3rd Triennial BC Regional Convention Highlights

May 6th The 3rd Triennial BC Regional Convention took place from April 8-10. We had a total of 129 delegates and 15 observers registered.  The mood of the delegates was upbeat and participation in debate was hot and heavy.  We spent a lot of time debating our bylaws and the best way to elect our convention delegates. For the last 2 conventions delegates were elected by and in the geographic areas. This has presented many challenges, both to members, locals and components as well as to the Regional Council in deciding the most effective method to conduct the delegate elections. In the end, the delegates agreed to replace the geographic delegate entitlement with a formula based on local and component selection.  On Friday evening of convention we held a wine and cheese reception for all participants and guests.  We took the opportunity of this gathering to honour the staff members who had retired since the last Regional convention. Saturday was spent mostly on provincial politics. Brother Jim Sinclair, President of the BC Federation of Labour gave a rousing speech on the need to be engaged in the Provincial Elections.  Following his address, delegates split into geographic workshops led by the political action staff of the Fed. The workshops dealt with the upcoming provincial election and how to best get involved and get our members back home involved as well.  Delegates came away from those workshops in high spirits and determined to beat the Campbell Liberals on May 17. In addition to the substantive bylaw changes, delegates also voted to send 2 resolutions to the PSAC National convention.  The first resolution addresses the issue of funding for regional conventions. The second resolution speaks to the organizational need for communications and political staff in each region.  A third resolution of particular regional significance, a resolution calling for the re-opening of the Prince George Regional office, did not get the support of convention. The delegates elected a new Regional Council which is a blend of council members from the previous council and new members.  I have attached, at the end of my report, a list of the newly elected Regional Council. The overwhelming sentiment at convention was that to make the Regional Conventions meaningful to our members, we need to have more members participating in them.  To do this, the Regional Conventions have to be fully funded.  Additionally, Regional Councils have to have sufficient operating funds to be effective in the regions.    I would like to thank the outgoing Regional Council who played a leadership role in planning the convention and ensuring the convention went smoothly.  These members agreed to meet Saturday evening after convention session to prepare a local/component delegate selection process to present to the convention floor Sunday morning. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff, from BC and other parts of the country, for making this convention work flawlessly and making the work of the delegates possible. - Patty Ducharme, REVP for BC

Regional convention speeches available on-line.

May 1st Thank you to Shane Polak, UVAE 20045, for recording and posting some audio from the BC Regional Convention on the internet. They are available as streaming audio or mp3 download. Click for: Jim Sinclair's speech Patty Ducharme's speech  Nycole Turmel's speech

New BC Regional Council Elected

April 12th

Here is a list of the Council Members and Alternates elected at the 2005 BC Regional Convention. Contact information for all of them and a full Convention report will follow shortly.

