Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Cheers to Paul Jones, BC Regional Council for these photos & report from the No Prorogue rally, January 23rd in Victoria

Here are some photos from the event here in Victoria that Virginia (Vaillancourt, also on the Regional Council) and I attended. We had amazing numbers and the anger and enthusiasm was a huge surprise. The theme that ran deep was that Canadians do care about what happens in their country and that the Afghan abuse scandal is weighing heavy around what Harper has done to avoid his governments accountability to parliament and the people of Canada. We are such spirited citizens of this country. Everyone should take the time to “care”. It is OUR country!

On December 6th BC Regional Council member Virginia Vaillancourt, along with the Victoria Regional Womens’ Committee and Canadian Autoworkers Union Local 114, coordinated a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women candlelight vigil at the Legislature in Victoria. Over 80 participants took time to reflect on the Montreal Massacre, heard from speakers, and collected a large amount of donations for local women’s shelters. Here are some photos, and a news report from the Victoria Times Columnist.

Twentieth anniversary of Montreal Massacre brings calls to save gun registry

Commemorations held in Greater Victoria and across the country

By Katie DeRosa , Times Colonist December 6, 2009

In Montreal, eight-year-old Marjolaine Ouimet, the niece of Geneviève Bergeron — one of Marc Lépine’s victims 20 years ago — places a flower Sunday on her marker at a memorial site named Place du 6-Décembre-1989. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay is second from the right. Similar ceremonies were held throughout the country, including Victoria.

In Montreal, eight-year-old Marjolaine Ouimet, the niece of Geneviève Bergeron — one of Marc Lépine’s victims 20 years ago — places a flower Sunday on her marker at a memorial site named Place du 6-Décembre-1989. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay is second from the right. Similar ceremonies were held throughout the country, including Victoria.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It is with distinct pleasure that the Victoria Regional Women’s Committee of the Public Service Alliance of Canada BC in collaboration with members of Canadian Auto Workers cordially invite you to attend a memorial event on December 6th, 2009 to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the ongoing initiatives to end violence against women.

• Download a poster (pdf).

We will be holding a Candle Light vigil on the BC Legislature Grounds on December 6th, 2009 from 5:00 pm to 6 pm. We will be collecting on this occasion various personal items such as new socks, towels, toiletries, journals and small house hold appliances to donate to Women’s Organizations in Victoria. This is especially important to us at this time of Liberal budget constraints within the province. We request that everyone in attendance bring an item for donation to this very noble and necessary social initiative. We feel it our responsibility to support this.

We look forward to seeing you at this very important memorial. In Solidarity,

Virginia Vaillancourt – Chair, Victoria Regional Women’s Committee, PSAC
Sarah Dutsch – Canadian Auto Workers Rep, Local 114, Committee Chair

PSAC-BC  Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee meeting

November 5, 2009 @ 5:30 PM

PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Meeting Agenda

• Potluck Social: 5:00-5:30 PM

Old Business for review:

1. Update on New Banking Account & Obtaining 3 Signers – Mandi
2. Update on New Directive on Medical Leave – Mandi

Review Last Meeting’s Minutes in general

New Business:

1. VIHRC Election as committee position titles might be required? – Mandi / Michael
2. End of VIHRC Logo Contest Results (Contest ended: Nov 2, 2009) – Dave
3. VIHRC Logo Designs – Committee to select a winning logo? & How to award a prize? – Michael
4. Directive on Banner Costing (Depending on outcome of logo contest) – Mark / Michael
5. VIHRC member for presentation in other local or AGM meetings? – All
6. VIHRC Recruitment Process – All
7. PSAC Meet & Greet Event in December – All
8. Proposal of a final meeting date in January for VIHRC Term of Reference – All

South Vancouver Island RWC Annual General Meeting

Wednesday October 14, 2009, 5:30 pm

PSAC Victoria RO – Admirals Walk

In Attendance:

Kay Sinclair BC, REVP (chair), Alexandra Ripco UEW 20076, Virginia Vaillancourt UVAE 20030, Brenda Esplen UTE 20028, Cindy Little UTE 20028, Mandi Schubert (via phone) CEIU 20975, Dyan Day UNDE 21013, Leanne Hughes CIU 20042, Jeannette Lum UEW 20169, Colette Savarie – Regional Rep, Rosemary MacKenzie – Admin Assistant

Regrets: Maddalena Maher

Continue reading the minutes or download here the PDF of the South Vancouver Island Regional Women’s Committee AGM.

