Definitions as they relate to Position Papers, Resolutions & Motions

Resolution

  • A formal statement of intent on a particular issue

  • Spells out relevant and specific actions consistent with OPHA's mission.

  • Establishes OPHA policy and directs the Board of Directors on courses of action in response to that issue.

Position Paper

  • A viewpoint on a particular health issue providing documented background data on that issue. If accepted by the membership, the position paper becomes an official document representing the Association's views. ð Required action is outlined in an accompanying resolution.

Motion

  • A late-breaking issue put forward for discussion and debate at the Annual General Meeting that may require response from or action by OPHA.

Active

Policy statements are categorized as Active if:

  1. The activities outlined in the implementation plan have not yet been completed; or

  2. The policy statement addresses an issue that is currently relevant to public health in Ontario.

Archived

Policy statements are categorized as Archived if:

  1. The activities outlined in the implementation plan have been completed; or

  2. The policy statement addresses an issue that is not currently relevant to public health in Ontario or is not based upon the most current evidence. A statement remains the position of the OPHA until a new one is adopted that effectively reverses or essentially negates all or major elements of an earlier statement.

Numbering System

  1. All adopted policy statements will be added to OPHA's master list.

  2. Documents will be listed as Active or Archived based on the Evaluation process.

  3. Documents will be coded to identify:

    • the year the document was adopted
    • whether the document is a Resolution (RES), a Position Paper (PP) or a Motion (MT)
    • that it is the nth document of its type (resolution, position paper or motion) adopted that year

  4. Documents that are both position papers and resolutions are given two codes.

Example:

2001-02 (RES): Non-Essential Use of Chemical Pesticides on Public and Private Lands

2001: identifies that this document was adopted in 2001

02: identifies that this is the second document of it's kind (resolution, position paper or motion) adopted that year

(RES): identifies that the document is a resolution