CIRA’s Nomination Committee will review applications and select the Final Nomination Committee Slate which will then be voted on by .CA Members during the September election. There are three nomination committee seats available, all of which will hold three-year terms.

Canadians with Board experience and relevant background in technology or the internet industry are encouraged to apply. Expertise in one of the following areas would be an asset: auditing and accounting, risk management, strategic planning and relevant technology. Becoming a CIRA Board Director is a unique opportunity to work with Canada's internet leaders as they develop strategy and policy that position .CA for operational excellence. The skills, experience and expertise Board members bring to the table will help guide CIRA as it fulfills its mandate to manage the .CA domain as a key public resource for the benefit of all Canadians.

Submit your nominations between May 8 at noon ET and June 8 at 6 p.m. ET.

The internet belongs to all of us, and impacts every aspect of our lives. CIRA's election process provides Canadians and .CA Members the opportunity to take a leadership role in the development of the Internet of the future to ensure it continues to be an open and accessible public resource.

Information on CIRA’s Board of Directors Election can be found at CIRAelections.ca.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is the organization that manages Canada's .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada's internet community and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

“As a sponsor of MediaSmarts’ programs and initiatives since 2009, CIRA has shown great leadership in the promotion of digital and media literacy education in Canada, says Cathy Wing, Co-Executive Director of MediaSmarts. “We are delighted that CIRA has recognized the importance of our work through this new Gold sponsorship.”

Currently, CIRA is a leading partner of MediaSmarts’ landmark research study Young Canadians in a Wired World. The organizations have also partnered on a series of cyber security resources to raise awareness of Internet risks and the steps Canadians can take to minimize those risks.

“The development and implementation of programs that empower Canadian youth to remain safe online is important to CIRA,” says David Fowler, CIRA’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “Being a leading partner of MediaSmarts allows us to be part of the foundational education of the next generation of Internet users.”

Dedicated to providing parents and educators with the information and tools they need to help young people safely and effectively navigate today’s digital world, MediaSmarts works closely with its sponsors and partners to advance education around important issues such as cyberbullying, online hate, privacy and Internet safety. To find out more about MediaSmarts’ programs, visit: mediasmarts.ca. More information about CIRA is available at www.cira.ca.

About MediaSmarts
MediaSmarts (formerly Media Awareness Network) is a Canadian, not-for-profit centre for digital and media literacy. Its vision is that young people have the critical thinking skills to engage with media as active and informed digital citizens. mediasmarts.ca, @mediasmarts

For additional information, please contact:

Maya Shoucair
Communications Officer, MediaSmarts
(613) 224-7721 ext. 231
mshoucair@mediasmarts.ca

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is a Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

The Nomination Committee helps build a CIRA Board of Directors that represents a wide range of views and interests, ultimately contributing to the strategic direction of .CA and Canadian Internet policy. It plays a critical role in soliciting and selecting qualified Candidates for the Nomination Committee Slate of CIRA’s Board of Directors Election.

Nomination Committee members were selected from nearly 500 applications submitted by an excellent group of candidates from a cross-section of public, private, not-for-profit, and academic sector organizations that reflect the diversity of Canada’s Internet community.

The 2013 Nomination Committee is comprised of the following new and re-appointed members who join the Committee for a two-year term: Marc Blanchet, Kirk LaPointe, Glenn McNight, Cynthia Robertson, Bill Graham (re-appointed ) and Deborah Rosati (re-appointed). They join current members Colleen Arnold, Tim Denton, Rochelle Grayson, Michael Hrybyk and Stuart MacDonald, along with Adam Scott as the Government Representative.

CIRA wishes to acknowledge the contributions of outgoing Nomination Committee members Michel Lamontagne, Len St-Aubin and Andrew Sullivan. CIRA also thanks all applicants and extends its congratulations to selected members.

For more information about CIRA’s Board of Directors Election, please visit the Election page.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is a Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

The 2013 CIRA Board of Directors Election process commences May 8, 2013 with a call for nominations and concludes with online voting between September 16, 2013 and September 23, 2013. CIRA’s election process provides Canadians and .CA Members an opportunity to take a leadership role in helping to build trusted Canadian values online and to ensure .CA continues to be an accessible, secure and trusted Canadian resource. For 2013, .CA Members will be electing four Board Members.

CIRA’s 2013 AGM will be held on September 16, 2013 in Montreal, Quebec. This event will offer Members an opportunity to directly participate in the governance of Canada’s Internet domain, voice their opinions to CIRA’s management and Board of Directors, learn from leading digital thinkers and network with other .CA domain name holders.

All Members will be notified by email to pre-register for the AGM and to participate in the Election. Further details will be posted on CIRA’s website as they become available.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is a Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

OTTAWA – February 28, 2013 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, is kicking off its annual consultation with a feature event in Ottawa and an online forum, providing all Canadians with an equal voice to discuss the issues that impact the safe and fair use of the Internet.

The Canadian Internet Forum (CIF) began this morning at the Ottawa Convention Centre. CIRA has brought together leading thinkers and experts to discuss a variety of Internet-related topics, including digital literacy, cyber-security and Internet governance.

Canadians will be able to participate today and continue the conversation throughout 2013 through their Facebook or Twitter accounts, or by providing a valid email address. CIRA has provided a variety of channels for the CIF, including its website, its Facebook page, its Twitter account @CIRANews, and with the hashtag #ciraif.

“Just as we are all participants in the Internet sphere, we are all participants at the CIF, each with an equal voice,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “I urge you to attend, tune in and have your say, and not just today but throughout the year. The Internet by its very nature is always on and always evolving. How we use it and how we govern it to our best advantage is a conversation that must keep pace.”

The CIF is free for all participants. Registrations can still be made onsite for today’s event and the webcast is available to everyone.

Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart begins today’s event with a keynote about online privacy. Panel presentations and discussions will explore digital literacy and policy and governance, featuring Steve Anderson from Openmedia.ca, Karen Mulberry from the Internet Society, Tim Denton from the CRTC, Matthew Johnson from MediaSmarts, and Kerry Augustine from the Canadian Cyber Defence Challenge.

To learn more about the CIF, or how to attend or tune in via the webcast, please visit http://www.cira.ca/news/events-page/2013-cif/.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.ca

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Kevin McArthur, Susan Mehinagic, Bill Sandiford, Bill St.Arnaud

Advisors: John Demco, Byron Holland, Adam Scott

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the January 10, 2013 Board of Directors' Meeting

3. Financial and Operational Updates

3.1 Report on all Statutory Obligations

3.2 Management Report

3.3 Review of Q3 2013 Financial Results

4. Operational Plan and Budget 2013‐20114

5. Composition of the Nomination Committee

6. Update on Committees

6.1 Report from Governance Committee

• Board Compensation Review

6.2 Report from Audit, Finance and Investment Committee

6.3 Report from Risk Management Committee

7. Other Business

8. Next Meeting: May 30, 2013

9. In-Camera Session

10. Adjournment

Ottawa, February 26, 2013 - The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, is kicking off its annual consultation with the Canadian public with a day of insightful and provocative discussion on the issues that impact the safe and fair use of the Internet.

The Canadian Internet Forum (CIF) will take place on Thursday, February 28 in Ottawa at the Ottawa Convention Centre. Given the forum’s national focus, the proceedings will also be made available to Canadians anywhere in the country via live webcast. To ensure everyone who wishes to participate and contribute to the discussion can attend, the event is free for in-person and online attendees.

The CIF will bring together leading thinkers and experts to discuss a variety of Internet-related topics, including digital literacy, cyber-security and Internet governance. The event will also serve as a kick off for an online discussion forum that will allow Canadians to further explore the topics discussed during the national event.

“Canadians are the heaviest Internet users in the world and it is vital that we have a national forum where we can discuss and debate the hot topics that are helping to shape the Canadian Internet landscape,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “Just as we are all participants in the Internet sphere, we are all participants at the CIF. We believe that decisions about the Internet should not be made behind closed doors without public knowledge or participation. Everyone who attends can have a voice.”

The event will feature a keynote about online privacy from Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart, as well as panel presentations and discussions about digital literacy and policy and governance featuring Steve Anderson from Openmedia.ca, Karen Mulberry from the Internet Society, Tim Denton from the CRTC, Matthew Johnson from MediaSmarts, Kerry Augustine from the Canadian Cyber Defence Challenge, and journalist Shane Schick.

The panel featuring Anderson and Denton promises to be both informative and compelling. Anderson is an outspoken advocate of a free and open Internet who is often critical of government policy and Canada’s incumbent telecommunications carriers. Denton, in his role as a commissioner of the CRTC, is of course the gatekeeper for telecom regulation in Canada.

To learn more about the lineup of panelists for the CIF, the agenda for the event, and how to attend or tune in via the webcast, please visit http://www.cira.ca/news/events-page/2013-cif/.

To arrange advance interviews about the CIF and its purpose and relevance to Canadians, please contact Tanya O’Callaghan or Leo Valiquette at the coordinates below.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.ca

Ottawa, January 21, 2013 – Canadians rank first in the world when it comes to Internet usage, spending an average of 45 hours per month online. Despite this fact, Canadians still spend more for broadband speed than 19 other countries. These illuminating facts, and more, are included in a new resource from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) released today.

The 2013.CA Factbook is a compendium of facts and research about the global domain name industry and .CA’s place therein. It also provides a glimpse into the state of the Internet in Canada.