Call to Order: Kay called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.

Minutes of Previous meeting:

Minutes from the previous meeting (August 25, 2009) were accepted

Update from the BC Women’s Retreat:

There was an update from Virginia from the Women’s Retreat (see attached). Brenda, Cheryl and Colette provided some of the highlights for them from the Women’s Retreat.

As well there was comments regarding the Rally in Vancouver for the Coast Hotel employees. One member mentioned she enjoyed meeting women from all of the regions. Colette had only received positive comments. There is another Rally that is being held in Nanaimo at the Coast Bastion Inn on Friday October 16, 2009. All members welcome to come out and show their support.

Elections

Kay mentioned the various roles in a Regional Women’s Committee.   They consist of a chair, a co-chair, a treasurer and a secretary and then the members at large.

Virginia Vaillancourt volunteered to run as Chair of the Committee.    She was elected through acclamation.

Mandi Schubert volunteered to run as Co-Chair of the Committee.    She was elected through acclamation.

Brenda Esplen volunteered to run as Treasurer.    She was elected through acclamation.

Dyan Day volunteered to run as Secretary.    She was elected through acclamation.

Women’s Forum:

The PSAC National Women’s Program is holding consultations across the country on two important priorities of the PSAC – pay equity and child care. The Vancouver consultation will take place on Thursday, November 5th and Friday, November 6th at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Patty Ducharme, the National Executive Vice-President, and AndréeCôté, the Women’s Program Officer, will attend the forums designed for women activists in our Union.

An all day forum on pay equity will take place on November 5th followed by a reception with representatives from women’s groups and women activists from other unions. The pay equity forum will provide information sharing, capacity training, and a consultation on local and provincial strategies for our federal pay equity campaign. The half day session on child care on the morning of November 6th will include a discussion of child care issues from national and regional perspectives. The session will also include listening to members’ child care needs and experiences and their suggestions for a PSAC child care campaign.

The forum can accommodate about 25 participants which has been designed for the following women members/activists:

- the B.C. Regional Council Women’s Coordinator and Alternate;

- Regional Women’s Committee activists (one or two from each Committee); and

- other interested PSAC activists interested and involved in women’s issues.

PSAC members/activists who are young mothers are particularly encouraged to attend.

If you are interested in participating in the forum, please send your expression of interest to the PSAC B.C. REVP office by e-mail to Kay Sinclair at sinclak@psac.comor by fax at (604) 430-0194 by 5PM, Thursday, October 15, 2009, and please indicate the following:

- any involvement in a Regional Women’s Committee

- any involvement in women’s groups and/or issues in your community

- any involvement or support for women’s issues in your Local or Component etc.

- interest in further developing your feminist analysis

- commitment to working on a pay equity and/or child care campaign.

Again the deadline for expression of interest is noon, Thursday, October 15th.

December 6 Events:

The newly elected Chair, Virginia Vaillancourt, took over chairing the meeting at this point.   She asked for suggestions regarding the 20^th Anniversary of December 6^th.

- join Clipper Staff – hold a candlelight vigil on Parliament Legislature
- Dawn Black MLA in Vancouver – discussion on women’s issues
- talk to Victim Services about doing a presentation on their services and how they help women in the community
- Women’s Organizations; Transition houses – see what assistance they need ie., blankets, socks, collect toiletries for them; have them come and discuss how they help women who are in need
- Women’s Sexual Assault Centre
- Seniors/older women – issues in coping at home; in LTC facilities, etc
- CLC put together about 20 postcards re Dec 6th; these will be sent to the Women’s Committees and then Women sign them and send them to their MP’s, MLAs

Virginia has sent an email to Nick Humphreys who is a member of the Union of Environment Workers (UEW) Local 20169 and works for Natural Resources Canada at the Pacific Forestry Centre in Victoria.  Nick is the UEW Regional Vice President for BC/Yukon and the chair of the BC Regional Political Action Committee.  Nick is also an executive member of the Victoria Labour Council. I have asked if he is able to check out for our committee what events the Victoria Labour Council are planning this year to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre.

Virginia has also sent an email to Sarah the contact at the Victoria Clipper to see if I can meet with her to discuss events and combining our efforts.

Next Meeting: Next meeting is scheduled for November 3rd at 5:30 pm

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:23 pm.

