by proxy in the name of another member Chamber eligible to submit policy resolutions, with the consent of that member Chamber.
TIME FOR SUBMISSION
Policies intended for consideration at the AGM must be submitted to the Policy Committee not less than 90 days prior to the AGM. Policies approved by the Policy Committee for consideration at the AGM shall be distributed to member Chambers not less than 45 days prior to that meeting.
LATE RESOLUTIONS
Late resolutions will only be considered for debate at the AGM if:
· they are of an urgent or crucial nature in the opinion of AGM voting delegates;
· they otherwise satisfy the criteria applicable to proposed policy in the opinion of the AGM voting delegates;
· they are received with sufficient copies for distribution to each voting delegate attending the AGM; and,
· the voting delegates attending the AGM agree to consider the resolution by a two-thirds majority.
REFERRED POLICIES
Policies referred back to the Executive Committee at the AGM shall be reported back to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
CIRCULATION OF APPROVED POLICY
Following the AGM, the Policy Committee shall:
- distribute to member Chambers all approved policies and policies editorially amended; and,
- present approved policies to the government on a priority basis for response.
(Approved - Board of Directors meeting - April 16, 2007)