“I believe that Canadians will find the information within the Factbook revealing” said CIRA’s president and CEO Byron Holland. “From the increasing consumption of media content online to the continued growth of .CA, the Factbook provides a snapshot of an Internet landscape in Canada and around the world that is constantly evolving.

The .CA Factbook is presented as an online, social document with tweetable factoids, and numerous graphics.

Some other facts of note include:

• 49 per cent of Canadians strongly prefer .CA versus 17 per cent for .COM for business.
• Canada’s Internet economy accounted for 3 percent of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)  in 2012, totalling $49 billion.
• Per viewer, Canada leads the world in viewing online video.
• Canada’s top-level domain, is one of the fastest growing TLDs in the world, ranking fourth among its country code top-level domain (ccTLD) counterparts.
• During the last five years, global registrations for domain names were up 70 per cent to almost 240 million domains online.

The .CA Factbook is divided into four main sections, the Global Net, .CA's in Canada and the Canadian Internet Economy, Canada Online and .CA and the World

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

OTTAWA – January 14, 2013 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, now supports the use of all French characters in .CA domain names, allowing Canadians to register their .CAs correctly in both official languages for the first time.

Previously, the only characters that could be used in a .CA domain name were the letters a-z, the numbers 0-9 and hyphens. When a domain name works with any characters beyond these, it’s called an Internationalized Domain Name (IDN). It is now possible for French .CA domain names to be spelled with the language’s full range of characters and ligatures: é, ë, ê, è, â, à, æ, ô, œ, ù, û, ü, ç, î, ï, ÿ.

“This is great news for all Canadians because it means they can now use the .CA domain in Canada’s two official languages, French and English,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “This is also great news for owners of .CA domains and their website visitors because it means that domain names can precisely match names, businesses and trademarks.”

 Implementing French-language characters is a far more challenging and complex process than it may at first appear to be. For example, the domain préside.ca could have 62 different spelling variations depending on the choice of characters used. CIRA has developed a number of policies and procedures to keep the process as simple and straightforward as possible.

One of the most important developments by CIRA is the creation of a bundling policy that removes the necessity to register every special-character variant of an existing .CA domain. Whoever registers, or has already registered, a specific domain, is automatically granted an exclusive right to register all of its variants, but is under no obligation to do so. For example, only the owner of cira.ca will have the right to register cïra.ca and cîra.ca.

For more information about the rollout of French-language characters for the .CA domain, please visit cira.ca/why-ca/french-ca.

CIRA is kicking off the launch of French-language domain names at a networking event tomorrow night in Montreal at the Hôtel Place d’Armes, 55, rue Saint-Jacques West. For more information, please visit cira.ca/membership/memberevents/.

To arrange an interview please contact Tanya O’Callaghan or Leo Valiquette at the coordinates below.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

Ottawa, January 14, 2013 – Do you want to play a key role in building Canada’s domain on the Internet? The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is seeking individuals to join its Nomination Committee.

The Nomination Committee helps build a Board of Directors that represents a wide range of views and interests as it defines the strategic direction of .CA and contributes to Canadian Internet policy. It plays a critical role in soliciting and selecting qualified Candidates for the Nomination Committee Slate of CIRA’s Board of Directors Election.

Applications to become a member of the Nomination Committee will be accepted from January 14, 2013 until January 31, 2013.

Learn more about why you should apply to join CIRA’s Nomination Committee and the critical role the Committee plays in CIRA’s annual Election process.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is  the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name  registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s  Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Kevin McArthur, Susan Mehinagic, Bill Sandiford, Bill St.Arnaud

Advisors: John Demco, Byron Holland, Adam Scott

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the November 28, 2012 Board of Directors' Meeting

3. Update and Discussion of 2014-2016 Strategic Plan

4. Other Business

5. Next Meeting: February 27, 2013

6. In Camera Session

7. Adjournment

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Kevin McArthur, Susan Mehinagic, Bill Sandiford (by telephone), Bill St.Arnaud

Board Advisors: John Demco, Adam Scott, Byron Holland

Guests: David Fowler, Paul Havey, Jacques Latour

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as presented.

2. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the November 28, 2012 Board of Directors' Meeting

It was resolved that the minutes of the November 28, 2012 Board of Directors' meeting be approved as presented.

(Moved: K. Brown, seconded: R. Liang)

3. Update and Discussion of 2014-2016 Strategic Plan

The Chair reminded the Board of Directors that this meeting was convened to give the final approval on the 2014-2016 Strategic Plan.

B. Holland summarized the key points from the strategic planning discussion since the last meeting. It was noted that staff had captured the changes and incorporated them in the documents provided to the Board for this meeting. It was further noted that these documents would frame the next three years and an operational plan would be presented each year.

A discussion ensued regarding the targeted funding for Internet related activities in Canada. The Board discussed whether that target should remain the same or be increased, and how the target should be couched – as a target range, a fixed percentage, or a minimum percentage. Staff indicated that it believed that the funding of Internet related activities at 4 to 6% of revenue, as discussed at the prior Board meeting, provides value to the Internet Community considering the organization's primary function of running the Registry.

After further discussion, it was agreed that the targeted funding be set at a minimum of 5% of annual revenue.

It was therefore resolved that the Board of Directors approve the CIRA FY2014 -2016 Strategic Plan as amended.

The plan includes the following:

Overall Objective: .CA is a recognized leader and trusted voice in the Canadian Internet community; and

Four core strategies:

1. Maintain a safe, secure and stable environment

2. Increase operational efficiency

3. Enhance market and customer focus of the organization

4. Support development of Internet related activities in Canada

(Moved: B. Gibson, seconded: C. Mackaay, unanimously carried)

Staff will report back at the next Board of Directors’ meeting with the operational plan and budget for the fiscal year 2014.

4. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be held on February 27, 2013 in Ottawa.

5. Other Business

5.1 Service Recognition

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, the Chair congratulated B. Holland for his 5 years of service and outstanding achievements. The Board of Directors was looking forward to working with him in the next 5 years.

D. Fowler, L. Gravel, P. Havey, J. Latour and M. Stewart withdrew from the meeting.

6. In-Camera Session

The Board of Directors held an in camera session.

Following the in camera session, L. Gravel rejoined the meeting.

7. Adjournment

There being no further business, on motion by K. Brown and seconded by B. Gibson, the meeting was concluded at 10:30 a.m.

2 million reasons why Canadians love the .ca domain – November 22, 2012

Interested suppliers can submit a quote for services in one or more of the following areas:

• Advertising
• Communications
• Web and digital development

The Request for Quotations period will run from January 7 to February 4, 2013.  To obtain a copy of the RFQ requirements document, or if you have any questions, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

The following transactions will be affected during the registry upgrade:

• Registrants will be unable to submit new .CA domain registrations.
• Registrants will be unable to approve their CIRA Registrant Agreement.
• Registrants will be unable to update or renew existing .CA domain names.
• The To Be Released list will not be accessible.
• WHOIS will not be accessible.
• Registrants who are .CA Members will be unable to access the Member website (member.cira.ca).
• CIRA’s Election website (ciraelections.ca) will be offline.
• The main CIRA website (cira.ca), including Registrar lists, the Expression of Interest Form and the Registration Support Unit (RSU) contact form will be offline.

Full Registrant services will return at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on January 13, 2013.

For more information about French .CA domain names, please visit: http://cira.ca/why-ca/french-ca.

You can also access real-time updates on January 13 by following @CIRANews on Twitter.

-30-

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is  the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name  registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s  Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

OTTAWA – December 17, 2012 – Byron Holland, President and CEO of The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), is available today to put into perspective the outcome of last week’s World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) and explain its significance to Canadians.

From December 3 to 14, the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU), hosted in Dubai delegates from more than 190 nations to revise the standards that govern communications around the world. This process was last carried out in 1988, when the Internet was still in its infancy and few could predict the impact it would have on global society.

While the purpose of WCIT-12 was to create a new treaty to manage the international interconnection and interoperability of information and communication services, it was Internet governance and regulation that took the spotlight. A group of ITU member states that included China, Russia and Algeria proposed provisions to the treaty that have been perceived as a means for individual governments to gain greater control over the Internet. These provisions were opposed by an alliance that included Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and other nations. Consequently, a new telecom treaty was not approved.

According to a statement released Thursday by Canada’s Industry Minister, Christian Paradis:

“Canada endeavoured to reach consensus on new ... regulations that recognized advances in telecommunications while maintaining an open, accessible Internet. The final treaty text tabled in Dubai included provisions that threaten these freedoms and, as a result, Canada and many other nations were unable to sign on to these new regulations.”

Holland was part of the Canadian delegation to WCIT-12 and observed the proceedings. As a result of his unique perspective in Dubai, he can discuss:

• How Internet governance and regulation came to dominate the conference.
• Why a new treaty was rejected by the alliance that included Canada.
• What this outcome means for the future of the Internet.
• Why these issues are critical to Canadians.

Holland has a wealth of experience in Canadian and international Internet governance. He is vice-chair of the Country Codes Name Supporting Organization (ccNSO), the body that represents the interests of all country code top-level domains and leads policy development initiatives at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Holland is also an active participant in the United Nations co-ordinated Internet Governance Forum, and other Internet governance fora.

To arrange an interview please contact Tanya O’Callaghan or Leo Valiquette at the coordinates below.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

When is it?