Name	City	Local	Position
Patty Ducharme	Vancouver	CEUDA20040	Regional Executive Vice-President, BC
Bob Kingston	New Westminster	AGR 20044	A/ Regional Executive Vice-President
Megan Adam	Roberts Creek	ENV 20147	Metro Vancouver
Sam Wiese	Burnaby	CEIU 20949	Metro Vancouver
Angela Marafon	New Westminster	CEUDA20040	Metro Vancouver
Kay Sinclair	Surrey	UTE 20029	Fraser Valley East
Jayne Johns	Abbotsford	CEIU 20903	Fraser Valley West
Sheila May Pearce	Nelson	CEIU 20918	BC Interior
Denis Ringuette	Kelowna	CEUDA20045	BC Interior
Debbie Stangrecki	Prince George	USGE 20070	BC North
Benilde Gomes	Terrace	USGE 20071	BC North
Pat Maxwell	Victoria	UNDE 21008	Island South
Cindy Little	Shawnigan Lake	UTE 20028	Island South
Gail Jewsbury	Cassidy	ENV 20090	Island North
Craig Langston	Surrey	UTE 20027	Aboriginal Members
Sargy Chima	Surrey	CEIU 20943	Racially Visible Members
Floyd Knelsen	Prince George	UTE 20002	Members with Disabilities
Parveen Deepak	Vancouver	UTE 20007	Regional Women's Committee's
Steve Houston	New Westminster	NAT 20088	GLBT Members
Joy Hennen	Surrey	CEIU 20910	Health and Safety
Sharon Tieman	Surrey	UPCE 20101	Directly Chartered Locals
Nick Humphreys	Victoria	ENV 20169	National Officers
Jamey Mills	Burnaby	CEUDA20040	Youth
Alternates
Terri Lee	Vancouver	AGR 20044	Metro Vancouver
Shane Polak	New Westminster	UVAE 20045	Metro A/2
Jack Seto	Delta	GSU 20008	Metro A/3
Paul Croes	Vancouver	CEIU 20938	Metro A/4
Tammy Chretien	Abbotsford	CEIU 20903	Fraser Valley East
Carol Pegura	Surrey	UTE 20029	Fraser Valley East A/2
Chuck Leech	Abbotsford	USGE 20054	Fraser Valley West
Susan Yaciw	Westbank	UTE 20026	BC Interior
Dawn Zander	Vernon	CEIU 20914	BC Interior A/2
Darrell-Lee McKenzie	Penticton	AGR 20043	BC Interior A/3
Brian Baldwin	Penticton	NAT 20214	BC Interior A/4
Yvonne Teskey	Williams Lake	CEIU 20925	BC North
Patt Holmes	Prince George	CEIU 20921	BC North A/2
Sandy Stephens	Prince George	UTE 20002	BC North A/3
Barb Mazur	Prince George	UTE 20002	BC North A/4
Sharon Brine	Victoria	UNDE 21008	Island South
Melissa Sztybel	Victoria	GSU 20001	Island South A/2
Tom Hopkins	Campbell River	ENV 20147	Island South North
Michael Ballard	Prince Rupert	ENV 20147	Aboriginal Members
Darlene McGregor	Surrey	CEIU 20949	Aboriginal Members A/2
Mandi Schubert	Victoria	NHWU 20017	Racially Visible Members
Jack Seto	Delta	GSU 20008	Racially Visible Members A/2
Pam Jabal	Surrey	UTE 20029	Racially Visible Members A/3
John Prasad	Vancouver	UTE 20027	Racially Visible Members A/4
Parveen Deepak	Vancouver	UTE 20007	Racially Visible Members A/5
Claudine Philippe	Vernon	NAT 20378	Members with Disabilities
Kim Forster	Surrey	UTE 20029	Members with Disabilities A/2
Pacita Ho	Vancouver	NAT 20088	Members with Disabilities A/3
Craig Langston	Surrey	UTE 20027	Members with Disabilities A/4
Amy Painter	Vancouver, BC	UTE 20029	GLBT Members
Chuck Leech	Abbotsford	USGE 20054	Health and Safety
Randi Kocher	Nanaimo	NAT 20140	Directly Chartered Locals
Bob Jackson	Langley	AGR 20044	National Officers
Christine Walker	Nanaimo	CEIU 20947	National Officers A/2
Melissa Sztybel	Victoria	GSU 20001	Youth
Amy Painter	Vancouver, BC	UTE 20029	Youth A/2

Patty Ducharme Re-Elected PSAC Regional Vice-President for British Columbia

April 11th

VANCOUVER - Delegates to the PSAC's British Columbia regional convention have re-elected Patty Ducharme as their Regional Executive Vice-President for another three-year term.

"I'm honoured by the vote of confidence that I have been given," says Ducharme. "I remain committed to mobilizing all of our members in B.C. to fight injustice and to build solidarity in our workplaces, in our communities and beyond."

Ducharme was first elected at PSAC's triennial national convention in 2000. Delegates to the PSAC's 2003 convention changed the process to allow for the election of the union's seven Regional Executive Vice-Presidents at a triennial convention in each region. This was the first regional convention to do so.

An activist for over 20 years, Ducharme has held a variety of union positions. She is currently responsible for the PSAC's Women's Program and their Regional Women's Committees and co-chairs the union's standing health and safety committee. Other responsibilities include the issues of classification reform and pay equity, as well as bargaining with Canada Post.

She is a Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress, an executive officer of the B.C. Federation of Labour and the chair of the B.C. Federation's Women's Rights Committee.

Bob Kingston, the National Vice-President of the PSAC's Agriculture Union component was re-elected as the alternate Regional Executive Vice-President for B.C., a post he has filled since 1997. He would become the REVP in the event that Durcharme could not complete her term of office.

The 135 delegates to the regional convention met from April 8 to 10, focusing on their participation in the upcoming provincial election.

The PSAC represents about 14,000 members in British Columbia, primarily in the federal public sector.