PSAC VICTORIA AREA COUNCIL

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MINUTES – September 15, 2009

PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

Virginia Vaillancourt – UVAE 20030, Cindy Little – UTE 20028, Ian Wiggs – UNDE 21008, John Vogt – UNDE 21003, Ken Waldron – UNDE 21013, Paul Jones – UNDE 21008, Jim Sidel – DL 05120500, G. Goodmanson– UEW 20169, Peter Neelands – NRU 20088, Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169, Scott Parker – UTE 20028, April Evans – UVAE 20030, Betty Gunville – CIU 20042, Robert Nyst – UNDE 21008, Jim Sidel – DCL 05120500, Pete Wills – UEW 20076, Wayne Little – UTE 20028

PSAC Victoria RO Staff Present:

James Little – PSAC Rep

Guests:

Regrets: Dave Jackson – PSAC Regional Rep, Noelle Arnold – AGR 20064, Bernadette Israel – GSU 20001, Anita Hoffman – CEIU 20975

Read the rest of the minutes here or download a PDF of Victoria Area Council AGM minutes.

Sister Cindy Little                                                        Virginia Vaillancourt

President                                                                         Recording Secretary

Annonuncing the VIHRC logo creation contest! Enter your logo today …

Come up with a creative logo that best describes the VIHRC in a visual way.  This logo could be used on all VIHRC promotions, posters and correspondences internally or externally either in workplaces or outside of workplaces.

Why a logo?  It is confirmed that a logo creates the familiarity of what an organization is all about or a product you are getting.  For example, when you see a logo for hockey team, Vancouver Canucks.  It hits home for you (if you are a local fan).  So you know what you are getting or have a sense of ‘belonging’ to.  Other example is a product such as Coke.  When you see Coke, you know what it will taste like… you know what it is about and it perhaps makes you feel good when you see the logo of Coke.  Let’s do that with the VIHRC logo.  Let’s make people who belong to any of designated groups i.e. Persons with Disabilities feel like they belong to VIHRC and that VIHRC represents them!

Any PSAC-BC member can participate in the logo contest.  Bonus points will be awarded if the member is from a local that is affiliated with the VIHRC.

Please submit entries electronically by November 2nd, 2009 to the PSAC Victoria Regional Office: mackenr@psac-afpc.com or jacksod@psac-afpc.com . Call (250) 953-1050 or  1-866-953-1050 for more information.

Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee Meeting – Victoria

• Date: September 10, 2009
• Time : 5:30 PM
• Where: PSAC Victoria Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road

Agenda

• Potluck Social: 500-530 PM
• Guest Speaker: Douglas Connell Infocus Rehabilitation Services (Brain Injury Program) on cuts to Literacy Victoria – Impact to Persons with Disabilities
• Old Business:
  • Terms of Reference
  • PSAC Banner
  • Pride Parades
  • VIHRC logo contest
• New Business:
  • Cheque-Start up costs for VIHRC
  • Impact to members-New Directive on Medical Leave
  • VIHRC awareness / brainstorm
  • Awareness Opportunities-Working with Area Council and Regional Women’s Committee
  • Committee Membership

BC Human Rights Committee meeting & BBQ – Vancouver

• Date: September 22, 2009
• Time : 5:45 PM
• Where: PSAC Vancouver RO, 200 5238 Joyce Street

Agenda

• Chairperson – Rotating Chair or Elected
• Results of Human Rights Committee Survey
• Schedule for meetings for the following six months including, alternating the meeting days (either Tuesday or Thursday)

Victoria Regional Women’s Committee

• August 25, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
• PSAC Victoria Regional Office boardroom
• 210-1497 Admirals Road

The agenda will include discussions to select 2 attendees to the RWC retreat, Sept 11/12. Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President B.C. Region will be in attendance and refreshments will be served. Hope to see you then!

posted on behalf of Paul Jones, BC Regional Council

The season of PRIDE festivities for 2009 are over and as the PRIDE Coordinator for the PSACBC Regional Council I am sending a huge thank you to all my Brothers and Sisters who made this year’s events a success. In particular I would like to thank the Victoria crew of Mandi Schubert (CEIU, VIHRC Member), Michael Doerfler (CEIU, VIHRC Member), Virginia Vaillancourt (UVAE, S. Vancouver Island PSACBC Geographical Coordinator), all the PSAC members who came out to march and all the staff of the Victoria Regional office for their dedication and hard work to make this happen. Many thanks Mandi for the pictures! Although numbers are mute, there were approximately 25 -30K in attendance. The labour movement in general had a strong presence this year in Victoria’s Pride Parade.