• CIRA will be hosting the CIF national event in Ottawa on February 28, 2013.
• The national event will be followed by an online forum, where Canadians will be able to continue the conversations from the day.

What will be discussed?

• From Internet policy and governance to digital literacy and Internet security, the CIF national event will cover the hot button issues that affect the Internet in Canada.
• A primer of what will be discussed on the day can be found in the final report on the 2012 CIF.
• The CIF is another opportunity for Canadians to discuss and debate topics that influences the development of the Internet in Canada.

Save the date!

Stay tuned in January to cira.ca, @ciranews on Twitter and CIRA on Facebook for all of the information required for registering for the national event either in person or via webcast.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is  the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name  registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s  Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Susan Mehinagic, Bill Sandiford, Bill St.Arnaud

Advisors: John Demco, Heather Dryden, Byron Holland

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the October 30, 2012 Board of Directors' Meeting

3. Financial and Operational Updates

3.1 Report on all Statutory Obligations

3.2 Management Report

3.3 Review of Q2 2013 Financial Results

4. Approval of Mandate and Structure of Committees

5. 2013 Elections

5.1 2013 Policy on Nominations and Elections

5.2 Appointment of Returning Officer

6. Update and Discussion of 2014-2016 Strategic Plan

7. Other Business

7.1 Debrief on Security Incident

8. Next Meeting

9. In Camera Session

10.Adjournment

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Kevin McArthur, Susan Mehinagic (by telephone), Bill Sandiford, Bill St.Arnaud

Board Advisors: John Demco, Heather Dryden, Byron Holland

Guests: Findlay Beith, Jacques Latour, Adam Scott (Industry Canada), Andreea Todoran (Industry Canada)

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Regrets: Heather Dryden (Board Advisor)

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was approved as presented.

The Chair informed the Board of Directors that H. Dryden was stepping down as the Government of Canada representative due to other time commitments with international affairs. On behalf of the Board, the Chair welcomed A. Scott and A. Todoran as the new Government of Canada representatives.

2. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the October 30, 2012 Board of Directors' Meeting

The Chair noted that a revised version of the minutes had been circulated earlier noting changes to item 6. Approval of the Committee's Mandate and Structure and item 8. Director Compensation Review. The Board of Directors adopted the minutes with the changes to item 8. Director Compensation Review.

3. Financial and Operational Updates

3.1 Report on all Statutory Obligations

This report was provided to the Board of Directors as information and tabled at the meeting.

3.2 Management Report

This report was provided to the Board of Directors as information and tabled at the meeting.

There was some discussion regarding registration activities and how the .CA was trending as compared to other ccTLDs. Staff noted that when looking at the top 25 ccTLDs, CIRA was doing quite well but all were experiencing a slowdown except for Russia and Brazil. It was noted that renewals remained on average at 79% over the last year, slightly above other ccTLDs. This was likely due to the auto renew feature introduced last year. There was also some discussion regarding the signing of the .CA zone. Staff reported that changes to the zone file will be done in the new year. For the moment, Registrants will be able to submit a key manually and once the Registry is automated, an announcement will be made. In the meantime, staff will look into possibly making the data available to the public.

F. Beith joined the meeting.

3.3 Review of Q2 2013 Financial Results

The financial statements were provided to the Board of Directors as information and tabled at the meeting.

Staff gave a brief overview of the actual financial results as compared to the budget for the period ending September 30, 2012. It was noted that as highlighted in the Q1 2013 financial results, net new registrations continue to track lower than budgeted and at the end of Q2 2013, net new registrations were 37.6K units lower than budget. As a result, FY2013 registration revenue for the year will be at a minimum $500K lower than budget.

F. Beith withdrew from the meeting.

4. Approval of Mandate and Structure of Committees

The Chair of the Governance Committee reminded the Board of Directors that the draft mandate and structure of the Committees were approved at its meeting on October 30, 2012. At its last meeting in November, the Governance Committee reviewed the feedback received and incorporated most of the proposed changes. The Governance Committee was therefore recommending that the Board of Directors approve the mandate and structure of each Committee as presented. It was further noted that some email correspondence had been received since then and these comments would be considered at the next Governance Committee meeting or during the annual review.

It was therefore resolved that the Board of Directors approve the role descriptions, Committee mandates and procedures as presented.

(Moved: S. Mehinagic, seconded: C. Mackaay, opposed: K. Brown, K. McArthur, motion carried).

5. 2013 Elections

5.1 Policy on Nominations and Election

Staff noted that the changes to the 2013 Policy on Nominations and Elections dealt only with date changes.

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors approve the Policy on Nominations and Elections 2013 as presented.

(Moved: B. Sandiford, seconded: K. Brown, unanimously carried)

5.2 Appointment of Returning Officer

Staff recommended that the Returning Officer Richard Vickers be re-appointed for the 2013 Elections.

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors re-appoint Richard Vickers as the Returning Officer for the 2013 Election and set the 2013 Returning Officer's remuneration at $250 per hour plus any reasonable or certain out of pocket expenses as pre-approved by CIRA.

Be it further resolved that the Board of Directors re-appoint Eric Lay to assist the 2013 Returning Officer in carrying out his duties and set the remuneration at $175 per hour plus any reasonable or certain out of pocket expenses as pre-approved by CIRA.

(Moved: B. Sandiford, seconded: B. St.Arnaud, unanimously carried)

6. Update and Discussion of 2014-2016 Strategic Plan

B. Holland summarized the key points from the strategic planning session held the previous day. Overall there was some areas to be tweaked, primarily to the top level goal and the top level framework. It was agreed that staff would review the "Explore" definition to capture the intent as well as provide a comparison on performance and costing to other like Registries. The Board of Directors also expressed strong support for exploring CIRA’s support of the establishment of an entity similar to a Canadian ISOC Chapter, as well as an “arms length” Advisory Committee of the Board to administer and distribute funds to third parties in support of Internet Related Activities.

As the next step, staff will review and update the strategic plan presentation from the feedback received as well as provide a final plan in a narrative form at its January 2013 meeting.

7. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be held on January 10, 2013 in Ottawa.

8. Other Business

8.1 Debrief on Security Incident

Staff reported on a security incident and noted that the problem was quickly isolated and services restored.

8.2 Thanks to Government Representative

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Chair conveyed CIRA's thanks and appreciation to

H. Dryden for her time and dedication to the organization as the Government Representative of the Board of Directors over the past 5 years.

(Moved: P. Andersen, seconded: B. Holland)

L. Gravel and M. Stewart withdrew from the meeting.

9. In-Camera Session

The Board of Directors held an in camera session.

Following the in camera session, L. Gravel rejoined the meeting.

10. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was concluded at 11:20 a.m.

The two million mark is all the more poignant as it comes at the close of the 25^th anniversary of the founding of the .CA domain. It was established in 1987 by a group of volunteers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and transferred to CIRA in 2000. In 1988, the first .CA domain name, upei.ca, was registered by the University of Prince Edward Island.

Leora Rissin, a retired schoolteacher from Toronto, Ontario, registered the two-millionth .CA domain name, algonquinhouse.ca. She is planning to use it to promote her new small business, a bed and breakfast near High Park.

“For me, having a .CA lets everyone know you’re a Canadian business,” said Ms. Rissin.

“.CA is like having a Canadian flag on your digital backpack,” says Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “It represents Canada on the Internet. And research shows Canadians prefer.CA sites for online news, banking and shopping. So it’s no surprise our numbers continue to climb.”

.CA is the fourth fastest-growing Internet domain name registry and the fourteenth largest compared to other country specific domain names like .uk (United Kingdom). “When we started the .CA domain there were only a few thousand computers on the Internet – in total – and no one thought it would ever be so pervasive,” says John Demco, who led the team responsible for creating the .CA top-level domain at UBC in 1987. “Now Canada leads the world in the amount of time its citizens spend online, and while the Internet from a technology perspective doesn’t concern itself with nationality, Canadians strongly identify with.CA domain names and the registration of two million .CAs is proof of that.”

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information or to schedule an interview:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

This new campaign, which includes representatives from the global Internet community, opposes proposals that are expected to be tabled at an upcoming international conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the body that regulates telecommunications traffic globally. These proposals would see certain key elements of the Internet placed under control of the ITU, a United Nations co-ordinated, multi-national body. The widely held view of many in the Internet community is that proposals to improve Internet security are nothing more than veiled attempts by some countries with less than fully functioning democratic institutions to have a pretext to increase Internet surveillance and restrict the freedoms of global Internet users.  

Canadians are asked to join in support of the free and open Internet by signing a global petition opposing these proposals to clamp down on the digital rights of the global online community. This petition can be found here: change.org/netgrab.

“As a supporter of the free and open Internet, we oppose any attempts to put restrictions on the online activities of Canadian citizens,” said Byron Holland, president and CEO of Canadian Internet Registration Authority. “The current model for governing the Internet, called the multi-stakeholder model, is responsible for the Internet’s success, for its role in both elevating the global economy and the spread of democratic free speech.”

The multi-stakeholder governance model allows a myriad of stakeholders – such as engineers, marketers, coders, civil society, academics, and security experts – to have a voice equal to that of nations, non-governmental organizations or corporations. In short, the people and organizations that have a stake in the Internet’s success are the people and organizations that make the decisions about its development.

At a recent meeting of the International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Tony Clement, also reaffirmed the government of Canada’s support for the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance: cira.ca/news/news-releases/governance-model/.