BC Regional Convention - Agenda

March 23rd

Here is the agenda for the BC Regional Convention. Download a printable version below

Friday – April 8
8:30	Opening by Patty Ducharme Introduction of Regional Council Introduction of staff Introduction of special guests housekeeping items approval of agenda
9:00	Speech - Patty Ducharme
9:30	Explanation by Finance Resolutions Committee of Regional Budgeting process Financial report 2004
10:45	Break
11:00	Credentials Committe Nominations/Elections Committee-explanation of process
11:15	By-laws Resolutions Committee
12:00	Lunch
1:00	By-laws Resolutions Committee
2:30	Break
2:45	Speech by Nycole Turmel
3:30	General Resolutions Committee
4:30	Adjournment
7:00	Reception
Saturday – April 9
8:30	Solidarity Notes Choir
9:15	Credentials Committee Speech by Jim Sinclair dealing with political action plan and provincial/municipal elections
10:00	Geographic workshops to finalize election plan for area (possibly with BC Fed geographic PAC organizers) and other political actions in areas Coffee at break-out rooms
12:00	Lunch
1:00	Report from workshops
1:30	Resolutions
3:15	Nominations/Elections Committee-explanation of process
3:30	GBLT, Aboriginal, Racially Visible and Members with Disability caucuses meet to elect RC members (Disability cacus should be last, there is an overlap) DCL caucus
4:30	Adjournment
4:30	Election of Coordinator for National Officers Election of Coordinator for Youth
Sunday, April 10, 2005
9:00	Credentials Committee Nominations/Elections Committee
9:15	Election of REVP (and resolutions during count*) Election of Alternate REVP (and resolutions*) Election of Health & Safety Coordinator (and resolutions*) *If no more resolutions are left - have an 'open mic' including observers to discuss priorities and visions for the BC region, plans for PSAC convention, formation of new Area Councils and Committees, etc.
12:00	Lunch Election of Women's Coordinator (lunch meeting)
1:00	Geographic caucuses and election of geographic coordinators
2:15	Break
2:30	Introduction and swearing-in of new Regional Council
3:00	Adjournment

Agenda2.pdf

Elected and automatic delegates to the 3rd Triennial Regional convention – April 8-10, 2005

