PIPSC HQ – 250 Tremblay Rd Ottawa
DATE: Wednesday October 8, 2025 TIME: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
DRAFT Minutes
- Chair: Arnold Smith
The Chair welcomed members to the AGM.
- The Chair provided the Land Acknowledgement for the Unceded Territory of the Algonquin Nation.
- The Chair provided the PIPSC Equity Statement.
- Roll Call of Executive Members:
Present:
President: Madeline Blais (RMG – NAVCAN retired)
Vice-President & Treasurer: Rob Wloch (CRA)
Secretary & Member at Large: Xuede Chen (CRA)
CRA Rep: Yannick Effe Bibang (CRA)
NAVCAN Rep: Michael Diec (NAVCAN)
Member-at-Large: Arnold Smith (RMG – CRA retired)
Member-at-Large: Chris Siu (CRA)
Member-at-Large: Michael Gracequist (CRA)
- Introduction of the Election Committee:
Yannick Effe Bibang (CRA), Margaret Bigras (RMG), Lynn Morris (RMG), and Kim Scriver (RMG)
- Approval of the Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda: Moved by: Michael Gracequist; Seconded: Elie Francis;
Carried.
- Adoption of Minutes of 2024 AGM
Motion to adopt the minutes: Moved by: Rob Wloch; Seconded: Yannick Effe Bibang;
Carried.
- Business Arising from the 2024 Minutes: None.
- By-Laws – No submission for by-laws.
- Financial Report: Treasurer – Rob Wloch
The Financial Report covered the actual expenses of 2024, the year-to-date expense of 2025, and the budget for 2026.
No amendment was needed after some questions were asked and answered.
Motion to approve the 2024 Financial Report
Moved by: Rob Wloch; Seconded: Yannick Effe Bibang;
Carried.
Motion to approve the 2026 Budget
Moved by: Rob Wloch; Seconded: Jenna Dong;
Carried.
- Elections & Results: 4 Positions
Description of voting process and four OSB Executive positions up for election were provided by the Election Committee Chair Yannick Effe Bibang.
- Vice-President Position: Rob Wloch was nominated by Michael Diec.
Rob Wloch was acclaimed as the Vice-President.
- NAVCAN Representative Position: Michael Diec was nominated by Rob Wloch.
Michael Diec was acclaimed as NAVCAN Representative.
- Member at Large Positions (2): Amanda Hicks was nominated by Elie Francis; Brian Van Wilgenburg was nominated by himself; Arnold Smith was nominated by Chris Siu; Chris Siu was nominated by Arnold Smith; Tian Ma was nominated by Tom Shao; Francois Potvin was nominated by himself.
Ballots were distributed and collected by the Election Committee members.
- Elections Results:
Arnold Smith and Chris Siu were re-elected by the votes;
The vote counts were not disclosed at the AGM; the ballots and vote count results are kept by Yannick Effe Bibang for 30 days before destruction.
All positions commence January 1 2026 for a 2-year period.
- Report of the President – Madeline Blais
Introduced herself.
Welcomed the attendees.
Explained why we held the AGM in person – it’s due to the costs charged by the company used for electronic voting when having a hybrid AGM.
Thanked to the volunteers, the OSB Executives, and Mario (the LMB Operator), the translator and the PIPSC staff for all the help, as well as thanks to the caterers for delivering and serving the food.
Clarified the Branch role for networking, mobilizing and member engagement, as well as supporting the groups and subgroups.
OSB held or is holding quite some successful events, organized by OSB alone or jointly with other branches:
- Seminar: Thriving Through Midlife – Evolution Fitness and Exercise (February 2025)
- Social networking events: PWHL Hockey event (April 2025, jointly with other branches) and OSB Bowling event (September 2025). And another one upcoming Brunch for members including RANDs at Buffet des Continents, has been arranged for November 16, 2025 (registration notice to be sent out soon).
- Steward Appreciation Event: upcoming in October 2025 (joint event with the Ottawa Centreville Branch and the DND Branch).
- Information & movie events: Avatar new release has been aranged for December 21, 2025 (registration notice to be sent out).
We will be working to improve things and are open to your suggestions and recommendations. Please let us know if you have any ideas for future events of interest.
PIPSC website has information about stewards. If interested in becoming a steward, please submit your name. If you have work concerns, there are a list of Steward names on the website Member Tools – Find a Steward.
Explained about RAND members. New employees may not know that they are paying dues, but have not yet signed up for union membership. Under Member Tools – How to Become a Member, they can register.
The Retired Member Guild (RMG) is a venue for retired members to remain engaged and active in the union; you pay only about 1-month equivalent union due comparing to regular members’ 12-month dues.
Thank you for attending and participating tonight.
Motion to approve the Report of the President.
Moved by: Madeline Blais; Seconded: Xuede Chen;
Carried.
- Other Business
Financial Motion 1: Motion to approve that the Ottawa South Branch (OSB) contribute $2000 to the Legacy Foundation Scholarship from the 2025 OSB Allocation
Moved by: Madeline Bais; Seconded: Venkatesh Nagabandi;
Voted and carried with the majority In Favour, 1 Opposed, and 1 Abstain.
Financial Motion 2: Motion to approve that the Ottawa South Branch (OSB) contribute $2000 to the Food Bank from the 2025 OSB Allocation, subject to the BOD approval
Moved by: Madeline Blais; Seconded: Hiruni Kodippily;
Voted and carried with the majority In Favour and 2 Abstain.
- Guest Speakers
Allaudin Alibhai (AFS): Introduced himself and then provided certain statistics numbers related to the government cost for remote working, the superannuation plan, the benefit plans, the sick leave usages, the EAP usage, the WFA numbers at CRA, the pension increase rate, as well as PIPSC spending and cost for PIPSC AGM and CLC.
Patrick Greer (AFS): Introduced himself and then provided certain information, with emphasis on keeping the members’ moral high and reducing mental health cases; mentioned the impact of WFA and AI as well as the members’ top priority for remote working instead of RTO. Patrick is available to be contacted.
- Adjournment – Moved by: Arnold Smith; Seconded by: Michael Gracequist; Carried.