Society Council will meet on November 8 with a focus on “building back better” as pandemic life gradually returns to normal.
As the union’s highest delegated decision-making body, Society Council is comprised of delegates selected by each local. Council has a number of responsibilities under the Society’s Constitution and Bylaws, including setting union policies, electing members to oversight bodies such as the Audit and Screening Committees, and receiving reports from the Principal Officers on the union’s activities and finances. This will be the second consecutive year that Society Council is held virtually due to pandemic health and safety measures.
To help delegates reimagine what a health and just province could look like post-pandemic, the Society is hosting guest speaker Jesse Wente, a best-selling Indigenous author who is a leading cultural commentator and arts leader in Canada. He will also discuss the legacy of the Indian Residential School system.
One of the key opportunities to build back better is electing a new provincial government that respects Society members’ collective bargaining rights. With a provincial election coming in June 2022, Council will hear from Leader of Ontario’s Official Opposition and Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party Andrea Horwath about her party’s plans. The Liberal Party was also invited but did not respond.
Council will hear from a number of other guest speakers, including IFPTE President Matthew Biggs, Canadian Labour Congress President Bea Bruske, Ontario Federation of Labour President Patty Coates, and Toronto and York Region Labour Council President Andria Babbington.
Society Council will also include an All Candidates Meeting for those vying to be elected Executive Vice President. This portion of Society Council will be recorded and distributed to all members to help them cast an informed ballot when voting is open between November 17 and December 1.