The ITU was first established in 1865 to regulate telegrams, and later telephones and faxes. At the World Conference on Information Technology (WCIT) in Dubai in December, the ITU will conduct the first review of the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITRs) in 25 years, including proposal to potentially regulate elements of the global Internet. One example of concern is a proposal to treat Internet traffic like regular telephone calls for international billing purposes have been found to risk the future of the Internet as we know it.

 “The bottom-up, light handed approach enabled by the multi-stakeholder model and used by ICANN has allowed the Internet to become an incredible economic and democratizing force and the greatest driver of social change since the printing press,” said Holland. “This is a governance model that reflects the uniqueness of the Internet itself which we must work to preserve and evolve.”

“CIRA is pleased by the Canadian government’s unqualified support for the Internet’s multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance,” says Holland. “I now also call on Canadians to take action to ensure the Internet remains innovative, secure, inter-operable and, most importantly, free and open.”

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.ca

OTTAWA – November 1, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, has consulted with Canadians and discovered that security, access and cost, and digital literacy pose the greatest challenges when it comes to their successful use of the Internet.

These were the findings of CIRA’s latest Canadian Internet Forum (CIF), a series of online discussions and public consultations that took place over the past year as part of CIRA’s Community Investment Program. The CIF, begun in 2010, provides a neutral environment for stakeholders from across Canada to discuss and debate the state and future of Internet policy and governance in Canada.

“The Internet has become the driver of a new knowledge-based economy and has radically altered the ways in which we communicate with each other,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “It’s much too important to be left to someone else to look after and I thank those Canadians who took the time to contribute their views during the CIF.”

Security

Security relates to those things that impact the stability and safety of the Internet, such as viruses, spam and cyber-crime.

“It comes as no surprise that Canadians identified security as a top challenge,” said Holland. “As the Internet becomes more integral to our social and economic landscape, it is inevitable that there will be greater volumes of criminal activity to exploit that.”

Access and cost

For Canadians, access and cost go hand in hand. There is a clear belief that Canada suffers from an urban-rural divide with regard to access and speed. Urban centres are seen to have better, faster and cheaper access than rural or remote areas. This is a growing concern, considering that the Internet can be a great facilitator of economic development. While mobile was identified as one way in which better access can be provided in more remote areas, it is considered to be very expensive in Canada.

“Cost, access and speed form a nation’s digital currency,” said Holland. “A decade ago, Canada was a digital leader, but various third-party reports have since charted a steady decline in Canada’s speed and competitiveness compared to other industrialized nations. It’s time for us to retake our position as a global digital leader.”

Digital literacy

Digital literacy is the capacity to use the Internet for education, work and entertainment, and to understand digital media content and applications, along with the knowledge and capacity to create digital technology for personal use as well as for the competitive marketplace. It touches on topics such as privacy, parental controls and barriers of language.

“Canadians are concerned that Canada is falling behind other counties in ensuring its citizens have the digital literacy skills they need,” said David Fowler, CIRA’s Director of Marketing and Communications, and a Board member of MediaSmarts, a not-for-profit that specializes in digital and media literacy. “While this may be true, we believe there is also a substantial opportunity here to advance Canada’s social and economic agendas through education and outreach. CIRA is actively working with other stakeholders in Canada’s Internet ecosystem to improve digital literacy among all Canadians.”

Challenges and Opportunities for the Internet in Canada, a white paper detailing the complete findings of the 2012 CIF, was released today and can be found at http://www.cira.ca/assets/Documents/Publications/challenges-opportunities-canada-2012.pdf.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.ca

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Susan Mehinagic, Bill Sandiford, Bill St.Arnaud

Advisors: John Demco, Heather Dryden, Byron Holland

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Welcome to New Directors

2. Approval of Agenda

3. Substitute Chair

4. Appointment of Officers

5. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the September 17, 2012 Board of Directors' Meeting

6. Approval of the Committees’ Mandate and Structure

7. Appointment of the Committee Chairs and Membership

8. Director Compensation Review

9. 2012 Elections - Returning Officer's Final Report

10. 2013-2015 AGM and Member Events

11. Other Business

11.1 Resolution Regarding Safe Deposit Box

12. Next Meeting: November 28, 2012

13. In-Camera Session

14. Adjournment

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, Andrew Escobar, Michael Geist, Bill Gibson, , Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Carole Mackaay, Kevin McArthur, Susan Mehinagic, Bill Sandiford, Bill St.Arnaud

Board Advisors: John Demco, Byron Holland

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Regrets: Heather Dryden (Board Advisor)

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Welcome to New Directors

On behalf of the Board, the Chair welcomed the newly elected Board Directors – M. Geist, B. Gibson, C. Mackaay, K. McArthur and B. Sandiford.

2. Approval of Agenda

The agenda was revised to include thanks to Staff for planning ICANN45 in Toronto.

3. Substitute Chair

J. Demco assumed the role as Temporary Chair, with the approval of the Board.

4. Appointment of Officers

4.1 Appointment of Chair

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors appoint Paul Andersen to the position of Chair of CIRA to hold office for a period of two years or until the next Board meeting after the expiry of such two year period and until the successor is appointed, whichever is later or until earlier resignation or removal.

(Moved: B. Sandiford, seconded: S. Mehinagic, abstaining: P. Andersen, motion carried)

J. Demco retired as Temporary Chair; P. Andersen resumed the Chair.

4.2 Appointment of Vice-Chair

The Chair called for nominations for the Vice-Chair of the Board. Following the close of nominations, the Vice-Chair of the Board was appointed in accordance with s. 8.02 of the Amended and Restated Bylaw No.1.

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors appoint Louise Macdonald to the position of Vice-Chair of CIRA to hold office for a period of one year or until the next Board meeting after the expiry of such one year period and until the successor is appointed, whichever is later or until earlier resignation or removal.

(Moved: K. Brown, seconded: C. Mackaay, abstaining: L. Macdonald, motion carried)

B. Holland withdrew from the meeting.

5. Approval of the Draft Minutes of the September 17, 2012 Board of Directors' Meeting

Be it resolved that the minutes of the September 17, 2012 Board of Directors' meeting be approved as presented.

(Moved: B. St.Arnaud, seconded: L. Macdonald, abstaining: M. Geist, B. Gibson, C. Mackaay, K. McArthur and B. Sandiford, motion carried)

6. Approval of the Committee's Mandate and Structure

The Governance Committee reported that the Committee had reviewed the mandate and structure of the Board's Committees. The Committee was therefore recommending that the following Committees be retained and/or created: Governance Committee, Audit, Finance and Investment Committee, Compensation and Review Committee and Risk Management Committee. It was also recommended that the Executive Committee be abolished and part of its mandate be assigned to the Compensation and Review Committee. As for the Technical Oversight and Policy Advisory Committees, it was recommended that these Committees not be renewed.

The Governance Committee also presented the mandates for the Chair, Committee Chairs and Board Members. There were differing viewpoints on the mandate of the Chair. Some concern was raised over the ability of the Chair to appoint Committee Chairs and members of each Committee and the preference was to see the Chair as ex-officio on all Committees. Conversely, other members of the Board agreed that it was very effective for the Chair to appoint Committee Chairs and members allowing the ability to match the skills and experience accordingly. The consensus was to approve the terms of reference with the Chair appointing committee chairs and members.

It was therefore resolved that the Board of Directors accept the mandates and structure as presented for the following Committees: Audit, Finance and Investment; Compensation and Review; Governance; and Risk Management Committee subject to review and finalization at its meeting in January 2013.

(Moved: A. Escobar, seconded: C. Mackaay, unanimously carried)

It was further resolved that the Board of Directors accept the mandate of the Committee Chairs and Board members as presented subject to review and finalization at its meeting in January 2013.

(Moved: C. Mackaay, seconded: S. Mehinagic, abstaining: K. McArthur, motion carried)

It was further resolved that the Board of Directors accept the mandate of the Chair as presented subject to review and finalization at its meeting in January 2013.

(Moved: B. Sandiford, seconded: C. Mackaay, against: K. Brown, abstaining: P. Andersen, R. Liang, K. McArthur, motion carried)

7. Appointment of Committee Chairs and Membership

7.1 Audit, Finance and Investment Committee

The following individuals were appointed as a member of the Audit, Finance and Investment Committee: R. Liang (Chair), P. Andersen, K. Brown, A. Escobar, B. Gibson, and S. Mehinagic.

7.2 Compensation and Review Committee

The following individuals were appointed as a member of the Compensation and Review Committee: K. Brown (Chair), P. Andersen and L. Macdonald.

7.3 Governance Committee

The following individuals were appointed as a member of the Governance Committee:

S. Mehinagic (Chair), P. Andersen, J. Demco, M. Geist, L. Macdonald and C. Mackaay.

7.4 Risk Management Committee

The following individuals were appointed as a member of the Risk Management Committee:

B. St.Arnaud (Chair), P. Andersen, J. Demco, B. Gibson, K. McArthur and B. Sandiford.

8. Director Compensation Review

The Chair of the Governance Committee reminded the Board of Directors that according to the Director compensation policy dated October 1, 2009, a review of Director Compensation is conducted every three years by an independent consultant. The policy itself outlines several principles and specifies that the market is defined to consist of a 50/50 composite of national Not For Profit and private sector (high tech) marketplace as reference points. The objective of the review is to ensure that CIRA’s compensation practices remain current and in-line with market practices.