updated March 24th The ballots have been counted and the results are in, here is the list of elected delegates and alternates to the BC Regional Convention. Click for a printable list of delegates  Please note that some nominees ran as both geographic delegate as well as equity or Area Council delegates.  They now have been moved to the category that they were elected under. Area Councils and committees, other delegates Ackermann, Johann Area Council Surrey Delta Chretien, Tammy Area Council FV FV Gomes, Benilde Area Council NW North Nasato, Gino Area Council Victoria Victoria Stephens, Sandy Area Council Pr. Gg North Wiese, Sam Area Council Vanc Metro Yaciw, Susan Area Council OK OK Chima, Sargy HR C.   Metro Brine, Sharon RWC Victoria Victoria Deepak, Parveen RWC Vanc Metro Minhas, Narinder RWC Pr. Gg North Stanich, Kareen RWC OK OK Sztybel, Melissa Youth C.   SI Tieman, Sharon DCL/Sep/ Er   Metro Thokle, Linda AB   OK Forster, Kim GLBT   FV Jennie Chu RV   Metro Knelsen, Floyd Disabilities North W/D Jassal, Suwinder   North entitlement: 8 1 Teskey, Yvonne CEIU 20925 Will Lk 2 Anthony, Freda CEIU 20921 Pr. Geo 3 Les Ves Conte, Doreen CEIU 20921 Pr. Geo 4 Beaulieu, Diane CEIU 20922 Pr. Rup 5 Ballard, Michael ENV 20147 Pr. Rup 6 Cunningham, Barry ENV 20147 Pr. Rup 7 Stangrecki, Debbie USGE 20070 Pr. Geo 8 Mazur, Barbara UTE 20002 Pr. Geo A2 Fildes, Lucille UVAE 20045 Pr. Geo A3 Mazur, Barbara UTE 20002 Pr. Geo A4 Bergey, Valerie USGE 20070 Pr. Geo A5 Young, Barbara UTE 20002 Pr. Geo A6 Stewart, Valerie UTE 20003 Pr. Geo A7 De Medeiros, Albert UCTE 20215 Pr. Rup A8 Berkhoven, Joanne UTE 20002 Pr. Geo W/D Saunderson, Cheryl NHWU 20031 Pr. Geo W/D Myhre, Renata UTE 20002 Pr. Geo Okan./Koot. entitlement: 5 1 McKenzie, Darrell-Lee AGR 20043 Penticton 2 Leenhouts, Jennifer CEIU 20972 Kelowna 3 Harrison, Joy UTE 20026 Kelowna 4 Zander, Dawn CEIU 20914 Vernon 5 Jefferies, Judy UVAE 20045 Penticton A1 Ringuette, Denis CEUDA 20045 Kelowna A2 Freer, Jeanne NAT 20106 Revelst. A3 Woods, Linda NAT 20140 Kelowna Vancouver Island - North entitlement: 9 1 Stevens, Randy UNDE 21007 Courtenay 2 Hopkins, Tom ENV 20147 Cam Riv 3 Clark, Bruce CEIU 20947 Nanaimo 4 Stevens, Darlene CEIU 20947 Nanaimo 5 Jewsbury, Gail ENV 20090 Cassidy 6 Simpson, Terry UNDE 21007 Courtenay 7 Toovey, Cindy CEIU 20912 Comox 8 Isberg, Greg UNDE IMP Courtenay 9 Machan, Sandra USGE 20174 Parksville A1 Edwards, Lise NAT 29266 Ucluelet A2 Carroll, Garry DCL 20050 Courtney A3 Kocher, Randi NAT 20140 Nanaimo W/D Breese, David DCL 20500 Comox Vancouver Island - South entitlement: 12 1 Chicorelli, Gino UNDE 21009 Victoria 2 Lockerbie, Francis UNDE 21008 Victoria 3 Miller, Thomas UNDE 21016 Victoria 4 Shipalesky, Dave UNDE 21013 Sooke 5 Little, Cindy UTE 20028 Shaw Lk 6 Roberts, Michael UNDE 21010 Victoria 7 Sanderson, Randy ENV 20076 Sidney 8 Schubert, Mandi NHWU 20017 Victoria 9 Young, Renee UCTE 20220 Victoria 10 Anderson, Bill GSU 20001 Victoria 11 Spence, Geoff ENV 20169 Victoria 12 Mitchell, Robert UTE 20028 Victoria A2 Cousins, Sara UTE 20028 Victoria A3 Hoffman, Anita NHWU 20017 Victoria A4 Shearer, Karen NHWU 20017 Victoria A5 Nygaard, Eric USGE 20018 Victoria A6 Telford, Autumn NHWU 20017 Victoria A7 Hillidge, Gillian UCTE 20220 Victoria A8 Port, Brian ENV 20076 Sidney A9 Johnson, Beverley NHWU 20017 Victoria A10 Wills, Pete ENV 20076 Victoria W/D Genereux, Todd