The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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Ontario Region Executive - September 21, 2023

White Oaks Conference Resort, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Present:         J. Purdie, C. L’Estrange, T. Yantsis, B. Brawley, T. MacDonald, S. Labbé, M. Chan, A. Stone, D. Kamaldin, R. Kaura

Regrets:         T. Zaharopoulos

Meeting called to order at 9:20 am

  1. Opening remarks

Director acknowledged land usage. 

  1. Approval of Agenda

Motion to approve agenda

Moved: Tom Yantsis

2nd: Sabrina Labbé                                                                                                                    Consensus

  1. Approval of minutes

Motion to approve July 7, 2023 ORE Meeting Minutes                 

Moved: Tom Yantsis

2nd: Bridget Brawley                                                                                                                  Consensus

  1. Matters arising / tracking report – John

Reviewed and updated Action Item document, as a group

Steward application discussion, in camera. Steward application recommendation position maintained.

  1. Treasurer’s Report – Tom Y.

Treasurer reviewed financial situation and current expenditures in his Treasurer’s report.

Motion to accept treasurer’s report as presented.

Moved: Din K.

2nd: Anthony S.                                                                                                             Consensus

  1. Committee reports
    1. BOD COMMITTEES
      1. PRQC – Paul T. – secretarially
      2. BLPC – Mandy C.

Meeting was Sept 18, 2023. Committee is now up to date on submissions. Provincial submission will be revised, and some rewording will be sent to the board for approval. Should be posted to PIPSC website after. Some discussion about emailing issues with members of some groups (provincial).

      1. Finance – Tom Y.

Meeting was Sept 18, 2023. Committee’s part of the budget approval process for finance is completed, having a hard time obtaining numbers and amounts from the organization itself. Prelim finance report is in the board’s folder. Discussion on process and difficulties encountered. If there are talks of union dues increases at AGM, it should be strongly discouraged and voted against.

      1. HRDC – Din K.

Group has been trying to make the best out of what is currently at hand. Attended TIFF event, Black History of Canada Mini Series that PIPSC sponsored. Mini series (8) will be launched on CBC. Does not feel it was strong enough, it was filled with soft landings rather than showcasing harsh truths, but still well done.

John requests that briefing note from the TIFF be provided so that he can present these to the board at their next meeting.

Action: Din K.

      1. ITSP – Rama Agarwal nothing submitted
      2. SA – Tina M.

No correspondence nor any meetings to speak about.

      1. National Training – Bridget B.

TEAM meeting update. Budget items, like 2nd Labor School for Ontario region, is added. Received a presentation about Navagar. Navagar is a program/system to gain access to a vast catalogue of courses. A request to present Navagar during OSC. Was denied as OSC is not the appropriate audience and agenda was already confirmed. Lunch and learn requests were not forwarded to Bridget, received none in 2023. Region should be notified of lunch and learn submissions.

      1. Election – Tim Azab – secretarially
    1. ORE COMMITTEES / Liaison
      1. Training Committee – Bridget

Lunch & Learn: catalogue & request form updated on website. Core executive training Oct 27 & 28 at Hilton Meadowvale. Facilitators will be: Rachit & Bridget, and backup will be Patricia Chun. Basic Steward Training Oct 2023, swag (zippered portfolios) will be handed out. Labor School – will be budgeted for 2 sessions, so if approved, selecting courses from catalogue should be easier to do. Education department mentioned that feedback main concern was holding a 2-day course in a 1.5-day session. Also, for feedback to be relevant, feedback should be requested after each course. 2nd Labor School has been explored and November was not a great timeframe as it would be very busy for PIPSC admin. Discussion on offering 2nd Labor School in July and August 2024. Discussion on holding a dual Basic Steward & Labor School simultaneously. Discussions on locations: Kingston, Kitchener, Sarnia, Barrie, Hamilton.

Bridget will ask Heather to obtain a Labor School in July or August 2024 in Kingston, Kitchener, Hamilton, and Barrie.

                                                                                                                  Action: Bridget Brawley

      1. Bylaw & Policy – Mandy

Nothing to report

      1. Visibility Mobilization – Mandy

Good turnout, +180 registrations, 148 attendees. Will need more bodies to help with the lunch portion of the event, next year. Discussion about partnering with a vendor at the CNE itself. It would be easier but it would entail asking for more budget. Discussion on budget and expenditures.