The Chair of the Governance Committee noted that the inclusions of the high tech companies as comparators skewed the results upward on average as Director compensation levels for high tech companies are nearly five times higher than the other comparators. As a result, it was determined that the report had little value in determining external market competitiveness given the survey participants. It was noted that this was not a deficiency that the consultant could now correct.

Notwithstanding the deficiencies in the data collection and methodology, the Chair of the Governance Committee requested that the Board of Directors consider the findings as well as the other criteria to determine the compensation as outlined in the current policy. The compensation presented was therefore adjusted to reflect the findings from the report but not to the full amount as indicated.

It was therefore recommended that the following compensation be approved by the Board:

It was noted that the annual compensation cap does not relate to a maximum for Board participation or Committee participation as in the current policy.

Some concern was raised regarding the increase and meetings fees to attend the Canadian Internet Forum (CIF). The Governance Chair noted that the inclusion of the CIF was an oversight and proposed it be removed. All were in agreement. The Chair of the Governance noted that the current level of compensation for the Chair was most likely too low and as for the others, it was a minimal increase over the current compensation.

It was therefore resolved that the Board of Directors approve the Director Compensation as presented excluding the meeting fees to attend the CIF, and the Governance Committee be mandated to review the policy and related policies affecting Director Compensation.

(Moved: S. Mehinagic, seconded: L. Macdonald, unanimously carried)

9. Resolution Regarding Safe Deposit Box

Staff reported that as part of the DNSSEC Practice Statement, back-up keys are to be stored in a Safe Deposit Box. Staff confirmed that this did not imply the approval of the DNSSEC implementation but merely a procedure prior to the implementation. The application process for a safe deposit box at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) required that a Board resolution be passed.

It was therefore resolved that the Board of Directors approve the leasing of a safety deposit box as per the RBC resolution presented.

(Moved: B. Gibson, seconded: B. Sandiford, unanimously carried)

10. 2012 Elections - Returning Officer's Final Report

This report was provided to the Board of Directors as information and tabled at the meeting.

Staff reported that the 2012 Election had proceeded remarkably smoothly. As a result, the report contained few recommendations and there were no material deviations from the Policies or Election Rules mandating a report to the Board of Directors. Staff noted that they were looking at streamlining the election process for next year and a recommendation would follow at the next meeting.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Chair thanked the Returning Officer - R. Vickers, Assistant to the Returning Officer - E. Lay and staff - M. Stewart, A. Chang and H. Downs-MacIntosh.

11. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be held on November 28, 2012 in Ottawa following the strategic planning session on November 27, 2012.

12. 2014-2016 AGM and Member Events

Staff proposed to the Board of Directors that the next three AGM’s along with one Member event be held in the following cities: Montreal in FY2014, Calgary in FY2015 and Halifax in FY2016. The exact date and venue would be confirmed at a later date. In choosing Calgary and Halifax, CIRA would continue to expand its presence beyond the traditional markets of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, which is reflective of our national mandate. As well, holding a Member event in the same AGM markets will build engagement and support in the market prior to the AGM.

It was therefore resolved that the Board of Directors approve:

1. Montreal as the location for the FY2014 Canadians Connected: CIRA Symposium and Annual General Meeting (AGM);

2. Calgary as the location for the FY2015 Canadians Connected: CIRA Symposium and Annual General Meeting (AGM); and

3. Halifax as the location for the FY2016 Canadians Connected: CIRA Symposium and Annual General Meeting (AGM).

(Moved: B. Sandiford, seconded: K. Brown, unanimously carried)

L. Gravel and M. Stewart withdrew from the meeting.

13. In-Camera Session

The Board of Directors held an in camera session.

Following the in camera session, L. Gravel and M. Stewart rejoined the meeting.

The Board of Directors expressed thanks the departing Directors - J. Grey, J. King and V. Withers as well as retiring Director - B. Shell for their dedication and service to CIRA.

(Moved: L. Macdonald, seconded: A. Escobar, unanimously carried)

14. Other Business

14.1 Thanks to Staff

The Board of Directors wished to thank staff for their effort in organizing and hosting the ICANN 45 meeting in Toronto.

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors thank all staff that played a role in hosting ICANN45. In particular, the Board would like to recognize the effort of J. Austin and her team J. Lepine, T. O’Callaghan, S. Bergeron, M. Buell, L. Gravel and R. Wong for their hard work and dedication in developing and implementing two outstanding events and their role as hosts during the week of the conference. CIRA presented itself to International community in a professional manner that made us proud to be a part of CIRA and be Canadians.

(Moved: P. Andersen, seconded: B. Sandiford, unanimously carried)

15. Adjournment

There being no further business, on motion by L. Macdonald and seconded by B. St.Arnaud, the meeting was concluded at 10:50 a.m.

OTTAWA – October 19, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, welcomed the renewed support for the Internet’s multi-stakeholder governance model that was demonstrated this week by global Internet leaders who have gathered in Toronto.

Since Sunday, CIRA has played host to ICANN 45, the latest of three annual meetings held each year by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as part of its multi-stakeholder approach to coordinating the Internet’s addressing system.

ICANN 45 kicked off on Monday morning with a keynote by the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board. In his remarks, Clement offered Canada’s unqualified support for the Internet’s multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance.

“This multi-stakeholder model has served us very well,” Clement said. “It has given the Internet the freedom and flexibility to develop into the transformative technology it is today ... perhaps even more importantly, it has ensured that no single stakeholder or group dominates the decision-making process – be it governments or others.

“I can assure you that Canada will continue to be a staunch supporter of this model, and that we will continue to vigorously support organizations that practice this model of consensus-based policy development,” he added.

This position for the multi-stakeholder model received widespread support from government representatives during the High Level Government Meeting, the first of its kind at an ICANN event, which drew senior government officials from around the world to discuss and debate the need to preserve and improve the Internet’s multi-stakeholder governance model.

CIRA is pleased by the broad international support for the multi-stakeholder model which has been expressed this week at ICANN 45. This endorsement is particularly important as it comes only two months before another major meeting, the second World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT 2012), hosted by the International Telecommunications Union in Dubai this December, that will draw the global Internet community and where Internet governance is expected to be a central topic.

“We believe a multi-stakeholder model is the only way to ensure that the Internet is innovative, secure, inter-operable and, most importantly, free and open,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “Governments and individuals alike must build on the positive outcomes of ICANN 45 to ensure Internet governance remains a global and collaborative effort that benefits everyone.”

A full video of Minister Clement’s video is available here.

Photos from the opening ceremony, including the Minister’s speech, are available here for download.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

About ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is the non-profit organization responsible for the global coordination of the Internet’s system of unique identifiers, including country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) such as .CA, generic TLDs (gTLDs) such as .COM and .ORG, and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers communicate over the Internet.

About the multi-stakeholder model
A multi-stakeholder model is an organizational framework that brings together primary stakeholders such as businesses, civil society, governments, research institutions and non-government organizations to cooperate and participate in the dialogue, decision making and implementation of solutions to common problems or goals. In keeping with this philosophy, ICANN practices consensus-based policy development, also known as a “bottom-up” model. This means that ICANN governs on the principle of cooperation and collaboration with different Internet stakeholders worldwide to be able to effectively and efficiently carry-out its responsibility as the international Internet governing body.

To learn more about ICANN’s multi-stakeholder model, please visit http://toronto45.icann.org/bitcache/b4bd0309fef1b99fe93d5312d9a28ed81c1150a5?vid=42233&disposition=attachment&op=download.

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.ca

OTTAWA – October 17, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, (CIRA), the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, is welcoming Internet leaders from more than 100 countries this evening to the CN Tower.

The gala is part of ICANN 45, the latest in a series of three meetings held each year by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), as part of its multi-stakeholder approach to the operation of the Internet. ICANN 45, hosted by CIRA in partnership with ICANN, is taking place at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle hotel from October 14 to 19.

The cocktail reception-style evening will feature distinctly Canadian food, roaming artists, music and some of the biggest names in the global Internet community. In addition, attending media will have the opportunity to meet and speak with key individuals who stand on the frontline of Internet governance, including:

Fadi Chehadé, President and CEO of ICANN: ICANN 45 is Chehadé’s first full ICANN meeting since he was named chief executive in June. His career has been defined by building consensus and promoting collaborative technologies and practices. He has more than 25 years of experience in building and leading progressive Internet enterprises, and in levering relationships with senior executives and government officials across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Stephen Crocker, Chairman of the Board of ICANN: Crocker has been involved in the Internet since its inception. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was part of the team that developed the protocols for the ARPANET, the predecessor of the Internet. He organized the Network Working Group, the forerunner of the modern Internet Engineering Task Force which creates the technical documentation that guides the design, use and management of the Internet. In 2002, he co-founded Shinkuro, Inc., a startup focused on dynamic sharing of information online and on the deployment of improved security protocols.

Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA: Holland has developed a strong international profile for CIRA and .CA, and implemented new marketing and communications initiatives that have made .CA the fourth-fastest-growing top-level domain in the world. He is vice-chair of the Country Codes Name Supporting Organization (ccNSO), the body that represents the interests of all country-code top-level domains, as well as chair of ICANN’s Finance Working group. He leads policy-development initiatives at ICANN and he is an active participant in the United Nations co-ordinated Internet Governance Forum, as well as other Internet governance forums.

