2025 Resolutions at a Glance
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The following resolutions were adopted at the 2025 national annual Meeting of Members:
The following resolutions were adopted at the 2025 national annual Meeting of Members:
The tips below were developed for National Volunteer week but can be adapted and applied to any topic you want to discus with various levels of government officials.
PLAN AHEAD
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE?
Provide elected officials the information they need to make good decisions that affect volunteers.
| TO DO: |
| • Know what issues they make policy on or can influence. |
| • Make yourself aware of elected officials’ positions on issues that affect volunteers in your area. |
| • Be flexible if you are meeting with an elected official. Their schedule may change on short notice. |
| • Prepare a concise one-page handout summarizing your main points. |
| • Explain the impact of their government’s policies and programs on your organization. |
Download NVW Tip Sheet
The following resolution was adopted by the National Council at the 103rd national annual meeting of members in St. John, New Brunswick in August, 2023.
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Resolution |
Title/Resolved |
Action Plan |
|
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2023.01 |
Combating Textile urge the federal government to establish new programs and to expand established subsidies aimed at reducing textile waste in Canada. |
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The following resolution was adopted at the 102nd annual National Convention:
|
Resolution |
Title/Resolved |
Action Plan |
|
2022.01 |
Enact Federal Legislation to Reduce Food Loss and Waste urges the federal government to enact legislation to reduce food loss and waste in Canada’s agri-food, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. |
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Release of Updated Resolutions Supplement to the Executive Handbook
At the fall meeting of the national executive/board, an updated Resolutions Supplement to the Executive Handbook was approved. This follows discussions throughout the past year with members, provincial chairpersons and presidents, and evaluations from the national convention.
Two of the most important changes have to do with the format for resolutions and with using the Modern Language Association (MLA) 8 process for citing works. A Table of Contents has been added, some sections were rearranged in order and some changes were of a “housekeeping” nature.
The following resolutions were adopted at the 99th annual National Convention:
The following resolution was adopted at the Provincial Convention in June 2019:
DATE: September 30, 2019
FROM: Cathy Bouchard, national chairperson of resolutions
TO: Parish chairpersons of resolutions
“May God give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Ps 20:4).
In the League, resolutions form the policy of who and what the League is as an organization. Members are excited about presenting the position of the League through resolutions but may not think they have the tools to make it happen. The first step to create a resolution is to become aware of an issue. Find a topic you are passionate about, share it with the parish council and get members participation by forming a committee. Involve people who might be experts on this topic. Decide who the concern should be directed to—to the League itself at any level, or through the voice of the League to outside groups or institutions, such as government, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, businesses, etc. “When directed within the League, its purpose is to propose a plan, establish a policy, [and] recommend action or censure. When directed to a group outside the League … [it] is to influence others to take action that the League itself cannot take, to state the League’s position on an issue, to petition or to express concern”
(Resolution Supplement to the Executive Handbook, page 2).
Councils in Manitoba, B.C. and the Yukon applied much time and effort to research and develop the resolutions adopted at the 2018 National Convention. Following tradition since 1974, National Council of the Catholic Women's League of Canada sent a delegation to Ottawa to explain the League’s position on the issues identified. Anne-Marie Gorman (President), Fran Lucas, (President-elect), and Cathy Bouchard (Resolutions Chair) met with parliamentarians November 26-28, 2018. They created the foundation and ignited the flame!
It’s now the role of members and councils to seize the torch and advocate for change. Councils large and small can contribute by studying the resolutions and following up on the Action Plans – detailed on national’s website: www.cwl.ca
A 30-minute express workout several times a week is a great way to achieve your fitness goals. A 30-minute express letter-writing blitz at a general meeting is a great way to achieve your social justice goals!
I’ve written two 2018 Sample Letters as a helpful resource. They are quick and easy to use! 1. Print the required copies; 2. Add your name and contact info, current date, and local MP's name (below the Prime Minister's); 3. Sign and mail the letters (no postage required).
Please revise and personalize the letters as you wish or simply use them as a guide.
Download sample letters.
National CWL Resolution 1959.12 resolved "that we The Catholic Women's League of Canada in 39th annual national convention assembled at Saint John, N.B., request the federal government to plan a Christmas stamp depicting a “Nativity Scene” to be issued in Canada annually during the month of December."
This was followed by Resolution 1980.11 which resolved that "The national council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, in 60th annual national convention assembled, do commend Canada Post for the issues of postage stamps with religious themes and do recommend that each year one or more of the Christmas stamps issued have such a theme."
Resolution 2005.01 resolved "That the national council of The Catholic Women's League of Canada, in 85th annual national convention assembled, urge Canada Post to include a Nativity-related theme in its future Christmas stamp issues."
All of these resolutions were archived in 2016 because the action requested has been accomplished. We have had a Christmas-themed stamp for several years and have commended Canada Post for this.
Legislation is social justice in action.
It is the carrying out of League resolutions to influence government policy.
MONITOR and STUDY LEGISLATION at ALL LEVELS of GOVERNMENT
Legislation affects everyone and everything we have and do.
It is important to:
Policies are established, programs are planned, or concerns and views are expressed through resolutions.
DUTIES of the CHAIRPERSON
The duties of the chairperson are:
The chairperson should:
RESEARCH and PREPARATION of RESOLUTIONS and BRIEFS
A resolution is similar to a motion in that it introduces new business to an assembly. The new business is introduced in the form of a resolution because of its formality, its length or its complexity.
The chairperson shall:
STUDY and IMPLEMENTATION of RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED by OTHER LEVELS
Resolutions are only words on paper until action is taken. Implementation of resolutions is a large part of the annual work of League members.
