Official Languages Inclusion Team (OLIT) Terms of Reference

Effective Date: February 21,2024

  1. Purpose 

The OLIT shall provide guidance, solutions, strong advocacy, and recommendations for policies, practices, and process changes that are required to reduce the impact of or remove the barriers that exist to members being able to participate fully and effectively no matter what language they speak.

  1. Accountability

The OLIT is accountable to the PIPSC Board of Directors 

i. The Policy on Official Languages sets the strategic direction of the team.

ii. Every 3 years the board reviews the mandate and the team's deliverables.

iii. Every 3 years the Board will have a call-out for team members.

iv. The Board assigns the membership of that team.

v. The team will then review the policy to determine if it is appropriate and valid and present recommendations to the Board for any changes needed.

vi. The Board considers the team's recommendations and sets the strategic direction based on their recommendations.

The OLIT will meet 4 times per year for 1.5 days (in person) and will meet virtually as needed within their budget.

Every 6 months a report will be given to the board and every year a report will be given to the National AGM. The OLIT will be transparent, post the minutes, and count the successes. 

  1. Authority

There is no authority vested in the OLIT to change policy, expend funds, or take executive action unless such authority is delegated by the Board.

  1. Staff Support 

The OLIT is provided staff support by the Executive Secretary. Any questions the chair has regarding matters associated with team staff resources must contact the Executive Secretary

  1. Team Membership

The OLIT is comprised of 8 people (1 Official Languages bilingual chair, 3 Francophones (a minimum of 1 who is also an allophone), 3 Anglophones (a minimum of 1 who is also an allophone) and 1 Staff Member (Subject Matter Expert who is an active participant)

OLIT member responsibilities are defined in the PIPSC Policy on Committees of the Board

OLIT members are chosen using the following criteria in order of importance:

1. People who are not self-interested but rather want others to win too. Members are not there to solve their personal problems but rather to solve the global issues that all members are dealing with.

2. Primary Diversity Criteria – Anglophone, Francophone, Allophone, Unilingual (those that speak only one official language and have limited access).

3. Secondary Diversity Criteria – profession, geography, people who really get the barriers and may have lived through and are living through the barriers.

  1. References

Policy on Official Languages 

Policy on Committees of the Board