Vision
The Provincial Network of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group provides
the opportunity for the members of the individual PIRG Chapters to meet, exchange ideas and resources, support each other, access training opportunities and work together in starting new PIRGs.
Goals
Members of the provincial network accept the following as basic goals for the
organization:
- To motivate civic participation and responsibility by encouraging members and other citizens to become concerned, informed, and active in their community
- To recognize the interconnectedness, and pursue an integrative analysis, of social and environmental issues
- To respect and encourage local and global ecosystem integrity
- To strive for equity for all people by opposing all forms of oppression such as those based on gender, race, class, ability, and sexuality
- To work in a cooperative way, employing a consensus decision-making process
- To work in solidarity with environmental and social justice movements.
Governance Structure
Decisions regarding the operation of the OPIRG Provincial Network (including policies,
the hiring of staff, budget allocation, division of labour etc.) are made by the Ontario
PIRG Board of Directors. The Ontario PIRG Board of Directors is comprised of staff and
board members from individual PIRG chapters (one staff and one board member from
each PIRG). Decisions regarding staff are guided by the CUPE 1281 Collective
Agreement, while decisions regarding network activity are guided by OPIRG policy and
Charitable Status guidelines as the provincial network is a registered charity.
Annual Meetings
The provincial network holds a minimum of two meetings every year – the annual general
meeting (AGM) and the provincial board meeting (PBM).
Annual General Meeting (AGM): An Ontario PIRG annual general meeting is held every
October. Business related to the provincial network is presented and discussed. This
includes (but is not limited to): financial statements and the auditors report, the
approval of the provincial budget, the election of the provincial board of directors, and
the setting of a date for the provincial board meeting. Decisions are made by consensus.
Provincial Board Meeting (PBM): The Ontario PIRG Board of Directors meets at least
once a year in order to discuss and make decisions on matters related to the network.
The Ontario PIRG Board of Directors is comprised of a staff and board representative
from each individual PIRG chapter. At least 60% of the directors form quorum to make
decisions. Decisions are made by consensus.