AIA Members Vote For Change, New Bylaws Enacted

A new set of bylaws and procedures that, among other moves, reduces the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s board of directors from an unwieldy 26 to a manageable 14 with terms, have been unanimously accepted by members.

The new bylaws were voted on at a special general meeting of AIA members in Toronto in June.

The new structure, the product of an extensive governance review headed by Brad Morris, will allow for an engaged, skilled- based board focused around the association’s strategic needs. While these changes do mean no automatic seats on the board and terms of three years instead of two, the need for grass-roots connections will remain essential.

Chairman of the board John Watt states, “The role and importance of AIA’s divisions under the new governance structure for AIA should not and cannot be overstated or over-emphasized. In fact, I believe that the new board of directors of the association needs to be comprised of directors who are prepared to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by our divisions today and tomorrow, and who are prepared to be engaged with them on a direct basis.”

As a result of this need, the Division Advisory Committee will be one of only three standing committees that form the governance structure.

In addition to voting on changes to the AIA bylaws, members were also asked to vote on an approval of the application for supplementary letters patent. The current letters patent for the association had not been changed for many years and was no longer pertinent to how the association operates.

Both motions were voted on and approved unanimously with 84 votes (member companies) in favour and none opposed.

For more information on the approved bylaw changes and supplementary letters patent, visit www.aiacanada.com.