Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Québec City Chapter of the Retired Members Guild, Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, held Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at Pacini restaurant, 1280 Lebourgneuf Boulevard, Québec City, Quebec
1.0 Call to Order
After verifying quorum, André Cantin, President of the Chapter, called the meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. He welcomed everyone, and in particular Yvon Brodeur, Quebec Regional Director, and Réjean Michaud, President of the Québec City Branch. He stated that PIPSC President Debi Daviau was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict. André introduced the Chapter’s Executive.
2.0 Review and Approval of the Agenda
The President read the agenda, the order of which was changed owing to the limited time of the Quebec Regional Director and the Québec City Branch President. Since Ms. Daviau was unable to attend, Jean-Pierre Morency was going to give the talk on Bill C-17 in her place. Denis Arsenault, seconded by Madeleine Lapointe, moved that the agenda be approved as amended.
Carried unanimously
3.0 Reading and Adoption of the October 12, 2016 AGM Minutes
Gédéon Drouin, seconded by Élie Ahad, moved that the October 12, 2016 AGM minutes be adopted.
Carried unanimously
4.0 Financial Report by Michel Bédard, Treasurer
Michel Bédard presented the Chapter’s statement of revenues and expenses for September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2017. Denis Arsenault moved that the financial report be approved. Léandre Sévigny seconded the motion.
Carried unanimously
5.0 Report by André Cantin, President
The President said that the Chapter’s Executive had met four times since the last AGM (in 2016). He specified that our Chapter had 65 retired members as of August 2017. The minutes of these meetings can be found on the old PIPSC website at www.pipsc.ca/portal/page/portal/website/groups/rmg/quebec as well as on the new website at www.pipsc.ca/groups/rmg/subgroups/rmg-quebec.
The President said that there were no new developments in regard to the request made to PIPSC to strike up a committee that would more clearly define the RMG’s role.
He recalled that the Executive had decided to focus on creating a PIPSC/RMG committee that would address pensions and benefits. However, following the resolution presented to PIPSC in that regard, he had no new developments to report. The change of government has somewhat alleviated our concerns but we are remaining vigilant with the introduction of Bill C-27.
The federal government’s tabling of C-27 has caused great concern among all federal service employees and retirees. The purpose of the bill is to overhaul the federal pension plan. Bill C-27 would make it easier for employers to convert existing employee defined benefit pension plans to target benefit plans. A target benefit plan provides much less secure retirement income than the current plan. This is because the burden of retirement security is on the employee rather than the employer. All of the Chapter’s Executive members sent an email to the federal finance minister urging him to abandon Bill C-27. PIPSC also submitted a brief with the same message. All we can do now is wait and see what the Minister of Finance will do in the fall.
The President pointed out that a recently revised version of the PowerPoint presentation called The Federal Public Service Pension Plancan be found on the old PIPSC website under the RMG tab. We must exercise caution when it comes to changes in applying the benefits rules.
He went on to say that some members of the Chapter’s Executive attended the Quebec Regional Council, the Québec City Branch meetings and the PIPSC and Branch AGMs. A discussion followed with Yvon Brodeur, Chair of the Quebec Regional Council, who is now a federal retiree and RMG member.
The October 2016 newsletter has already been sent to you. Unfortunately, there was no April 2017 newsletter due to medical reasons. All issues can be found on the old PIPSC website. The October 2017 newsletter is in the works. These newsletters keep members informed of all regional and national RMG and PIPSC activities. Feedback is always welcome.
The efforts to recruit retired PIPSC members, including new retirees, are ongoing. Our Secretary-Treasurer is in regular contact with the PIPSC National Office so that we receive an updated list of our Chapter’s retired members on a semi-annual basis. He pointed out that the problems that have arisen with the federal government’s implementation of the Phoenix system have not made it easy for us to recruit members from the union.
Some Chapter members participated in Operation Red Nose in December2016. Efforts will be made once again this year to increase our participation in December 2017. If you would like to take part in Operation Red Nose this year, feel free to contact our Secretary-Treasurer, Michel Bédard, at bedmich1998@gmail.com or 418-831-3776.
Some of the Executive members also attended the regular meetings and 2016 AGM of the National Association of Federal Retirees (NAFR). The President urged members to take a look at the NAFR website (www.anrf-sq.org/ [Quebec Branch section in French only]).
Our President and Vice-President are still involved in regional meetings of the Table de concertation des Ainés de la Capitale-Nationale. They also attended the 2017 AGM. You can visit the Table’s website at https://www.facebook.com/ainescapnat.qc.ca/ (in French only). Through these meetings, our Chapter has been able to maintain close ties and participate in productive discussions with the various pensioner associations and organizations(67) belonging to the Table de concertation. Because of our involvement, we have been able to invite some top-notch speakers to our AGMs.
6.0 News from Yvon Brodeur, Quebec Regional Director
Mr.Brodeur began by announcing that the training school concept will become a reality for Quebec members in 2018.
Our union and the FTQ have joined forces to make a short video on science. This three-minute video will be produced between now and October. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Space Agency will all be involved. The video will be made available to the PIPSC Board of Directors, the Quebec Federal Council, the Quebec Regional Council, the Stewards Council and the Branches.
Mr.Brodeur spoke of the brilliant work done that has resulted in being able to offer information sessions to members on disability insurance, pension plans, and health and dental care. Réjean Michaud will manage the information sessions.
He also mentioned that the National Office has put together some information sessions for any members who are experiencing problems with the Phoenix pay system.