      1. Ontario Provincial Group – Tina – secretarially

Entering bargaining but there has been a huge gap in accountability. Labor relations director was brought into a meeting and the 7 presidents were able to provide their complaints. Communication is the biggest issue. Bill 124 must be reopened; employers are approaching presidents asking why PIPSC has not reached out to approach the negotiation table. Tina was instrumental in coordinating and getting this bargaining reopened. Groups will be meeting, all 7 together, to discuss each of their needs and contracts. This will occur in October. Head office meetings and discussions are ongoing, very positive outcomes. Provincial groups pushed 2 AGM resolutions. Discussion on attempting to get one person to work out of Ontario (Toronto office) to focus on Provincial groups, so would be easier to communicate and work with the groups as this person would be right there. Advocate for the smaller groups. Discussion on ongoing issues with relation to AGM delegate seats for 7 presidents.

      1. Young Professionals – Rachit

Have had 2 meetings this year. Strategic meeting June 22 & 23, first meeting in-person. Assigned portfolios. Everyone has their own role. Got a new logo. Everything was a bit delayed so they were unable to get banners and swag to bring to Labour Day Parade. Attended Labour Day Parade and posted pictures. Social Media presences, are there any rules surrounding social media.

To research the PIPSC policies to find information on social media usage.

                                                                                                                  Action: Mandy Chan

Attempting to reach a 100 in-person event. Looking into Lunch & Learn. Asked PIPSC for a branch specific list of members 40 or younger. Discussion about Navagar and decision if it will be beneficial to young professionals. Board of Directors meeting in March, Rachit would like to know how should they go about with planning their own strategic meeting to coincide for travel expenses and accommodations. Put in a business case to the board to expand the regional budget, if necessary.

      1. Branch Liaison – Tina – secretarially

Positive feedback from meetings and follow-up.

      1. Legacy Foundation – Chris

A lot of change is occurring right now. Legacy Fundraising is the busiest time during OSC. We have approx. 6 cents per capita, which is rather low right now. Chris will use 5 minutes during OSC to ask stewards to donate. Chris will draft and send an email to Tina to have branch presidents made aware of need to donate to fund.

                                                                                                                              Action: Chris L.

Create promotional funding ideas list to increase fund donations (50/50 licensing, raffles) and return these ideas to the ORE. Obtain the necessary licensing information and share it with the ORE.

                                                                                                                              Action: Chris L.

  1. Regional Council – Anthony

Discussion on guest speaker, Dr. Hannah Johnston. Anthony has extended the invitation to be our guest speaker. She has tentatively accepted our invitation, subject to arranging her schedule.

  1. Steward council – Bridget

Updated revised Agenda. Will have no formal dinner. Reception at 7 pm, hospitality at 9 pm. HRDC sweatshirts will be handed out during registration. Anthony, Mandy & Sabrina will assist Din in handing out the shirts. Jeopardy discussion surrounding logistics. Anthony, Tom, Rachit & Tina will assist.

  1. Director’s report – John

Discussion on ORE highlights and what has been accomplished by the group in the past. Director to present these during his speech at OSC.

  1. New Business
    1. Hamilton Meet & Greet

Attended, was deemed successful as members expressed their gratitude to

    1. Join a PIPSC Board committee – John

Giving preference to ORE to serve on committees.

BLPC – Mandy 1st, Tom 2nd

Election Appeals Committee – Sabrina 1st, Tina 2nd

Finance – Tom 1st, Anthony 2nd

HRDC – Anthony 1st, Sabrina 2nd

ITSP – Rachit 1st

PRQC – Sabrina 1st

SA – Tina 1st

TEAM – Bridget 1st

    1. Review job profiles ORE – Tina M.

Clarification about the OFL role.

Request that Heather add Tina’s full roles, as like our list.

                                                                                                                                    Action: Sabrina L.

    1. Land Acknowledgment - Tina M.

Discussion on land acknowledgment protocols. Tina will add this to her agenda to share with her branch presidents. A land acknowledgment is not a mandatory protocol but is an encouraged start to any meeting. Bridget has sent an email to share the solidarity and acknowledgment statements with the group. It is highly suggested to personalize the verses by the speaker.

  1.  Round Table

Tom would like ORE to submit suggestions for swag to be handed out during the AGM. Respond to Tom Y. by weekend of Thanksgiving with ideas.

Chris would like to thank ORE for their presence at the Hamilton CRA office. Members felt respected and acknowledged.

Anthony has nothing

Sabrina has nothing

Mandy has nothing

Din checked on hoodies versus attendance, we are ok (216 vs 210). Keep looking after yourselves and your health.

Tina thanks ORE for support.

Bridget appreciates that Tina and her groups continue being patient with the training needs the provincial groups are starting to identify.

Rachit wonders about national decision to rescind YPN status to be its own separate entity and would like to revisit.

John very disappointed that national has not agreed that YPN is nothing more than an ad hoc. Need to advocate and recognize.

Meeting adjourned at 17:45 pm

Published on 30 January 2024