What you need to know about CIRA’s upcoming election process.
CIRA’s election process provides Canadians and CIRA members the opportunity to take a leadership role in enabling a trusted internet for all Canadians, and help ensure .CA continues to be an accessible, secure and trusted Canadian resource.
Whether you plan to nominate yourself as a candidate, show your support for a nominee, participate in the campaign forum, or vote for candidates, here’s what you need to know about the process and the four way you can get involved in CIRA’s governance.
1. Apply to join the board
There are two ways to apply to join CIRA’s board, each with their own deadlines and processes:
1) Join through the Nomination Committee slate
Individuals wishing to join our board of directors can submit an application to CIRA’s Election Nomination Committee, who will review applications and advance qualified candidates on to a final vote by members. Any interested and qualified individual can apply online starting June 2, 2021. Find out more about joining through the Nomination Committee slate.
2) Join through the Member’s slate
Individuals can submit an application online starting July 29, 2021. This application period is only open to CIRA Members. Find out more about joining through the member’s slate.
Applicants who do not successfully become a candidate on the Nomination Committee slate and are a CIRA member can also apply for the Member slate. Candidates cannot appear on both slates in the same election cycle.
2. Show your support for Member nominees
Showing support means endorsing a member nominee who has submitted their application to be a CIRA director. To become a final candidate in the board of directors’ election, member nominees must receive at least 20 shows of support from members to qualify for the members’ slate. Only CIRA members can endorse a member nominee during the show of support period. Members can show their support starting August 26, 2021. Learn more.
3. Participate in the discussion online through the campaign forum
Get to know your final election candidates by asking them your questions during the CIRA-hosted campaign forum, an online discussion board. Members will have the opportunity to submit questions for candidates and up-vote them ahead of time. The most popular questions will be posted when the forum launches. Anyone can participate in the forum starting September 16, 2021. Learn more.
In addition to providing a campaign forum, we post the names and information about each candidate on our election site. Find out when candidate information is posted.
4. Cast your vote!
CIRA members will have the opportunity to vote for three nomination committee candidates and for one member candidate. The voting period begins during CIRA’s Canadians Connected symposium and annual general meeting on September 23 and members have seven days to cast their vote. Learn more.
Voter eligibility
To be eligible to vote in the 2021 Board of Directors Election, you have to be a CIRA member at least 21 days prior to the start of voting (specifically, by end of day September 2, 2021) and continue to be a member at the time you cast your ballot. This rule is required by the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and CIRA’s By-law. To ensure that your status as a member remains active throughout the election process, make sure that the .CA domain(s) associated with your membership are not expiring and, if they are, be sure to renew! Log into your membership profile to see the domain(s) associated to your membership.
Not a member?
If you are a .CA holder, you can become a CIRA member. As a member, you can vote in the Board of Directors election and annual general meeting. You also get the opportunity to attend local events for networking, business development and stay up-to-date on CIRA’s latest initiatives.
As the Manager of Membership Relations at CIRA, Julie manages the development, planning and delivery of CIRA’s membership and Member-related activities and engagement. She strives to create opportunities for Members and consumers, and partners to share, connect, and learn and get the most out of their relationship with CIRA.
