Ontario Region Executive Meeting - April 27, 2023 - Fern Resort
Present: J. Purdie, C. L’Estrange, T. Yantsis, P. Tsuji, D. Kamaldin, R. Kaura, B. Brawley, M. Chan, T. MacDonald
Regrets: T. Zaharopoulos, Anthony Stone
The meeting was called to order at 9:09 a.m.
- Opening remarks
Director acknowledged land usage. Discussed that the July 8th would be held in Kingston.
- Approval of the Agenda
MOTION to approve the Agenda.
Moved: Tina MacDonald
2nd: Bridget Brawley Consensus
- Approval of the Minutes
Corrections were made during the meeting and confirmation of the Steward of the Year wording.
MOTION to approve the previous minutes.
Moved: Tom Yantsis
2nd: Din Kamaldin Carried
- Tracking Report
The Tracking Report was used to update the action items from previous meetings.
Lynn, Stan and Doug will present the updates and there will be free time for the other groups.
2 ORE seats will remain vacant
Young Professionals liaison reported that 6 people accepted a spot on the Young Professionals Committee and he will recommend 2 others and follow up with them.
PIPSC will not pursue the policy to recover the costs, it went to the Finance Section not the Finance Committee.
Treasurer to follow up with Finance Committee the reason why the policy to recover the costs was not pursued Action: Yantsis
Treasurer to look into swag for the new steward training.
Action: Yantsis
Din to provide Draft report on the Steward renewal process at the next ORE meeting Action: Kamaldin
- Treasurer’s Report - Yantsis
The Treasurer gave an update on our financial position in his Treasurer’s report. We are on track to qualify for our full allotment which was received on March 8th. Gym bags were delivered on Monday or Tuesday and Tom will talk to Heather about the swag being ready for Saturday.
MOTION to accept the Financials as presented.
Moved: Paul Tsuji
2nd: Chris Strange Carried
- Regional Office Manager’s report - Kredenster
No report submitted.
- Review of Committees
a) BOD Committees
i) BLPC – The representative attended 2 meetings but there have been problems since the admin position keeps getting changed. There is frustration with the website since the BOD has already passed items but the website has not been updated. The Executive Secretary has priority to get the items posted on the website. There is a problem with the policy on IT procurement which needs to be discussed with John Purdie and Mark Muench. There is an understanding of policy that any proposed policy needs to be vetted by the BLPC before it goes to the BOD.
Ii) Elections Appeal - The ORE will not have a representative for the balance of this year
iii) Finance – There was a discussion about the interim CFO resignation due to the position changing to bi-lingual status. This may have been a decision of the HR not the BOD since the BOD wanted bilingual as an asset not as an essential condition of employment. There is a new position being created ES. There are 6 consultants who have been hired to replace the interim CFO.
The Request for Proposal for auditors has been sent which is only a 1 year renewal.
The turnaround time for Concur has improved and they have caught up with the backlog.
There is Treasurer training being provided for Treasurers and Branch Presidents which was created by the Atlantic training Chair. The course is scheduled for two (2) hours and a targeted start of July.
There is a Resolution about the ORE vacant seats and what happens to them in the future.
MOTION to sponsor the Resolution to amend article 5.5 of the Constitution and By-laws of Ontario.
Moved: Mandy Chan
2nd: Bridget Brawley Carried
Discussed how the seats allocated presently
- ORE seats
- 1 seat per Branch
- 2nd seat per Branch
If seats are allocated to the Young Professionals, then this may be a contentious issue of seats being lost.
iv) Human Rights / Young Professionals – The Committee met in early March. Stacy McLaren is the liaison. John allocated Tom Yantsis and Rachit Kaura from the ORE will attend the CLC as ORE representatives. HRDC were allocated 3 additional seats to the CLC.
v) Information Technology – Rama Agarwal is the Chair but no report was provided.
vi) Professional Recognition – The Committee met April 14, 2023, and the representative asked to have 30 minutes (15 discussion/15 presentation) at the Ontario Steward Council.
vii) Science Advisory – There was a full day meeting through Zoom. Discussed issues such as Public science for public good, and the Science symposium. There may be a problem with continuity for a year.
b) ORE Committees
i) Training Committee
The Training Committee met in February and April. The Chair is currently preparing the budget so she needs Heather to cost out locations.
MOTION that the Training Chair contact Heather to request quotes for Basic and Labour School for 2025.
Moved: Bridget Brawley
2nd: Paul Tsuji Carried
Training Chair to contact Heather about quotes for Basic and Labour School for 2025 Action: Brawley
Discussion of whether to use White Oaks, Westin (Toronto), London or Vaughan as potential locations.
