Governance
OLIP’s Multi-level Governance: Facilitating Collaborative Leadership & Action
OLIP’s governance structure supports community-wide leadership and action in the implementation of the Ottawa Immigration Strategy (OIS) while providing a transparent mechanism for continued planning, learning, and adjustment. The premise of OLIP’s governance structure is that the goals set out in the OIS can only be achieved through collaboration; no single institution can succeed in isolation. Responsibility for the implementation of the OIS is shared by OLIP partners and community stakeholders from multiple sectors of our community, including governments, employers, educational institutions, social, health and settlement service providers, civic groups, and private citizens.
OLIP’s governance structure is designed to leverage the experience, leadership, and strength of each sector and brings together multiple perspectives to bear on planning and action shared priorities.
The OLIP governance system is made up of: (1) structures (partners’ tables, roles, and relationships), (2) norms and principles, and (3) processes of listening, strategizing, engaging, and planning for collaborative actions toward the goals identified in the Ottawa Immigration Strategy
1. Governance Structure (tables and teams)
There are five Sector Tables focused on action leadership; an Executive Committee providing strategic oversight to the OLIP Secretariat; and a Partnership Council that brings together leaders from all the sectors addressed by the Ottawa Immigration Strategy.
The OLIP tables are bound together through mutual relationships and accountability, with the OLIP Secretariat acting as a catalyst and facilitator of partners’ leadership and action planning. The following chart outlines the functions, roles, and responsibilities fulfilled by each component of the OLIP governance structure.
Structure | Function | Role |
OLIP Secretariat | Facilitation and support |
|
OLIP Council | Leadership and strategic stewardship |
|
OLIP Leadership Group | Championship & Collaborative Leadership |
|
OLIP Executive Committee | Operational management and inter-sectoral coordination |
|
Five OLIP Sector Tables Settlement & Socio-Civic Language Economic Integration Health and Wellbeing Education |
Coordinated and collaborative action |
|
Ottawa Immigration Forum | Learning, progress report, and leadership engagement |
|
2. Governance Principles
- Inclusivity: encouraging the participation of all stakeholders, including immigrants.
- Engagement of community leaders: promoting the commitment of leaders of all sectors
- Collective learning: supporting the development and deepening of shared knowledge across sectors
- Accountability: responsibility to each other and to the community
- Transparency: openly sharing all information related to OLIP
- Community building: ensuring continuity and the growth of promising practices
- Dialogue and consensus: addressing challenging issues through open, respectful discussion and decision-making
- Creativity and innovation: promoting new approaches and synergies across all sectors
- Decisiveness and effectiveness: advancing work without undue delays
- Nimbleness: flexibility to ensure opportunities can be seized when they arise
- Sustainability: supporting the efficient use of resources and leveraging public and private resources to build on what works.
3. Governance Cycle & Decision Making (Governance Process)
In addition to structures and principles, OLIP understands governance as an ongoing cycle of engagement, leadership and collaboration, embedded in processes of open dialogue, strategic priority setting, reflection, learning, collective action, and adjustments as needed.
OLIP operations follow two-year cycles, and medium term action periods, the end of which the OLIP Secretariat reviews progress and collective impact. The operational / governance cycles start with agenda setting for operational period at a bi-annual strategic meeting of OLIP Sector Table Co-chairs and members of the Executive Committee. The governance cycle culminates in the OLIP Council’s convening of a biannual Ottawa Immigration Forum, where collective progress is report to wider range of stakeholders and the Ottawa public.
During the 2-year cycle, OLIP partners connect in regular meetings of the tables defined above and convened by the OLIP Secretariat. Task groups move forward ideas and plans as determined by the Sector Tables.