Dear Members,

Last month, I had the opportunity to represent PIPSC and the Canadian labour movement at the Labour 7 (L-7) summit in Ottawa. This was a preparatory meeting hosted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) leading up to the G-7 meeting this summer in Québec.  As a CLC Vice-President, I was invited to participate in this important discussion of how we can best tackle the challenges facing workers today and in the future.  Topics included ensuring the innovation agenda is inclusive, gender equality, and adapting to technological change. 

It was a unique opportunity to meet with labour leaders from the G-7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) and to discuss our issues with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and key members of his Cabinet. Not only did we enjoy an open and frank discussion with the Prime Minister, but we also had the opportunity to engage in a productive dialogue with Ministers Patty Hadju (Employment, Workforce Development and Labour), Maryam Monsef (Status of Women), and Chrystia Freeland (Foreign Affairs). 

Below are a few photos from the two-day session, including one of me with our Prime Minister, and the other with an impressive group of international women leaders that I was humbled to meet.

Better Together!
Debi Daviau

Happy National Nursing Week to all nursing professionals across Canada!

Every day, your hard work improves the lives of Canadians. During this special week, the theme of “Yes This Is Nursing,” reminds us of the diverse work that nurses take on from monitoring patients’ health to performing critical diagnostic tests and administering lifesaving, innovative treatments.

On behalf of the Professional Institute, I want to thank the over 3,000 nurses who work in a variety of departments and institutions across the country.

To celebrate this occasion, I’d like to share a profile of PIPSC member Valerie Emery who explains the challenges and benefits of her work in a Whitehorse emergency room:

Watch the video.

As she expresses so well:

“In the emergency room, people come in and it’s the worst day of their lives. So just meeting them where they’re at and being able to help them through their crisis for the day…it gives me joy to be able to do that for them and their families.”

To Valerie and all her colleagues across the country, thank you again for your invaluable contribution to the well-being of Canadians and for bringing the principles of caring, and community to our health care system.

Better together!
Debi Daviau