• Report and photos from Victoria
• Report and photos from Vancouver

Vancouver Pride saw reported record numbers of attendees as well as floats. I would especially like to thank Angela Marafon (CRA Member, W. Fraser Valley PSACBC Regional Council Geographical Coordinator), Kay Sinclair (PSACBC REVP), Carol Pegura (EA to PSACBC REVP), the staff of the Vancouver Regional Office for the continuous support they have given to PRIDE and to all the Members who I saw while marching. Multi-Union Pride continues to bring our message to Vancouver and I would remiss not to thank the MUP Committee for all their hard work to make this happen yet again this year. Thanks too to all who attended the Pride Meet & Greet. It was a wonderful time!

Sincerely, Paul Jones, PRIDE Coordinator, PSACBC Regional Council

Join the PSAC Victoria Area Council, members and staff at the 21st annual Labour Day picnic in Victoria …

• Date: Monday, September 7, 2009
• Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Location: Irving Park corner of Menzies & Michigan, Victoria
• Kids games – Clowns – Refreshments – Kids Eat Free – Fun for the whole family
• Volunteers and Donations are Welcome! Please come out and join us in solidarity to Celebrate Labour Day!! For more information, email the Victoria Labour Council.

Download the poster (pdf).

Cheers to Mandi Schubert (CEIU 20975) for forwarding these photos! PSAC and other Union members marched with “Pride in Labour” at the Victoria Pride Celebrations, Sunday July 5th.

For more about Pride in Victoria, visit victoriapridesociety.org and check out the Vancouver Sun news report.

Click for the photos …

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Celebrating 40 years of freedom!

Forty years ago, it was a crime in Canada to be gay. Homosexuality was severely punished, and the police regularly raided bars and saunas to arrest and prosecute gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and transgendered people.

In 1969, the Criminal Code was amended, and the state was officially thrown out of the bedroom: since then, our GLBT brothers and sisters can no longer be arrested and prosecuted because of who they choose to love.

• Join PSAC @ Pride this summer: in Victoria, July 5th and in Vancouver, August 2nd!

The fortieth anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality is an event that is important to remember and to celebrate. This historic landmark paved the way for the many significant reforms in labour law, in civil law and in human rights law that were won by GLBT activists over the years.

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PSAC VICTORIA AREA COUNCIL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES – June 16th, 2009 PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169
• Virginia Vaillancourt – UVAE 20030
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Scott Parker – UTE 20028
• Ken Waldron – UNDE 21013
• Ian Wiggs UNDE 21008
• V. Arnold – AGR
• Drew Natland – UNDE 21011
• Paul Jones – UNDE 21008
• G. Goodmanson – ENV 20169
• Peter Neelands – NRU 20088

PSAC Victoria RO Staff Present:

• Dave Jackson – Regional Rep

Regrets:

• John Rumsby – UTE 20028
• Leanne Hughes – CIU 20042
• Bernadette Israel – GSU 20001
• Mandi Schubert – CEIU 20975
• Jim Sidel – DCL 20500

Continue reading below, or download the Victoria Area Council meeting minutes, June 16 2009

1. Call to order Chairperson Sister Little called the meeting to order at 5:36 pm

2. Introductions Roundtable introductions of members present

3. Proposed Agenda Amendment to Agenda

• Additions made:
• AGM Date
• Labour Day Picnic
• Lobby MP’s
• Victoria Labour Council Update
• m/s D. Natland/P. Jones

4. Adoption of Minutes from April 7, 2009 A few typos with local numbers & spelling were noted. These will be corrected and resent for posting. Followed up on action item from previous meeting. The email will be sent out within the next month.

5. Triennial Convention Debrief Copy of report as PDF.

6. Victoria Pride Parade GLBT Coordinator for BC – Paul Jones brought posters to advertise the Parade.

• This years Pride Parade is July 5, 2009
• Walking contingent will be multi-union
• Meet at 11 am. on Broad Street across from the Victoria Events Centre between Pandora and Johnson. Look for the PSAC flags.
• Parade starts at 12 pm from Broad street to Fisherman’s Wharf and there is a festival at the end.
• Look for the PSAC Banner when you arrive on Broad Street.