The gala takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. this evening. Reporters or photographers are invited to attend for photo opportunities and brief interviews with key CIRA and ICANN representatives.

About ICANN

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is the organization responsible for the global coordination of the Internet’s system of unique identifiers, including country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) such as .CA, generic TLDs (gTLDs) such as .COM and .ORG, and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers communicate over the Internet.

 About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, to attend an ICANN event or session, or to schedule an interview with Byron Holland or Fadi Chehadé, please contact:

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

OTTAWA – October 15, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, (CIRA),  the organization that manages the .CA top level domain, is hosting senior decision-makers from more than 100 countries in Toronto this week for high-level discussions that will not only impact how the Internet operates, but also how it will continue to be governed in the future.

ICANN’s 45^th public meeting is the latest of three annual meetings held each year by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as part of its multi-stakeholder approach to coordinating the Internet’s addressing system.  The meeting is taking place at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle hotel from October 14 to 19.

ICANN is the non-profit organization responsible for the global coordination of the Internet’s system of unique identifiers, including country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) such as .CA, generic TLDs (gTLDs) such as .COM and .ORG, and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers communicate over the Internet.

“We are honoured to work with CIRA on ICANN 45,” said Fadi Chehadé, President and CEO of ICANN. “ICANN, and the multi-stakeholder model on which it is based, demonstrate the goodwill and spirit of cooperation that exists in the global Internet community.  All stakeholders play a crucial role in helping ICANN define its policy direction and we expect to build upon these relationships in the years to come.”

 “ICANN’s bottom-up, light-handed approach to governance has allowed the Internet to become an incredible economic and democratizing force and the greatest driver of social change since the printing press,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “This is a governance model that reflects the uniqueness of the Internet itself which we must work to preserve and evolve.”

This morning’s agenda featured an opening keynote by the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board. He discussed the Government of Canada’s Action Plan on Open Government, an effort to promote digital openness and innovation and provide Canadians with greater opportunities to learn about and participate in the democratic process, the economy, and government.

These principles align with ICANN’s multi-stakeholder approach to governance, a model that is relatively free of undue political interference and allows a myriad of stakeholders – such as engineers, marketers, coders, civil society and security experts – to have a voice equal to that of nations, NGOs or corporations.

Who will control the Internet?

From CIRA’s perspective, ICANN 45 comes at a critical juncture in Internet governance. The agenda and timing of this meeting offers stakeholders the opportunity to discuss who will govern the Internet in the future.

There are a number of competing visions for who should govern the Internet and the manner of such governance. CIRA continues to be a strong supporter of ICANN’s multi-stakeholder approach, and is calling on ICANN 45 attendees to continue to work together to foster a collaborative environment that will create a stable foundation upon which ICANN’s new leadership can succeed.

As ICANN’s new President and CEO, Chehadé plays a critical role in safeguarding and championing the multi-stakeholder model, Holland said in his speech during the opening ceremony.

“I think all of us who are gathered in Toronto for this important meeting have an obligation to act as ambassadors for that model, and support the good work of ICANN and its leadership,” said Holland. “The discussions and decisions taking place this week have global impacts. What we do here will advance the Internet for the well-being of everyone on Earth.”

Anyone can attend ICANN 45. For more or to register, please visit www.cira.ca/icann45/index.php.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, to attend an ICANN event or session, or to schedule an interview with Byron Holland or Fadi Chehadé, please contact:

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

OTTAWA – October 10, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, the organization that manages .CA, Canada’s top-level domain, is welcoming key Internet policy decision-makers from around the world to Toronto next week for ICANN 45, a high-level meeting that will help define the future of the Internet and how it will be governed.

“We are proud to have been chosen by ICANN to host this important forum,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “The Internet has become an integral part of the economic, political and social lives of all Canadians and we can’t afford to ignore the issues and events that are influencing how it will operate in the decades to come.”

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the organization responsible for the global coordination of the Internet’s system of unique identifiers, including country code Top-level Domains (ccTLDs) such as .CA, generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .COM and .ORG, and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers communicate over the Internet.

As part of its multi-stakeholder approach to the operation of the Internet, ICANN holds three meetings per year around the globe. The next one, ICANN 45, is taking place at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle hotel from October 14 to 19.

ICANN 45 will feature meetings and panel sessions related to keeping the Internet open, secure, stable and interoperable, including:

• Opening keynote on Monday, October 15: Featuring the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board, who will discuss the Government of Canada’s efforts to promote digital openness and innovation through its Action Plan on Open Government.
• High Level Government Meeting on Monday, October 15: Where senior government officials will discuss preserving and improving the Internet’s multi-stakeholder governance model, which is led by ICANN.
• The first public comments at an ICANN event by Fadi Chehadé, who was named ICANN’s new President and CEO in June.
• New developments in the operation, security and infrastructure of the Internet, including internationalized domain names, new generic Top-level Domains, IPv6, and the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC).
• The ICANN 45 Gala, taking place October 17 at the CN Tower.

Anyone can attend ICANN 45. For more information or to register, please visit cira.ca/icann45/index.php.

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

Highlights of CIRA’s involvement include:

• CIRA’s team trained all summer to prepare for the big day. Many of the participants were not experienced long-distance cyclists so their commitment was especially admirable.
• Each member of the team individually raised a considerable amount of money by reaching out to their respective networks. Creative approaches included an 80s-themed fundraising party; pub night; and growing Bradley Wiggens-like sideburns.
• CIRA’s pit stop team was both enthusiastic and supportive.
• Employees got into the spirit of meeting our company fundraising target by donating to colleagues’ individual fundraising efforts, participating in (and even donating back winnings from) 50/50 draws, silent auction, and participating in summer barbecues hosted by various executives.

Ride the Rideau is a 100km bike tour from Ottawa to Merrickville in support of groundbreaking cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital. In the past three years, the event raised more than $4.4 million, making it Eastern Ontario’s most successful single-day cancer fundraiser. For more information about this event visit www.ridetherideau.ca.

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About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

This year, .CA Members voted to elect three seats from the final Nomination Committee Slate that will each hold three-year terms. From the Members' slate, two Candidates were elected, with one seat that will hold a three-year term and the replacement seat will hold a one-year term.

The following five newly elected individuals will take office immediately:

Nomination Committee Slate
Bill Sandiford, 338 votes
William Gibson, 301 votes
Carole Mackaay, 266 votes

Members' Slate
Michael Geist, 423 votes
Kevin McArthur, 186 votes *one-year term

A list of all the election Candidates and their vote count is available at https://elections.cira.ca/2012/results/en.

CIRA wishes to thank departing Directors Jim Grey, John King, Barry Shell and Victoria Withers for their time and efforts dedicated to CIRA.

The full 2012-2013 CIRA Board of Directors include:
Paul Andersen
Kerry Brown
John Demco (ex-officio)
Heather Dryden (ex-officio)
Andrew Escobar
Michael Geist
William Gibson
Byron Holland (ex-officio)
Rowena Liang
Louise Macdonald
Carole Mackaay
Kevin McArthur
Susan Mehinagic
Bill Sandiford
Bill St. Arnaud

CIRA thanks all Candidates who participated in this year’s election and to the many Members who took time to vote and in turn, help shape the future of our Internet.

Information about CIRA’s Board of Directors Election is available at www.ciraelections.ca.

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About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

OTTAWA – September 26, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (www.cira.ca), the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, has confirmed the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board, as the opening speaker for ICANN 45.

ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is the organization responsible for the global coordination of the Internet’s system of unique identifiers, including generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .COM and .ORG, country code TLDs such as .CA, and the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols that help computers communicate over the Internet. As part of its multi-stakeholder approach to the operation of the Internet, ICANN holds three meetings per year around the globe. CIRA is the proud host of the next meeting, ICANN 45, taking place at Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle hotel from October 14 to 19.

ICANN 45 will welcome Internet leaders and key Internet policy decision-makers from around the world for high-level discussions related to keeping the Internet open, secure, stable and interoperable. Several sessions at the event will focus on the process to create and manage hundreds of new gTLDs, which will add to the 22 currently in existence.

ICANN’s emphasis on maintaining an Internet governance model that is open, transparent and grass roots aligns with the Government of Canada’s efforts to promote digital openness and innovation through its Action Plan on Open Government. The Action Plan was announced by Minister Clement in April to provide Canadians with greater opportunities to dialogue directly with government and provide access, through its Open Data portal, to all kinds of newly available government datasets.

“We are proud to have been chosen by ICANN to host this important forum and to have secured Minister Clement’s support and participation,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “This is a rare opportunity to showcase to the world Canada’s digital leadership.”

“The Internet is a powerful tool for spurring innovation and opening up the lines of communication,” said Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board. “It is the invention of our generation and harnessing the internet’s power is key to Canada’s long term prosperity.”

Minister Clement will speak on October 15 at 9:00 am ET.

Anyone can attend ICANN 45. For more information or to register, please visit www.cira.ca/icann45/index.php.

It is also possible to participate remotely in ICANN 45 meetings and sessions. For more information, please visit http://meetings.icann.org/remote-participation. 

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About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

.CA Members play a valuable role in contributing to CIRA's corporate strategic direction by directly participating in governance activities such as Board of Director Elections. This is a tremendous opportunity for our Members to select some of Canada’s Internet leaders and help to guide CIRA as it fulfills its mandate to manage the .CA domain as a key public resource for the benefit of all Canadians.

