The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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Ontario Region Executive Minutes - April 11, 2024

Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain, Collingwood, ON

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

Regrets: R. Kaura

Meeting called to order at 9:22 am

  1. Opening remarks 

Director acknowledged land that we met on and welcomed ORE.  

  1. Approval of Agenda 

Motion to approve agenda as presented. Consensus

  1. Approval of Minutes 

Motion to approve March 23, 2024, ORE meeting minutes. Consensus

  1. Social Media

Discussion surrounding Din’s reputation within PIPSC. Discussion surrounding PIPSC President suspended or on leave. Sean O’Reilly will deliver President’s speech. 

Motion: That the ORE draft a simple written statement explaining the purpose of the ORC is to conduct OR business, as such the current rumor circulating regarding leadership will not be entertained as discussion at this Council.

Motion withdrawn

  1. Matters Arising / Tracking Report – John 

Discussion surrounding each action item. 

  1. Treasurer’s Report – Tom Y. 

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

Motion to approve the financials as presented by the Treasurer. Consensus

New Finance Director has been appointed and he is currently learning about PIPSC and current practices.

  1. Committee Reports 
    1. BOD COMMITTEES 
      1. PRQC – Fatima Hashmi 

No report provided

  1. BLPC – Mandy C. 

No new meeting. Next meeting is virtual and only 4 hours long.

  1. Finance – Tom Y. 

No new meeting. 

  1. HRDC – Sabrina Labbé 

Virtual meeting was held April 6th. PIPSC presidential office removed the Gaza message that HRDC had petitioned, without coming to HRDC. Caucus Chairs presented their updates and discussions revolving around each reality occurred. Black Caucus was not happy with the PIPSC Legal Council response pertaining to Mr. Trinh comment at the PIPSC AGM. Eva Henshaw is Acting President while Jenn Carr is on leave. PIPSC website will have official message posted shortly

  1. ITSP – Dora Scarling 

First meeting was held April 8, 2024, see report.

  1. SA – Tina M. 

Continual stance on fighting climate change. 

National Training – Bridget B. 

Next meeting is Monday, April 15, in Ottawa. Working July 2025 to June 2026 budget. 2 basics, 2 labours, and 1 standalone (Health & Safety as example). Virtual meetings to replace in-person, is not an ideal situation for full participation of the Committee. John has prepared a late-filed resolution to revert meeting budgets back to 6 in-person. Din: issues at the AGM with budgets, so who is involved in crunching numbers? Bridget crunches numbers using a templated budget that makes the process much easier and more user-friendly. Health & Safety training: federal & provincial jurisdiction be incorporated? Yes, both are included.

  1. Election – Tim Azab – secretarially
  1.  Election Appeals – Patrick Mudenyo

Committee is not operational yet, but will be formalized later this year, closer to elections.

  1. ORE COMMITTEES / Liaison 
    1. Training Committee – Bridget 

Motion: To approve training at the Hyatt Regency in Toronto on Feb 6-8, 2025, for BST.

Moved: Bridget Brawley

2nd: Chris L’Estrange

Consensus

Update on Labour School May 2025 has been booked for White Oaks. Bridget will get dates of May 2025. Oct 16-18, 2025, for BST at White Oaks. Second Labour School 2025: Kingston, Windsor and White Oaks quotes requested and are waiting on results. Health & Safety Sept/Oct 2025 will be added to budget and then quotes will be requested. Bridget is seeking our support. She has it. 

Marcia brought up that getting a venue once the budget is passed at AGM, it is difficult. She is recommending that we book them as far ahead as possible. 

Marcia also mentioned that long-standing relationships with venues, we can get long term perks.

Labour School in May 2024, we have well over 100 applications, we have only 50 seats. Majority of applications have never attended a Labour School, or those that have attended, have never attended the course they registered for. Executive Training course applications will be reviewed and approved by Bridget. 

Stand alone session in Sept 27-28, 2024, in Kingston.  PIPSC Education department is finishing a Health & Safety training course for members who sit on these types of Committees.

Action: Pursue information on Health and Safety courses, to understand who the audience is.

Suggest to bring in a couple of experienced Stewards to Advanced Labour School.. 

  1. Bylaw & Policy – Mandy 

Nothing to add at this time, nothing new

  1. Visibility Mobilization – Mandy 

Nothing to add at this time, nothing new. Labour Day Parade discussion will start around July. CNE contact is Din at this time.

  1. Ontario Provincial Group – Tina 

See notes. Regarding OFL - Tina is catching up with the WSIB Committee.  OSH in OFL is looking at heat stress and heat index. Heat Index is not representative of the demographic. 4 provincial reps will attend ORC. Continual support to provincial groups. Appeal was won for Bill 124 so provincial groups are meeting to renegotiate monies in their contract, only.

  1. Young Professionals – Rachit 

Absent

  1. Branch Liaison – Tina 

See notes

  1. Legacy Foundation – Chris 

Will not hold 50/50. John is working on obtaining financials and information for Chris.

  1. Regional Council – Anthony 

#3 is introduction for ORE. Heather wants all to be reminded that ORC is recorded. Every food & beverage, and swag gets a coloured ticket, is for delegates and invited guests only. 2 lines, A-L and M-Z, hand in delegate name tag & completed survey. 2 ORE as volunteers will contact Heather.  Officially has hospitality Friday, 8-10pm. 11 doors closed. Saturday will hold informal hospitality with leftovers. 3 ORE members are serving. Branch President meeting & Treasurer Training Friday morning.

  1. Steward Council – Bridget 

Working on the Agenda, will have draft for June meeting. Getting quotes for September 2026.

Action: Where would we like to get quotes from

Locations: Windsor Caesar, White Oaks, Hyatt Regency, Westin

Elections: Bridget is Chair, bios are permitted

Motion: Anthony nominates the Hamilton CRA Branch to receive the Hunder Cup Award.

Moved: Anthony Stone

2nd: Tom Y Consensus

So why in this branch. Has been very active and mobilization is effective.

Reviewed and discussed what should be done and how to deal with resolutions and late resolutions.

  1.  Director’s Report – John – secretarially
  1.  New Business 
    1. Branch Flag

Branch got banners and at one time, a flag. The flag was not found. Better Together funding can be requested.

Motion: If Better Together funding request for a flag for Essex-Kent Branch is denied, that the ORE body refund the cost of the flag.

Moved: Tom Y

2nd: Anthony Stone Consensus

Instructions to the motion: that the flag has Ontario logo and the Essex-Kent Branch on the flag.

  1.  Round Table 

Mandy – nothing 

Tom Y – where do we stand on the $X,XXX donation for t-shirts. John had submitted to EC but item was not discussed during meeting. During next EC meeting, will discuss and will look at permission for 2025 donation. 

Tom Z – had to leave the meeting before the roundtable

Anthony – pass 

Din – wanted to check in on the email the Executive received, party involved is currently satisfied. Reminder that Executive business remains in Executive hands.

Chris – nothing

Tina – nothing other than a quick summary on the leadership issue raised. 

Bridget – no official Health & Safety course, will receive a Certificate but not a certification. Should work for any jurisdiction. Write out instructions for elections and then talk to committee afterwards

Sabrina – we’ve not spoken to Director’s Report

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Published on 11 March 2025