7. Compensation Advisors Reviewed document from PSAC website on AS Compensation Advisors

• A Brief Chronology
• You may view this document at http://www.psac.com/issues/campaigns/as_group-e/shtml
• Ian is looking to see if other Components can go to their Compensation advisors and find out how many clients do they look after.
  DND has 13 Compensation advisors and about 270 clients for each Compensation Advisor, plus 300 from NCR.
• If you know/can find out how many clients on average your compensation advisors have please email this info to Ian: president21008@shaw.ca

8. Treasurer’s Report Deferred to next meeting

9. Labour Council Update Last meeting is tomorrow.

• There will be no meetings during the summer time. The Victoria Labour Council will reconvene the 3rd Wednesday in September.
• Looking at moving the meetings to BCGEU building on Douglas Street due to some concerns raised by affiliated members regarding safety and parking.
• BC Fed Convention is November 23-25th in Vancouver Convention Centre. This will be a Policy Convention.
• Young Workers Retreat Sept 25-27th being put on by BC Fed. This is open to members between 19-30 years of age. If you have young workers who may be interested in attending please contact Dave Jackson at 250-953-1050.

10. Lobby MP’s by Victoria Labour Council

• Keith Martin & Gary Lunn will be visited
• Stimulus Package and to get them to relax rules on EI.
• Infastructure and public services
• MLA – new labour minister – Lanna – New MP for Saanich will be attending the Labour Council Meeting

11. Labour Day Picnic Labour Day Pinic is scheduled for September 7, 2009. The event is being moved to James Bay from the Gorge Road.

• More info to follow.
• Hot dogs/pop etc will be by donation.
• Action: Dave Jackson will be the point person for organizing table etc for PSAC.
• Motion for the Victoria Area Council to support the Victoria Labour Council Labour Day Picnic in James Bay and encourage its members to attend.
• K. Waldron/I. Wiggs

12. MP Lobby by PSAC PSAC is targeting the five liberal ridings in BC:

• Newton North Delta – MP Sukh Dhaliwal
• Vancouver South – MP Ujjal Dosanjh
• Vancouver Centre – MP Hedy Fry
• Esquimalt Juan de Fuca – MP Keith Martin
• Vancouver Quadra – MP Joyce Murray
• The goal is to establish constituency teams of members to meet directly with the MP’s during the month of July and present our position on a variety of PSAC issues such as:

• • Bill C-10 follow up;
  • Privatization of Labs and other public services;
  • Food Safety;
  • Improvements to EI;
  • Cuts to the CBC;
  • National Child Care Program;
  • Our Fish Campaign;
  • Student hiring in the Federal Public Service.
• I am asking for your involvement in this campaign by committing to join one of the constituency teams and/or help in indentifying members who:
  • reside in one of the ridings
  • may have a personal connection to one our our issues, and
  • are willing to join the team that will be meeting with the MP’s
• Please let me know if you or any of your members are interested and, if so, for which riding. I’d appreciate a response by next Monday morning June 20th so that I can contact those members as soon as possible and schedule the pre-meeting briefing sessions (I’ve already scheduled meetings with Joyce Murray @10am on Wednesday July 8, 2009 and Sukh Dhaliwal @10am on Friday July 17, 2009).
• Thanks again and let me know if you have any questions. You can reach Jayne Johns at 1-800-665-1655

13. AGM Date

• The AGM date that has been proposed is Tuesday Sept 15th 2009. This will be firmed up and a notice will be sent to all Locals.
• Affiliation dues to the Area Council are due at the AGM. To be able to vote during elections and other items that may be raised, dues must be paid in advance. Dues are 25 cents/member/month

14. Adjournment Motion to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm
Sister Cindy Little, President Virginia Vaillancourt, Recording Secretary

The PSAC has won a certification under the BC Labour Code for a group of Commissionaires working at the Ministry of Children and Family Development in Victoria. These members will become part of DCL Local 20500, and will be covered by the Island Commissionaires Collective Agreement. Welcome!

2009 Brings the PSAC BC in support of the Victoria Labour Council as one of this year’s Victoria Pride Sponsors. This year is about the visual! We are stronger in numbers!

Paul Jones, GLBT Regional Council Coordinator invites one and all to join us in this year’s “PRIDE IN LABOUR” celebration at the Victoria Pride March: Sunday July 5, 2009. We’ll be meeting@11AM on Broad St (in front of Victoria Events Centre). Beads provided. Wear your most colorful outfit! “It is a gay affair!”

Download the poster (pdf).

Victoria Area Council meeting

• Tuesday June 16, 2009 5:30 PM
• PSAC Regional Office, 210-1497 Admirals Road
• Agenda: TBA

Please RSVP to: Rosemary at the Regional Office no later than noon on June 15, 2009 as food will be served. Download a poster here (pdf).

