The EFCL has approved a new policy that determines the role of the EFCL and that of its member leagues when it comes to presenting policy positions to various levels of government. The policy was passed by the EFCL board at its Oct. 9 meeting and the membership at the Regular General Meeting on Oct. 18.
“It was never that clear when the EFCL should take a position and when we should leave the matter to individual community leagues,” noted EFCL president David Gibbens. “It was causing confusion for us, our leagues, members of city council and other groups that we deal with. It was something that had to be sorted out.”
The new policy states that the role of the EFCL would be to speak on behalf of all leagues and focus on issues that are either city-wide in nature, affect a majority of the city’s 149 community leagues or affect future community leagues in areas where there are none currently in place to speak for themselves.
Examples of issues that would meet the above criteria would be financial support to community leagues; the joint use agreement with the city and school boards; crime-prevention initiatives; the city’s new land use plan; changes to zoning regulations like secondary suite legislation, the walkable neighborhoods strategy and suburban neighborhood design guidelines.*-
The EFCL would consult with its members and partner agencies (i.e. minor sports groups, Neighborhood Watch) in preparing a position, which would be ratified and presented by the board to the appropriate level of government. Some items could be taken to the general membership at the AGM or RGM, depending on the need for feedback and the timing of the initiative.
The role of a community league – as set out in the new policy – is to speak on behalf of its membership and to report on behalf of area residents.
“A key distinction is being made here,” Gibbens noted, “between speaking on behalf of the membership – which is the league’s right – and attempting to report on what the league is hearing from people in the area. We encourage leagues to check with area residents, however it must be made clear that the league’s authority is restricted to what its members are saying and not just the will of the current executive.”
The focus of community leagues, under the new policy, would be on issues that directly impact the league’s geographical area, such as rezoning applications, traffic plans, parkland operations, individual school closures and bus service.
In addition, the policy allows for leagues to work on issues that are outside their immediate boundary but close enough to impact the league directly or indirectly. This could include items like an LRT line or major roadway, city centre airport operations, oil and gas approvals, river valley and district parks management.
The process used by leagues in taking a stance on an issue would include informing and consulting with their members and community residents, government staff and appropriate partners, such as other leagues, non-profit groups and agencies. It would be up to the board to determine whether the league would take a stance on an issue, what that stance might be and to communicate its position to the appropriate level of government.
The EFCL’s new policy covers dealings with the city, province and federal government, along with the school boards and any government agencies or authorities.