Bridget Brawley and Stacy McLaren facilitated the first Executive training course.
MOTION that the Training Chair will roll out the 2 day course training to Branch Presidents for 2023/2024.
Moved: Bridget Brawley
2nd: Tom Yantsis Carried
Discussion about potential items for new stewards at Basic training. The Purchase of portfolios. Young Professionals liaison requested 10 and the Training Chair requested 40.
Treasurer to cost out items for new Stewards at Basic Training.
Action: Yantsis
Training Chair to follow up information related to the Anti-Racism course provided by Reilly learning. Action: Brawley
The Chair of the National Training committee is looking to create a catalogue of training courses. The Chair of the ORE Training committee is looking for new training ideas for the Steward Council.
ii) Bylaw and Policy
Bridget to maintain a list of motions.
iii) Visibility Mobilization Events Committee
Visibility Mobilization committee to look at potentially having a LBGTQ parade. Each province has its own Labour Day parade but needs to confirm the issue of funding for the potential parades.
Din to contact Candace Jazvac to get the name of the National mobilization person’s contact name. Action: Kamaldin
iv) Branch Liaison
The Chair passed out her report to the ORE.
v) Ontario Provincial Groups Liaison
Discussion that more ERO’s had been hired and what responsibilities and duties for the ERO’s. Discussed some of the projects that were ongoing within the ERO office.
vi) Young Professionals Liaison
Liaison announced that 6 of the 8 spots on the Young Professionals committee had been filled and they will be asked to become Stewards. There was discussion about potential applicants to fill the remaining 2 positions.
MOTION to add Carey and Jake to the Young Professionals Committee.
Moved: John Purdie
2nd: Tom Yantsis Carried
Young Professionals liaison to confirm the location of the 6 confirmed members. Action: Kaura
Young Professionals liaison to copy John in the loop about potential names, locations and the costing of the Westin Harbour Castle.
Action: Kaura
Discussed potential dates of June 23, 2023, and June 24, 2023, for the strategic planning meeting for the Young Professionals committee. The Liaison may need to talk to Heather to get the cost for the Westin and Tom to get the cost for swag for 10 people. The Liaison to prepare a proposal for a National committee but no specific portfolio yet.
- Regional Council
There was a revision to the schedule so that the Friday morning President’s meeting would be moved to Thursday night and a CFB Borden union support visit would be scheduled for Friday morning. It was decided that the ORE secretary would replace the ORC Chair on the CFB Borden bus.
There are 3 scheduled Resolutions on Day 2. Discussion about the definition of “new initiative” and the treatment of late Resolutions. There is a new Bylaw about the Steward of the Year. The 2 guest speakers will be escorted by Mandy Chan of the ORE.
Discussion about the Legacy Cup. All families are now welcome to attend dinner which is a change from the previous policy. The voting will be done by paper ballots.
MOTION for ORE to buy gifts for each of the guest speakers.
Moved: Chris L’Estrange
2nd: Tina MacDonald Carried
The buffet lunch is to be held in the Heritage Room. Discussed the number of minutes to be provided to each candidate for their speech. Discussion the nomination process and the possibility of an acclamation result.
9. Steward Council
The criteria was presented for Steward of the Year and the Glenn Maxwell (Executive of the year) award.
MOTION to accept the criteria for Steward of the Year.
Moved: Din Kamaldin
2nd: Tom Yantsis Carried
July 17 is the tentative date for the posting of the Steward of the Year and August 11 will be the tentative closing date.
Eligibility
a) Steward
b) Member of the Ontario Region
c) Member in good standing
MOTION to accept the criteria for the Glenn Maxwell Award (Executive of the year)
Moved: Rachit Kaura
2nd: Chris L”Estrange Carried
Reviewed the draft Steward Council Agenda. PIPSC President has confirmed she will attend the event.
10. Director’s Report
There were a number of meetings to discuss staffing since a bilingual Executive Director of Finance needs to be hired as well as staff positions. The ORE Director thanked the departing Secretary for his hard work since the Secretary will not be running for re-election.
11. New Business
A) July 8th Meeting
Discussed the issue that the Kingston meeting was booked without an ORE motion to confirm the location. Heather got pricing for both Windsor and Kingston. The price for Windsor was not a good price while the price for Kingston was a good price and also the potential for member outreach.
B) PIPSC AGM
Discussion about the call out for delegates and what are the procedures to register a back-up for a delegate seat. There are 3 more seats for Ontario Region and no one can register after September 29, 2023. There is a possibility that Consultation Presidents could get another seat.
12. Round Table:
None
Next Meeting: June 2-3, 2023, Rocky Crest