UNDE 21011 Sooke Fraser Valley entitlement: 15 1 Hagglund, Sigrid UTE 20029 Surrey 2 MacLean, Earla UTE 20029 Pt. Moody 3 Jabal, Pam UTE 20029 Surrey 4 Sellmeyer, Hilde UTE 20007 Surrey 5 McElwee, George ENV 20147 Chilliw 6 Mitchell, Diane CEIU 20960 Sardis 7 Reaume, Michelle USGE 20054 Abbotsf 8 Sheaves, Pat USGE 20086 Abbotsf 9 Hennen, Joy CEIU 20910 Surrey 10 Hoffer, John CEUDA 20045 Abbotsf 11 Pegura, Carol UTE 20029 Surrey 12 Read, Maxine USGE 20130 Mission 13 Falk, Ben USGE 20017 Mission 14 McArthur, Diane NAT 20140 Abbotsf 15 Painter, Amy UTE 20029 Vanc A1 Johnson, Margaret NAT 20278 Surrey A2 Odberg, Dale UVAE 20029 Delta A3 Fortier, Stephanie USGE 20086 Abbotsf A4 Anand, Harjinder UTE 20029 Surrey Metro entitlement: 27 1 Adam, Megan ENV 20147 Rob.Crk 2 Seto, Jack GSU 20008 Delta 3 Neumann, Sue CEUDA 2040 Burnaby 4 Marafon, Angela CEUDA 20040 New We 5 Strang, Robert CEIU 20944 Vanc 6 Graham, Janet UTE 20027 W Vanc 7 Boire, Alethea CEUDA 20040 Burnaby 8 Hyatt, Richard UTE 20027 Surrey 9 Prasad, John UTE 20027 Vanc 10 Karabotsos, Frank CEIU 20961 Vanc 11 Lee, David UCTE 20219 Tssaww 12 Wong, Sidney AGR 20044 Burnaby 13 Malanchuk, Donna UCTE 20219 Vanc 14 McLellan, Judy USGE 20011 Vanc 15 Plummer, Lorraine NHWU 20031 Rchmd 16 Crawford, Alistair NAT 20088 Vanc 17 Wendt, Ken NHWU 20031 Langley 18 Phillips, Geri CEIU 20949 Vanc 19 Quan, Susan CEIU 20949 Vanc 20 Croes, Paul CEIU 20938 Vanc 21 McGregor, Darlene CEIU 20949 Surrey 22 Ho, Pacita NAT 20088 Vanc 23 Mills, Jamey CEIU 20949 Burnaby 24 Todd, Wes CEIU 20944 Surrey 25 McQuinn, Gordon UVAE 20029 Vanc 26 Stewart, Stephen ENV 20147 Coquitlam 27 Mundy, Wanda UPCE 20101 Burnaby A2 Friday, Teri AGR 20060 Langley A3 Plotnikoff, Greg AGR 20044 New West A4 Shudo, Tracy CEIU 20949 Vanc A5 Guibert-Wolff, Line NHWU 20031 Burnaby A6 Brar, Bill AGR 20044 New West A7 Turner, Sanda NAT 20140 New We A8 Khan, Shahina UVAE 20029 Rchmd A9 Nyce, May NHWU 20031 Vanc A10 Gillis, Gary UPCE 20095 Coquitlam W/D McVicar, Pat CEIU 20943 National Officers and Regional Council - Automatic delegates Abbott, Pamela UTE Nat. Off OK Baldwin, Brian NAT RC OK Bell, Barb CEUDA Nat. Off SI Cornelius, Sheri CEIU RC Metro Dhesi, Parm NRU Nat. Off FV Dockman, Christine NHWU Nat. Off Metro Ducharme, Patty CEUDA RC Metro Dunsmore, Stephen UCTE Nat. Off Metro Finn, Susan CEIU Nat. Off OK Fraser, Garry UNDE RC SI Glover, Keith USGE Nat. Off FV Graves, Bob GSU Nat. Off Metro Guevremont, Luc UPCE Nat. Off Metro Holmes, Patt CEIU RC North Houston, Steve NAT RC Metro Humphreys, Nick ENV Nat. Off and RC SI Jackson, Bob AGR Nat. Off and RC Metro Johns, Jayne CEIU RC FV Kaufman, Richard AGR RC NI Kingston, Bob AGR Nat. Off and RC Metro Langston, Craig UTE RC Metro Lee, Terri AGR Nat. Off and RC Metro Leech, Chuck USGE RC FV Leibel, Dan CEUDA Nat. Off OK Lidyard, Dellie USGE Nat. Off Metro Maxwell, Pat UNDE RC SI McCormick, Elizabeth GSU Nat. Off NI McDiarmid, Ruth AGR Nat. Off OK McGillivray, Carolyn CEUDA Nat. Off Metro Pearce, Sheila May CEIU RC OK Philippe, Claudine NAT Nat. Off OK Polak, Shane UVAE Nat. Off and RC Metro Purcell, Stephen CEIU Nat. Off Metro Ray, Lynn USGE Nat. Off FV Robinson, Garry UNDE Nat. Off SI Scott, George CEUDA Nat. Off Metro Sinclair, Kay UTE RC FV Stachura, Wanda NAT RC Metro Ursino, Joanne NAT Nat. Off and RC Metro Wakefield, Pat CEIU Nat. Off OK Walker, Christine CEIU Nat. Off NI

