Ontario Region Strategic Planning Meeting

Published | Last updated 2 hours ago

 June 26, 2026

Published | Last updated 2 hours ago

Rocky Crest Resort, McTier ON

  1. Opening Remarks and New Introductions
  2. Update from Toronto Regional Office – Emma Landy A/ Regional Manager in Toronto Regional Office
    • Marcia retired July 2025, Tony Jones was Acting but then moved to Acting General Council. Emma Acting October 2025 to mid-April 2026. Chris Hawkins was Acting mid-April to end of June for Ontario and 2 other regions. Chris also Acting Director of Labour Relations until mid-September. Emma Acting Regional Manager July 6 for the next few months. New ERO hired for 12 month contract to back-fill ERO position. 
    • 3 new LR staff started at the end of March. Currently 10 ERO/LRO. 7 new staff since last Fall. 4 of these staff are term employees backfilling for acting positions. Mentoring and onboarding of staff. Upcoming arbitrations (2 in July, several in Sept. Oct. Nov. & Dec).
    • Regional Executive will often get concerns about changes in the Regional Office, changes in ERO/LRO, timeliness of responses. There’s a cascading effect when people are acting in the different roles. It’s out of staff’s control when there are staffing changes. It appears that the staffing is stabilizing somewhat. Looking for consistency. Response standard within 2 business days – might not be a substantive response, but will at least acknowledge. 
    • Crystal Stewart – New PIPSC Health and Safety Officer with the National Policy Office
    • Calling for extra staff, particularly in the Toronto Office. Is anyone taking on the responsibility to advocate for more staff in the Toronto Regional Office – is Nancy Lamarche getting the information that more staff is needed and permanent staffing is needed? Long term planning can suffer when short-term staffing/acting is used. 
    • No staffing process at this time for General Council. No staffing process at this time for Regional Office Manager.
    • Who prepares the Regional Office Budget? The Regional Manager prepares the budget. Submitted to Nancy Lamarche, and then is rolled into the departmental budget.
    • When additional Advanced Steward Training was added to training budget, the staff budget for training did not increase correspondingly.  Flagged to Training Chair to coordinate with Regional Office Manager.
    • What is the ratio of ERO/LRO staff to members? Emma will find this information and report back. The capacity of staff will grow as they gain experience. Retaining staff is key. 
    • Are the ERO assigned to different offices? Every ERO has a portfolio of departments, most also have at least one CRA office. No Capacity for staff to just have a CRA office and no other departments.  
    • Some ERO/LROs have over 100 open files. 
  3. Motion to go into closed session – T. Yantsis
    • Motion to come out of closed session – C. Gagnon
  4. Appointment of portfolios
    • Vice-Chair – M. Horn
    • Secretary – M. Horn
    • Treasurer – T. Yantsis
    • Regional Council Chair – J. Purdie
      • Vice-Chair – C. Gagnon
    • Steward Council Chair – B. Brawley
      • Vice-Chair – L. Jeethan
    • Committees
      • Training Chair – B. Brawley
      • Training Committee Members – N. Mathi, C. Gagnon, L. Jeethan, L. Fuller, M. Horn
      • Visibility Mobilization Events – F. Akol (lead), R. Tharmarajah, L. Fuller

Social Media & Newsletter Liaison – L. Fuller, F. Akol

  • Liaison / Representative
    • Young Professionals – Ranbir Samra will remain the representative for ONRE
    • Bylaw & policy – L. Jeethan
    • Ontario Provincial Group – T. MacDonald
    • Legacy Foundation – C. Gagnon, F. Akol
    • Branch Liaison – L. Jeethan

5. Review of Planning document

  • Reviewed Planning document – Executive will continue to update. 

6. Signing Authorities

  • Current signing Authorities: T. Yantsis, J. Purdie, M. Horn, B. Brawley
  • Update to signing Authority will be done at the next ONRC in April 2027.

7. Round Table

  • No items for Round Table