Community Partners Insurance Program
ACS2023-CMR-OCM-0010 - City Wide Committee Recommendations That Council approve: that staff be directed to implement a revised Community Partners Insurance Program (CPIP) based on the following:  that the City will continue to procure Commercial General Liability insurance on behalf of groups eligible to participate in the Program;  that the Program will be directed at supporting traditional community associations/groups whose primary mandate is representing a neighbourhood on a broad range of civic matters and that is recognized for organizing hosting, and the direct delivery of community events, activities and programs open to the general public, at the neighbourhood level; that the definition of neighbourhoods be informed by the Ottawa Neighourhood Study, as well as available community resources, association constitutions and other community resources that can validate community representation;  that the participating community associations/groups will be required to meet certain legitimacy/eligibility criteria, including the following:  Operate within the City of Ottawa as a not-for-profit group; and Have been in existence for at least 2 years; and  Demonstrate financial viability and be in Good Standing with the City of Ottawa; and  Be governed by a democratically-elected Board of Directors or Committee of at least three independent and unrelated members; and Demonstrate good governance practices by holding an Annual General Meeting, have a Board-approved Constitution or by-laws, hold meetings open to residents in their neighbourhood, produce annual financial statements; and  Have measures in place to ensure that they do not at any time sponsor or produce any materials that promote or oppose the candidacy of a person for elected office, or that promote or oppose a campaign related to a question on the ballot, in accordance with the City's Election-Related Resources Policy;  that the revised CPIP be in place on or before January 1, 2025, so that the Program can be accounted for as part of the City's 2025 budget; and,  that the CPIP be renewed, in its current form, for the 2024-2025 period, to allow groups that will no longer be eligible sufficient time to either secure alternate insurance coverage or sources of funding, including through the City's Community Funding Framework; and,  that staff explore the possibility that in the renewal of the CPIP, in its current form, of a pro-rated policy for the period of June 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025 to help community participants bridge the transition period between programs; and,  that the General Manager, Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department review staffing requirements to implement and maintain the revised CPIP program, including intake screening, ongoing evaluation and compliance with participant eligibility, and including a broader City of Ottawa community liaison and support role on matters relating to governance and access to City key contacts, information and resources. The findings of this review will be reported back to Council by way of memo in anticipation of the 2025 budget; and   that in the event that staff are unable to procure the insurance necessary to support the Program, the funding dedicated to the CPIP be reallocated to a separate Community Insurance Support funding program within the Community Funding Framework, available to fund or reimburse third party liability insurance to the same category of community associations/groups and based on the same legitimacy/eligibility criteria, as the CPIP; and,  that staff conduct a comprehensive review as outlined in point 3 of the report before January 1, 2025, of the terms of the City’s Civic Events funding and similar community-engagement programs and contractual service delivery agreements, to minimize the City-imposed insurance burden on community organizations, without exposing the City to unreasonable risk. 

• Coverpage - Community Partner Insurance Program (CPIP)- Final.pdf
• 01 - Community Partner Insurance Program (CPIP).pdf