-1238 days to go until Regional Convention

posted October 29th To: All Locals, Branches, National Officers, RVPs/NVPs, Regional Committees, Area Councils Re: 3rd Triennial Regional Convention April 8 - 10, 2005 Dear Brothers and Sisters: Below you will find the call letter to the above convention as well as several self-explanatory attachments. Delegates to this convention, for the first time, will not only elect our Regional Council Coordinators, but also the Regional Executive Vice-President and the Alternate REVP.   The Regional Council has budgeted to pay the following expenses for delegates: travel and parking hotel room at the convention hotel (for delegates who live more than 60 km away from the convention hotel) meals and incidentals (amount varies, depending on travel status) wages for Saturday and Sunday if you were scheduled to work these days Family care (if applicable) PLEASE NOTE:  We do not have a large enough budget to pay for loss of salary for Friday, April 8.  Delegates are encouraged to apply for leave with pay (annual leave, compensatory time, volunteer days as per their collective agreement) or to take leave without pay and approach their supporting union body to help defray these costs. There will be a $100.00 registration fee payable by each delegate. We will have observers, who must be registered.  The registration fee for observers is $50.00. You will note that the election of delegates is different from other PSAC conventions – it is based on the by-laws agreed upon at the BC Founding convention. If you have any questions or concerns we invite you to contact: REVP office 302- 5238 Joyce St. Vancouver, B.C. V5R 6C9 604-430-0191 (phone) 604-430-0194 (fax) 1-866-811-7700 (toll free) revp-bc@psac.com (email) In solidarity, Patty Ducharme, Regional Executive Vice-President, BC PSAC

CALL LETTER: 3rd Triennial, British Colombia Regional Convention, April 8 - 10, 2005

posted October 29th

To: All Locals, Branches, National Officers, RVPs/NVPs, Regional Committees,Area Councils

The British Columbia Regional Convention of the Public Service Alliance of Canada will be held at the Coast Plaza Suite at Stanley Park in Vancouver from Friday, April 8 to Sunday, April 10, 2005.

Delegates to the B.C. Regional Convention will be elected based on Section 9 of the B.C. Regional Council By-Laws and Regulation 1 (copy attached).

Delegate selection will take place based on the principles outlined in the attached document entitled “Selection of Delegates”.

The Regional Council will pay for delegates as outlined in the covering letter to the Convention Call

The Registration fee for each elected delegate is $100.00.

Limited space is available for observers, apply early, as these will be considered on a first come, first served basis.  Registration fee for observers is $50.00.

For the first time the Regional Executive Vice-President for BC and the Alternate REVP will be elected at Regional Convention.

Who can submit resolutions:

Resolutions to the Regional Convention can be submitted by the Regional Council, Locals, Branches, Regional Women’s Committees, Area Councils and recognized PSAC Regional Committees.

Who can nominate for delegates:

For general delegates: any 2 members in good standing can nominate another member in good standing.  Delegates will be elected as per Regulation 1.

For equity delegates: An equity committee recognized by the Regional Council or any 2 members in good standing can nominate a member in good standing from an equity group (must self-identify).  Delegates will be elected as per Regulation 1.

For Area Councils, Regional Committees, Separate Employer/Directly Chartered local delegates:  each of the groups will elect a delegate from among their specific group

Timelines:

• Nomination forms for delegates must be received by the REVP office by January 21, 2005
• Ballots for Delegate elections will take place in January / February 2005
• Resolutions must be received by the REVP office by January 28, 2005

Please direct all correspondence and enquiries to:

PSAC - BC REVP Office
302 – 5238 Joyce St. Vancouver, B.C.  V5R 6C9
604-430-0191 (phone)
604-430-0194 (fax)
1-866-811-7700 (toll free)
revp-bc@psac.com (email)

Representation & Voting at the BC Regional Convention

posted October 29th

SECTION 9 - Representation and Voting at the BC Triennial Convention

Sub-Section (1)

For geographic districts of less than 1000 members, the district shall be entitled to one delegate for the first 50 members, and one delegate for each additional 100 members or major fraction thereof. Each geographic district greater than 1000 members shall be entitled to one delegate for each 200 members, or major fraction thereof, and to one additional delegate for each additional 200 members, or major fraction thereof, based on the membership lists at the time of the Convention call. The delegate selection shall be made through a membership vote within each geographic district.

Sub-Section (2)

• The B.C. Regional Council members shall be delegates to Triennial B.C. Regional Conventions.
• PSAC members who hold a PSAC national elected office and Component National Officers who are members of the B.C. Regional Caucus shall be entitled to attend Triennial B.C. Regional Conventions as delegates.

Sub-Section (3)

Each accredited B.C. Regional Women’s Committee shall be entitled to one delegate to the Triennial B.C. Regional Convention.