Voting for Election Candidates

This year, .CA Members will have the opportunity to cast their votes to elect five candidates—three from the Nomination Committee Slate and two from the Member Slate. Before casting their votes, .CA Members can learn more about each Candidate by reading the Candidates' Statements. Voting will take place online at www.ciraelections.ca.

The election results will be published on CIRA's election website on or before October 3, 2012.

For more information on CIRA’s Board of Directors Election, please visit www.ciraelections.ca.

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About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, John Demco (ex-officio), Heather Dryden (ex-officio), Andrew Escobar, Byron Holland (ex-officio), Jim Grey, John King, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Susan Mehinagic, Barry Shell, Bill St.Arnaud, Victoria Withers

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Guests: Paul Havey, John Matson (Architelos)

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

2. Strategic Planning Update

3. Financial and Operational Updates

3.1 Report on all Statutory Obligations

3.2 Management Report

3.3 Review of Q1 2013 Financial Results

4. IFRS Update

5. Board Effectiveness Assessment Review

6. Committee Structure and Mandate Discussion

7. Update on Committees

7.1 Report from the Technical Oversight Committee

7.2 Report from the Policy Advisory Committee

8. Other Business

9. Next Meeting: October 30, 2012 in Ottawa

10. In-Camera Session

11. Adjournment

Directors attending: Paul Andersen, Kerry Brown, John Demco (ex-officio), Heather Dryden (ex-officio), Andrew Escobar, Byron Holland (ex-officio), Jim Grey, John King, Rowena Liang, Louise Macdonald, Susan Mehinagic, Barry Shell, Bill St.Arnaud, Victoria Withers

Corporate Secretary: Michael Stewart

Guests: David Fowler, Paul Havey, Jacques Latour, John Matson (Architelos), Bill Woodcock (PCH)

Recording Secretary: Lynn Gravel

1. Approval of Agenda

The Chair proposed that the agenda be amended to include an Update on the IXP Project following item 2 - Strategic Planning Update.

It was the consensus of the Board of Directors that the agenda distributed with the material for the meeting be adopted with this amendment.

2. Strategic Planning Update

B. Holland reported that two workshop sessions had been held during the past few months on strategic planning with staff and several Board members. J. Matson of Architelos was asked to provide an update on the process going forward and the results to-date.

J. Matson noted that as part of the strategic planning process, the following objectives had provided the context and direction for the project work: increase Board participation in the strategic planning process; extend the strategic planning horizon to three years; define a desired future state for CIRA; understand the gaps between current state and desired future state; define new products or services for CIRA to pursue; and develop a three-year roadmap with objectives, milestones, and financial overview.

J. Matson summarized the outcome of the first workshop, noting that discussions were mostly concerning the introduction of new gTLDs and the negative impact that this will have on domain name growth. Some of the challenges identified during the workshop were CIRA's and the Board of Directors' willingness to change at the speed of the market and at the same time show cost efficiency while managing the primary registry.

It was noted that as part of the strategic planning process, interviews were conducted with all Board members. The survey results showed a clear acknowledgement of a need to grow the brand and marketing of .CA and invest in Channel management. There was also strong support of technical excellence such as DNS, DNSSEC, IDN and IPv6. The Board of Directors were in clear agreement with IXP-type activities and adamant that Canadian presence requirements for registration should remain. The Board of Directors expressed concern mostly over the slowing growth, succession planning and the potential loss of key personnel and future competition for scarce industry resources due to new gTLD business needs.

J. Matson reported that the second workshop was conducted with both staff and several Board members to explore the gaps and challenges in operating the business today, and concluded there was good alignment. Staff will continue to develop the strategic plan and within that context categorize all potential projects based upon the agreed to three tier framework: exploit, expand and explore.

As for the next steps, J. Matson reported that two more workshops were currently planned and a draft strategic direction would be presented to the Board of Directors at its October meeting.

J. Matson withdrew from the meeting.

Bill Woodcock joined the meeting.

3. Update on IXP Project

B. Holland introduced Bill Woodcock, a leading expert on Internet Exchanges (IX) and responsible for the establishment of hundreds of Internet Exchange Points (IXP) around the world.

B. Holland reported that for the past several months, staff had been talking to the community-based stakeholders about IXPs to either help them get their IX off the ground or enhance their existing one. It was noted that only two IXPs existed in Canada, notably in Ottawa and in Toronto. An initial meeting was held in Montreal indicating a remarkable willingness to proceed. A working group was formed shortly thereafter and a number of meetings have since been held. Meetings and discussions were also held with communities in Manitoba and Alberta, and both expressed a desire and willingness to have participate in their efforts.

There was a general discussion on Internet access in Canada and the challenges in establishing IXPs. It was noted that experience in other countries showed a clear way forward, and Canada should be establishing more IXPs within Canada.

The Chair thanked Bill Woodcock on behalf of the Board for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak to the Board.

B. Woodcock withdrew from the meeting.

4. Financial and Operational Updates

4.1 Report on all Statutory Obligations

This report was provided to the Board of Directors as information and tabled at the meeting.

4.2 Management Report

This report was provided to the Board of Directors as information and tabled at the meeting.

4.3 Review of Q1 2013 Financial Results

Staff gave a brief overview of the actual financial results as compared to the budget for the period ending June 30, 2012 (Q1).

It was noted that Registration Revenue had an overall year-to-date unfavourable variance of only ($60K), however staff was observing a clear softening of registration demand. Staff reminded the Board of Directors that reduced registrations during the last quarter of FY12 resulted in lower than anticipated domains under management (“DUM”) and this directly reduces the corresponding amount of Deferred Revenue that can be earned in FY13 by ($300K). Net New Registration units for Q1 FY13 were tracking lower than budgeted by approximately (14.2.%). Net New Registrations at the Q1 FY13 and month 5 results were respectively 19K units and 31K units lower than budgeted therefore reducing Registration Revenue by another ($200K). As a result, the overall FY13 Registration Revenue is anticipated to be at a minimum ($500K) lower than budgeted. Domain renewals and transfers are currently tracking well relative to our budget assumptions.

Staff noted that .CA incremental growth in DUMs continues to outpace .com incremental growth in Canada and that at the end of Q1 FY13, CIRA reached a significant mitlestone holding 30% of the total Canadian Domain market share. This increase in the .CA market share over the past five years has come at the expense of .com DUM in Canada.

B. Holland indicated that the slowing growth in Net New Registrations has mirrored the general weakening observed in the Canadian economy (e.g. as evidenced by the quarterly Gross Domestic Product statistics and other measures). As well, it was thought that increased usage of social media and integration with existing online properties could also be having the effect on limiting new domain registration growth. A major concern that all TLDs are facing at the moment is the increasing use of applications such as Facebook and Twitter. Socialbakers social networking statistics reported that the total number of Facebook users in Canada had reached 17M and had grown by more than 400K in the last 6 months. It was noted that the Management team was aware of this trend and making every effort to consult with the Registrar community to gain their sense on the domain market trend.

D. Fowler and J. Latour withdrew from the meeting.

5. IFRS Update

The Chair of the Audit Committee reminded the Board of Directors that a motion to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) was carried in May 2009. The initial decision to adopt IFRS was directed by the sense that most of our peers and other ccTLD Registries would be adopting IFRS. As well the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants had not fully considered the applicability of IFRS to not-for-profit organizations and had not commenced the development of the new Canadian GAAP not-for-profit accounting standards.

It was further noted that at the last Audit Committee meeting, KPMG's IFRS progress report was discussed and under the IFRS standards, the Community Investment Program (CIP) expenditures could not be reported separately. Additionally, IFRS is more restrictive in financial reporting and the disclosures are more extensive. As a result, the Committee asked staff to review whether it would remain appropriate for the organization to continue with the IFRS implementation or whether it would be more appropriate to adopt the new C/GAAP NFP standard.

The Chair of the Audit Committee reported that staff had reviewed the scope and impact of the possible implementation of the new C/GAAP NFP standard for not-for-profit organizations. Staff anticipated minimal impact if the organization were to adopt the new C/GAAP NFP standards and the organization would also retain the ability to continue to separate out the CIP expenditures. Staff further noted that the new new C/GAAP NFP standards would allow for better transparency, highlight the level of investment in CIP activities and more appropriate reflect the costs of running the Registry.

The Audit Committee therefore made the following recommendations to the Board of Directors:

Be it resolved that the Board of Directors rescind the previous motion to adopt IFRS and instead adopt the new Canadian GAAP not-for-profit standard.

(Moved: R. Liang, seconded: B. Shell, unanimously carried)

Be it further resolved that the Board of Directors approve the exemption election under section 1501.21 of the CICA Handbook and ongoing election in section 3856.13 to continue to record CIRA's fixed income investments at fair value.

(Moved: R. Liang, seconded: B. St.Arnaud, unanimously carried)

The Chair of the Audit Committee also reported that its meeting in May 2012, the Committee had revised the Investment policy and some discussion had ensued regarding the Non-Discretionary Investment approach. The Audit Committee therefore requested that staff review the characteristics and the pros and cons associated with the Non-Discretionary and Discretionary Investment Management. It was noted that the organization currently uses a Non-Discretionary Investment Management approach and relies upon the investment advice and counsel provided by TDWaterhouse, the current Investment Manager.