The chairperson shall:
The chairperson should:
AT PROVINCIAL and NATIONAL LEVELS, PRESENTATION of RESOLUTIONS to GOVERNMENT
The League has a strong voice and is continually commended for the quality of its resolutions, and on the research and documentation that has gone into their preparation.
The chairperson shall:
SOURCE: Executive Handbook RES-67-68
RESOURCES and REFERENCES
Ongoing resolutions are posted on the League Web site and are also available upon request from national office. Resolutions adopted at the annual national convention are published in the fall issue of The Canadian League magazine.
The following are available from national office:
“Legislative activity is always best based on care for the people” (Pope Francis).
Greetings to my Sisters in the League!
I am thrilled to be elected once again to the national executive and look forward to my new position as chairperson of legislation.
According to the federal government website www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/abouthealth-canada/legislation-guidelines/legislation.html, legislation is defined as:
“Legislation, also known as the acts, are forms of law that can provide the authority to make regulations. Generally, legislation begins as a bill (draft form), and can originate either in the House of Commons or in the Senate. For a bill to become law, it must be approved by both the House of Commons and the Senate, and by the Governor General of Canada (the Crown). Bills are discussed by members of both Houses during what is formally known as First Reading, Second Reading and Third Reading, and are also submitted to a Parliamentary Committee for review. The Committee usually seeks out the views of interested parties, including the public. The final stage of the enactment of a bill is when it receives Royal Assent. The timing of Royal Assent is determined by the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons in consultation with the Leader of the Government in the Senate. An Act has the force of law upon Royal Assent, unless it is provided in the Act that it will come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council (Cabinet).”
The “C” of the “CWL” stands for Catholic, but could also stand for compassionate, concerned or conscientious women aware of issues in communities, prepared to spring to action. One way to do this is by monitoring and studying federal government legislation.
It all begins with a concern or issue a member, or someone they know, may have or had to deal with. One such serious issue, which falls under the legislation standing committee, had a resolution adopted at the 98th annual national convention. Resolution 2018.03 Legislate Designation of Hospice/Palliative Care Services in Facilities to Exclude Medical Assistance in Dying.
Two years remain until the League celebrates 100 years as an organization of Catholic women!
Looking back on the record of the work done by members, we realize the impact the League has had on the lives of all Canadians. Through resolutions, policies are established, programs are planned, and concerns and views are expressed.
Resolutions adopted at the 98th annual national convention will be published in the fall issue of The Canadian League magazine, and will be available online. Many hours of hard work, research, consultation and discussion have contributed in bringing issues to the forefront. Support this work through advocacy and awareness. National office is actively pursuing meetings with federal government officials to discuss the adopted and other resolutions.
I have attached a 2018 Resolutions-at-a-Glance document. Encourage members to actively learn about the resolutions and to follow up on the action plans. Ask the question, “How do these resolutions apply to situations in our city/town, province or country? Who does the League speak for in this resolution?” Members become much more attached to the suggested action in the resolution when it applies to known people.
The following resolutions were adopted at the 98th annual national convention:
RESOLUTIONS COMMUNIQUE
| Date: | January 12, 2018 |
| To: | Parish Council Presidents |
| CC: | Sharon Malec, Provincial Chairperson of Resolutions |
| From: | Diane Miedema, Calgary Diocesan Chairperson of Resolutions |
| Subject: | Children’s Access to Online Pornography – A Call To Action! |
Dear Parish Council Presidents,
This issue exemplifies the importance of League resolutions and their value to society. A resolution has exposed a serious issue that can detrimentally affect children’s cognitive development and wellbeing, with lasting negative effects into adulthood. This “Call to Action” implores all members to send an email to our federally elected officials to help achieve positive results.
2017 Resolutions memo from Joan Bona, national chairperson of resolutions:
As Canada celebrates its 150th year as a country, the League is fast approaching 100 years as an organization of Catholic women. During the 1922 national convention, members were encouraged to “take up some work of a national character that affects into the life of the whole country”. Fresh from another annual national convention, where four resolutions were adopted, the League’s historic experience of advocacy remains as true today as it did in 1922. The work continues. The resolutions will be featured in the fall issue of The Canadian League.
Please find enclosed in this mailing the 2017 resolutions-at-a-glance. Encourage members of your council to actively engage and follow-up on the action plans. Many hours of hard work, research, consultation and discussion have been contributed to bring issues to the forefront. Support this work through advocacy and awareness. At the time of writing this memo, national office has been actively pursuing meetings with federal government officials about the adopted 2017 resolutions.
In the beginning. . .
You and Henrietta are at Tim Horton's nattering about some issue that is really sticking in your craw. You could just yack about it, or you could DO something: get the CWL on board and change the world!
How to start:
Researching is easy in the 21st century. . .
Internet search (e.g.: google) is an amazing tool. You can access excellent research to back up your statement online. Just be careful to use reliable sources. Your Diocesan Resolutions Chairperson should be able to assist you if you are unsure. Of course, using current print media is still just fine.
Print off copies of the articles you get online. Note the date you accessed them. You will need these later.
At every level of the League, Resolutions Standing Committee Chairs and members will refer to the Resolutions Supplement in the Executive Handbook. It's your Resolutions Bible. Your council has one.
Copy the leader and be blessed.
Why re-invent the wheel? The CWL is over 100 years old. That means a lot of women have gone before you. Looking at what they did and copying it will save you tons of time!
Use your CWL magazine, The League. Every fall issue contains the resolutions passed at national. Or go to the national website and click on a recent resolution for the same info. Copy the format you see there for your own resolution. Of course, you should kinda put your own content in there!
Acknowledgements:
- Becky Kallal, Resolutions Workshop, 2006
- Resolutions Supplement to the Executive Handbook, 2012
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