Sub-Section (4)

Each recognized B.C. Regional equity seeking group shall be entitled to one delegate to the Triennial B.C. Regional Convention.

Sub-Section (5)

Each B.C. Regional Area Council shall be entitled to one delegate to the Triennial B.C. Regional Convention.

Sub-Section (6)

Directly Chartered Locals/ Separate Employer Units representing fewer than 2% of the total PSAC membership in B.C., shall be entitled to one delegate to the Triennial B.C. Regional Convention to represent their entire constituency.

Sub-Section (7)

Young workers under 30 years of age shall be entitled to one delegate to the Triennial BC Regional Convention to represent their entire constituency.

Sub-Section (8)

Each committee created subsequent to ratification of these Bylaws which is recognized by the B.C. Regional Council shall be entitled to one delegate to the Triennial B.C. Regional Convention.

Selection of Delegates to BC Region Triennial Convention

posted October 29th

REGULATION 1: Selection of Delegates to BC Region Triennial Convention

Section 1: Delegates Representing Geographic Districts

Sub-Section 1:  Eligibility
 
Each member in good standing working or residing in British Columbia, is eligible to seek election and to vote for delegates in the geographic district in which s/he works or resides. Where a member lives in a different district than that where s/he works, the member may seek election and vote in only 1 district.

Sub-Section 2: Nominations

The nomination of delegates to the BC Regional Convention shall be submitted to the office of the REVP prior to the deadline established by the Convention committee.  Nominations shall be submitted on a form approved by the Convention committee and shall include the name, address, phone number(s), email address (if available), component and local, PSAC identification number, geographic area, gender, equity identification (if any), names and signatures of nominator and seconder, a signed agreement by the nominee to stand for election, and a short paragraph of biographical information.  This information will be distributed at least one month prior to election.
 
Sub-Section 3: Voting

Each geographic district is entitled to a number of delegates based on total membership in the district as determined by membership lists 6 months prior to Convention.

Each member within the district may vote for a number of delegates up to the predetermined number for the district (i.e. if the district is entitled to 6 delegates, then up to 6 names may be marked on the ballot).

Ballots will be mailed to all members and Rands in BC. The mail-out shall include

• the ballot
• voting instructions
• a ballot envelope
• a self-addressed (not stamped) return envelope
• membership card for Rands

Information on nominated delegates will be posted on the BC website and copies will be sent to all locals so members can inform themselves on the candidates’ experience and union involvement.  Upon request by a member this information will also be mailed out.

Section 2: Delegates Representing Regional Women’s Committees, Area Councils, Directly Chartered Locals and any other committee recognized by the Council under By-Law 9 Section 7.

Sub-Section 1: Delegate selection meetings

Each Regional Women’s Committee, Area Council, Directly Chartered Local, and any other committee recognized by the Council shall hold a general meeting, not less than two months and not more than six months prior to a Triennial Convention, BC Region, for the purpose of electing a convention delegate.  Every effort shall be made to schedule such meeting at a convenient time to permit as many members as possible attend.  Notice of the meeting, in writing, is to be given at least four weeks in advance of the meeting date.

Sub-Section 2: Eligibility

For Regional Women’s Committees, any active member in good standing of the Committee is eligible to seek delegate status and to vote in the delegate selection.

For Area Councils, each Area council delegate in good standing of an affiliated local affiliated is eligible to seek delegate status and to vote in the delegate selection.

For Directly Chartered Locals, each member of the local in good standing is eligible to seek delegate status and to vote in the delegate selection.

Eligible candidates who are unable to attend the delegate selection meeting may seek the nomination by submitting a written statement, duly moved and seconded, of their intent to do so.

Sub-Section 3: Voting

The delegate is elected by a simple majority of ballots cast.  Where no candidate has a clear majority, the lowest-ranking delegate is dropped from the ballot and voting repeated until one delegate has a clear majority of 50% + 1.
 

Section 3: Delegates Representing Equity Groups

Sub-Section 1: Eligibility

Equity members must self-identify to run or vote for the equity delegate seats.  Each member may belong to and vote in more than one equity group.  Equity members may also run or vote in geographic delegate selection.

Sub-Section 2: Nominations

Nominations must be submitted, on the approved form and by the deadline established by the Convention committee, to the office of the REVP.

Sub-section 3: Voting

Ballots will be mailed to each member who has self-identified as a member of one of the equity groups.