He closed by noting the upcoming local and national activities. The first is a symposium for young federal employees, which is set to take place in Gatineau on November 16, 2017. The second is PIPSC’s 98th Annual General Meeting, which will be held on November 17 and 18, 2017 in Gatineau. A resolution (B-8) tabled by the Atlantic Region proposes to eliminate two part-time Vice-President positions. The Quebec Regional Council meeting will be held in Orford on May 4 and 5, 2018 and will include an election for the renewal of the Executive. The Quebec Stewards Council meeting is scheduled for September14 and 15. An election is planned for the renewal of PIPSC’s national Board of Directors in November 2018.
7.0 Report by Réjean Michaud, President of the Québec City Branch
Mr. Michaud first gave an overview of the activities organized by the Québec City Branch. The first event, which was sponsored jointly with the NR Sub-Group and took place in January at the Valcartier officers’ mess, was a talk on mental health by Dr.Sylvain Guimond. Seventy members attended. The second activity took place at Baie de Beauport in June and the topic was “Living together with a set of common values.” The speakers were Nadia El-Mabrouk and Michèle Sirois. Thirty members attended this event. The next event is the Québec City Branch’s AGM and will be held on October 11, 2017 at the Manoir Montmorency; 120 members have already registered. Debi Daviau, PIPSC President, will be speaking at the AGM on the following issues: the Phoenix pay system, sick leave, the health care plan, and Bill C-27. An election will also take place for the renewal of the Executive.
Mr. Michaud also stressed his appreciation for the excellent communication and collaboration between the Executive of the Québec City Branch and our Executive. He encourages members who are experiencing Phoenix-related problems to file a complaint to keep a “paper trail”. He then turned his attention to the information sessions previously announced by Mr. Brodeur.
In response to the question by a member about why PIPSC is not filing a class action suit over the Phoenix pay system debacle, he replied that it is impossible, on the one hand, because the problems differ from one member to the next, and on the other, because a member cannot hire a lawyer who is supported by a union. A final reason provided was that our collective agreements do not have any such provisions.
8.0 Meal
9.0 Election of Québec City Chapter’s 2017–2020 Executive
Gédéon Drouin acted as Election Chair, and Johanne Tremblay, Election Secretary. After receiving a number of verbal nominations and checking whether the nominees accepted their nomination, the Chair announced that Jean-Pierre Morency was elected President, André Cantin, Vice-President, and Madeleine Lapointe, Secretary-Treasurer. Élie Ahad, Michel Bédard, Daniel Brouillette and Léandre Sévigny were all elected as a Member-at-Large. Gédéon Drouin congratulated the members of the 2017–2020 Executive of the Québec City Chapter of the Retired Members Guild.
11.0 Report by Élie Ahad, Regional Representative for Quebec
Élie began by reporting on the meetings of the Vision Committee and the RMG National Executive, which took place in Ottawa on September 13 and 14, 2017, respectively. Don Eldershaw (Atlantic Region) attended the Executive meeting as an observer. The main topics discussed at the two meetings are discussed below.
The following members were elected to serve on the Executive for a three-year term: Terry Sing (NCR), Don Burns (BC/Yukon), Don Eldershaw (Atlantic) and Mike Forbes (Ontario) – elected by acclamation. A motion passed to appoint Élie Ahad as Election Chair for the Executive meeting on January 11, 2018.The positions to be filled are President, Vice-President and Secretary and Treasurer. Élie will also chair the Vision Committee meeting on January 10, 2018.
He said that a resolution will be presented at the Retired Members Guild’s AGM in November 2017 to amend the By-Laws to the effect that PIPSC will cover the costs incurred by Chapter Presidents to attend the AGM.
He went on to clarify that RMG membership has been on the decline because regular members are not retiring, fearing that they may not get paid because of the Phoenix system issues. A similar system was implemented in Australia about five years ago and is still not fully operational.
A motion to allow Pat Kinnear to continue as the administrator of the RMG’s Facebook page was also passed. A number of useful links on retirement have been posted (under “Quick Links”) on the RMG website. Historian Jason Russel (PIPSC’s 100th Anniversary Committee) met with the Executive during the lunch hour.
Mr. Ahad said that Terry Sing will be attending the inaugural AGM of the new Avalon Area Chapter (Newfoundland) in October 2017. He also noted that several chapters are not posting the minutes of their AGMs and Executive meetings on the RMG website.
He closed by announcing that the next National Executive meeting is going to be held in Gatineau on the morning of November 16, 2017 and that the RMG’s AGM is to follow in the afternoon. The meetings of the Vision Committee and National Executive Committee are scheduled to take place in Ottawa on January 10 and 11, 2018, respectively.
11.0 Presentation on Bill C-27 by Jean-Pierre Morency, Vice-President of the Québec City Chapter, RMG, followed by a Question Period
Jean-Pierre Morency gave a slide presentation to provide members with an overview of Bill C-27. He also reported on the steps taken by PIPSC to inform its members and parliamentarians of the negative repercussions that are possible, if not probable. He noted that PSAC and the NAFR have taken similar action. He then answered the many questions raised by members. In response to the general request for a copy of the slide presentation, the Secretary will be sending it out to members.
Action: Michel Bédard
12.0 New Business
There was no new business.
13.0 Adjournment
Gédéon Drouin moved that the meeting be adjourned. Élie Ahad seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 3:08 p.m.
Carried unanimously
Michel Bédard
Secretary-Treasurer
Québec City Chapter, Retired Members Guild
November 3, 2017
André Cantin President’s Signature
Michel Bédard Secretary-Treasurer’s Signature