Discussions ensued regarding the level of responsibility and risk assumed by the Board of Directors regarding the investment decisions under the current Non-Discretionary approach rather than the Investment Manager. Some Directors were of the view that it was the responsibility of the Board of Directors to monitor the investments and not to confirm and accept the investment recommendation of the Investment Manager. Staff noted that if the Board of Directors were to consider additional risk on a portion of the Investment portfolio, the current Investment Policy would need to be revised to reflect the ability for an Investment Manager to invest in a certain quality of equity investments and formally adopt minimum and maximum investment ranges within CIRA's Investment portfolio to reflect the acceptable asset mix in the portfolio.

It was noted that staff, at this time, did not recommend any further changes to the recently revised Investment Policy or change in our Non-Discretionary investment management approach given our current bias towards prudent and conservative investment management and the unknown impacts of the economy and emerging gTLD competition. In the interim, the Audit Committee will take a look at the Investment Policy and risk profile and report back to the Board of Directors by the end of 2012.

6. Board Effectiveness Assessment Review

The Chair of the Governance Committee provided a brief overview of the Board Effectiveness Assessment (BEA) noting that this year's overall score was 4 out of 5 compared to 3.7 out of 5 in 2010. The BEA did indicate improvement in all categories, however some areas for improvement such as risk & opportunities management and structure & composition were identified. A number of risk analysis suggestions were provided and work is ongoing to review the risk reporting methods with staff.

Going forward, it was recommended that the Board Performance review process be carried out every other year and that in the interim, each Committee members was asked to reflect on what worked well and what they would do differently based on the BEA findings. As for the findings of the structure & composition, it was noted that this would facilitate the development of the terms of reference and work plan for the year ahead.

The Chair of the Governance Committee thanked Committee members L. Macdonald and P. Andersen for leading this initiative.

7. Committee Structure and Mandate Discussion

The Chair of the Governance Committee reported that the Working Group of the Governance Committee had compiled a questionnaire to seek input from the Board of Directors for recommendations to the mandate, structure and composition of Committees. Some comments received suggested that too many Committees existed already and that some responsibilities and/or issues would be better managed directly at the Board level or by means of a working group. The Chair of the Governance Committee further noted that there was significant debate on each Committee, but no unanimous outcome.

A question was raised as to whether the Technical Oversight Committee should serve as a standing committee or an advisory committee. It was noted it was created for specific circumstances in the past that were no longer applicable. Further, since the information from this Committee was quite sensitive, that perhaps the information should be considered as part of the risk register, or as a staff report to the Board of Directors. It was further noted that the Board of Directors could also consider holding technical sessions such as the one held today on IXP. As such, the inclination was to end the Technical Oversight Committee as a standing committee.

In regards to the Governance Committee, it was agreed that it was necessary but the responsibilities should be scaled back and more focused. It was agreed that the mandate of the Executive Committee should be reviewed as well as the role of the Chair.

Members of the Board expressed the view that the Audit Committee should focus merely on audit and the terms of reference should be reviewed to reflect this. Regarding the Budget & Finance Committee, some members of the Board expressed the view that these two should not be merged. Any finance issues should be resolved at the Board level because of the skills required and an ad hoc Committee could be engaged should an issue arise. As for the Budget Committee, most members of the Board were of the view that it had worked very well last year while others thought that staff was in a position to prepare and produce a budget therefore a Budget Committee was not required.

There was discussion on a Risk Committee and some members of Board felt it should be part of all Committees while others preferred to keep risk management at the Board level.

It was noted that the Policy Advisory Committee had met with some challenging set of circumstances in the past year - three Chairs, different terms of reference from other Committees, a policy process already in place as well as policy staff. As such, it was a challenge for the Committee to integrate itself and it was advised to wind down and engage experts in some other way.

As far as an HR & Compensation Committee, it was noted that the mandate and responsibilities of such a Committee falls under the Executive Committee at the moment. It was agreed that a review of the Executive Committee's mandate was necessary before discussing any further.

A member of the Board of Director suggested creating a Marketing Committee but it agreed that staff would instead provide more feedback on the activities as requested going forward.

The Governance Committee will review these recommendations in advance of the first meeting of the 2012-2013 Board.

8. Update on Committees

8.1 Report from the Technical Oversight Committee

This item was discussed under item 7. Committee Structure and Mandate Discussion.

8.2 Report from the Policy Advisory Committee

This item was discussed under item 7. Committee Structure and Mandate Discussion.

9. Other Business

9.1 Thanks to Retiring Director

On behalf of the Board and staff, the Chair conveyed CIRA's thanks and appreciation to

B. Shell for his time and effort to the organization as a Member of the Board of Directors over the past four years.

(Moved: P. Andersen, seconded: J. King, unanimously carried)

10. Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board will be held on October 30, 2012 in Ottawa.

11. In-Camera Session

The Board of Directors held an in camera session at the close of the meeting.

12. Adjournment

There being no further business, on motion by B. Shell and seconded by K. Brown, the meeting was concluded at 3:20 p.m.

OTTAWA – September 13, 2012 – The Canadian Internet Registration Authority, the organization that manages the .CA Internet domain, is bringing two of North America’s top digital thinkers to Ottawa to talk about how the unrestricted growth of the global Internet is vital to the economic and social future of Canada and the rest of the world.

The event, Canadians Connected 2012, will feature keynotes by Biz Stone, co-founder and creative director of Twitter, and Scott Stratten, president of Un-Marketing. The event will also encompass CIRA’s 2012 AGM, where .CA Members can network, learn and get involved in shaping the future of the Internet in Canada.

“The Internet belongs to all of us, and impacts every aspect of our lives,” said Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA. “As we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the .CA domain and work with Canadians to plan for its next 25 years, we thought this was an excellent opportunity to feature the insights of these visionaries who share CIRA’s commitment to an Internet that is free and open to everyone.”

The AGM provides an excellent opportunity for Canadians to have a say in the operation and governance of the Internet in Canada. Attendees can learn about the benefits of .CA membership and inform themselves on the issues impacting the future of the Internet in advance of CIRA’s 2012 board of directors election. CIRA is electing five new members to its board, with the online voting process taking place from Sept. 19 to 26. At this year’s AGM, .CA Members will also vote on proposed bylaw changes intended to ensure CIRA is in compliance with Canada’s new Not-For-Profit Corporations Act.

While anyone can attend the AGM, only .CA Members can vote at the AGM or in the election. However, membership is free and can easily be obtained online by any .CA domain name holder.

“CIRA depends on the participation and input of its Members to help drive its strategic direction and define its position on the issues impacting global Internet governance,” added Holland. “This is your opportunity to be heard and ensure that .CA remains an accessible, secure and trusted Canadian resource.”

More about the speakers

Biz Stone was named one of the Most Influential People in the World and one of Vanity Fair’s Top 10 Most Influential People of the Information Age. This will be his first speaking engagement in Ottawa. He will discuss the lessons he has learned about entrepreneurship, how to transform ideas into reality and the power of learning from mistakes, as well as what the future holds as more people become connected through a free and open Internet.

Scott Stratten is an expert on viral, social and authentic marketing. He has been named one of the top five social media influencers in the world by Forbes.com. His book UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging became a national best-seller before it was released. He is currently on tour to promote his latest effort, The Book of Business Awesome, and is expected to deliver a message that is specific to his Canadian audience with his trademark passion and enthusiasm.

For more information on the 2012 AGM, please visit https://agm.cira.ca

To learn more about CIRA’s board elections, please visit https://elections.cira.ca

To learn more about CIRA’s proposed bylaw changes, please visit http://cira.ca/legal/governance/

To learn more about obtaining a .CA membership, please visit https://member.cira.ca

About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Leo Valiquette
inmedia Public Relations
(613) 769-9479
lvaliquette@inmedia.com

The Campaign Forum provides candidates, .CA Members, and the general public an opportunity to discuss viewpoints, concerns, and candidate positions related to how candidates will serve Canada’s Internet community if elected as a Director.

CIRA encourages everyone to participate in the Campaign Forum to learn more about the candidates prior to voting, which will take place September 19 to the 26^th.

Information on CIRA’s Board of Directors Election is available at CIRAelections.ca

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About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:
Tanya O’Callaghan
Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca

Ottawa, August 23, 2012 – Members of the .CA community can begin to show their support today for nominees in the Canadian Internet Registration Authority's (CIRA) 2012 Board of Directors election. The Show of Support period starts today at noon ET and ends at 6 p.m. ET on September 6, 2012.

.CA Members play a valuable role in contributing to CIRA's corporate strategic direction by directly participating in governance activities such as Board of Director elections. This is an opportunity for .CA Members to take a leadership role in the development of the Internet to ensure it continues to be an open and accessible public resource.

Showing Support for Election Nominees

Each Member nominee must obtain the support of at least 20 .CA Members to be listed on the final election ballot. To show support, Members must complete a brief online Show of Support form. Members can learn more about each Member nominee by reading their Statements.

The final slate of Candidates will be published on CIRA's Election website on September 10, 2012. The final vote will take place online from noon (12 p.m.) ET on September 19 to noon (12 p.m.) ET on September 26, 2012.

Information on CIRA’s Board of Directors Election is available at  CIRAelections.ca.

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About CIRA

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the member-driven organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

For additional information, please contact:
Mark Buell Communications Manager
(613) 237-5335 ext. 297
mark.buell@cira.ca