Following six (6) days of respectful negotiations with the Employer a tentative settlement was reached on May 21st.  The ratification meeting is scheduled for Thursday May 28th in the Firehall.  Download the complete ratification kit here (pdf).

In Solidarity, UCTE 20209 Negotiating Team

PSAC Victoria Area Council meeting, April 7 ,  PSAC Victoria Regional Office

Members Present:

• Nick Humphreys – UEW 20169
• Virginia Vaillancourt – UVAE 20030
• Cindy Little – UTE 20028
• Ian Wiggs – UNDE 21008
• Ken Waldron – UNDE 21013
• Paul Jones – UNDE 21010
• Jim Sidel – DL 05120500
• Graham Goodmann – UEW 20168
• Peter Neelands – NRU 20088

PSAC Victoria RO Staff Present:

• Rosemary MacKenzie – Admin Assistant
• Dave Jackson – Regional Rep

Guests:

• Janelle Ho-Shing – PSAC Regional Rep – Vancouver
• Mike Eso – Victoria Labour Council President

Regrets:

• Wayne Little – UTE 20028
• Mandi Schubert – CEIU 20975
• Bernadette Israel – GSU 20001
• Anita Hoffman – CEIU 20975

Continue reading below, or download the SVIDAC April 7 meeting minutes (pdf)

1. Call to order Chairperson Sister Little called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm

2. Introductions Roundtable introductions of members & guests present.  Guests – Janelle HoShing – PSAC, Mike Eso – Victoria Labour Council President

3. Proposed Agenda No amendments, m/s/c K Waldron/J. Sidel

4. Information from Victoria Labour Council President The executive looked at how to restructure. Over the past 1 ½ years; they have been restructuring the Victoria Labour Council. Working to rebuild credibility with members and rebuilding the membership of the council.
23000 members affiliated.

• To ensure all members in the lower island have one place to go to meet.
• Can affiliate partial membership, as long as someone from your membership attends.
• Victoria Labour Council vetted and approved 26 candidates by 13 municipalities.
• Working on events for April 28th.
• Executive endorsing Pride Parade this year.
• Affiliation is .33 cents/member/month. Happy if 1 member affiliates from a local.
• Importance in getting people to attend meeting and report back to your local.
• Council executive are all volunteer positions. Each of them has day jobs.
• Meetings are held 3rd Wednesday each month from 7-9 pm at the Burnside Community Centre.

5. Adoption of Minutes from Jan 15, 2009 m/s/c

6. Provincial Election

• Janelle Ho-Sing mentioned we are working with BC Fed on Count Me In Campaign
• There are 3 workshops which are free.
• Members talking to members
• Talking politics
• Talking politics in the Newspaper & Radio
• Skills learned can be used on PSAC campaigns.
• Encourage Count Me In Campaign if there is an interest in your office. Can hold training at PSAC Office.
• Regional Newsletter from REVPs.
• Emails that are being sent out should be forwarded to members.
• How do we make more demographic?
• How do we get more members involved, so the same people aren’t doing the work?
• Bill C-10 – Nationally is a PSAC Priority
• Members of Parliament need to hear from constituents
• Encourage MP lobby from all members
• Problems: emails don’t get passed down from Executive
• Labour Council and Area Council behind you when you go and talk to MP’s.
• If people are not comfortable talking Politics = good opportunity to have workshops which will provide skills to talk politics.
• Good opportunity for PSAC to add Politics in TUB Course (Political Action that PSAC is involved)

7. PSAC Convention: Finance Committee Report by Peter Neelands

8. Treasurer’s Report Postponed till next meeting.

9. Funding Assistance to National Convention

• Request Request for $400.00 assistance.
• Discussion ensued.
• No process in place to send Observer through Area Council.
• Look at putting line item on next AGM.
• Other locals did not have an opportunity to put requests forward.
• m/s/d

9. Adjournment Motion to adjourn meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:25 pm, m/s/c

Sister Cindy Little, President Virginia Vaillancourt, Recording Secretary

Vancouver Island Human Rights Committee meeting

• April 14, 2009, 5:30PM
• PSAC Regional Office,210-1497 Admirals Road

Proposed Agenda

1. Terms of Reference
2. Constitutional Letters-Update
3. Logo Contest

Please RSVP to Mandi Schubert no later than April 9th so the Potluck can be coordinated.