Prairie Region Council Meeting

Mar. 4th – 5th, 2006

Attendance:      Sr. Robyn Benson, REVP

Br. Brian Molsberry, Alternate REVP

Br. Satinder Bains, Southern SK Rep

                        Sr. Dale Buck, Manitoba Rep

Sr. Barb Hall,   Manitoba Rep

Sr. Niru Channan, Racially Visible Rep

Sr. Carol Casey, Northern SK Rep

Sr. Marianne Hladun, Northern SK Rep

Sr. Jo Chelick, Northern AB Rep

Br. Shawn Bergeron, MB Rep

Br. Calvin Veeder, Southern SK Rep

Sr. Mary Veilleux, Northern AB Rep

Sr. Gwen Jackson, Southern AB Rep

Sr. Naydene Lewis, Southern AB Rep

Sr. Canan Karamanoglou, RWC Rep

Sr. Valerie Denesiuk, Persons with Disabilities Rep

Br. Danial Curotte, Aboriginal Rep

Sr. Barbara Abramchuk, GLBT Rep

Guests: Marlene Hoce, Alternate Persons with Disabilities Rep

                        Ed Janis,  RVP, GSU

Saturday

Saturday morning the committees of the PRC met.

Saturday afternoon the PRC met as a whole.  Sr. Benson welcomed the PRC to the meeting. 

1.  Call to Order

Opening Remarks

Sr. Benson asked the Council to introduce themselves to the guests.

2.  Adoption of the Agenda

3.  Adoption of Hours of Session

4.  Adoption of the Previous Minutes

The PRC approved the minutes from the October 2005 PRC meeting.

5.  Report of Elected PRC Officers:

A) REVP Sister Benson's Report

Sr. Benson presented her report. 

B) Alternate REVP Brother Molsberry's Report

Br. Molsberry presented his report. 

C) Northern Alberta Reps Sister Veilleux's Report Sister Chelick's Report

Sister Chelick and Sister Veilleux presented their reports.

D) Southern Alberta Reps Sister Lewis' Report Sister Jackson's Report

Sister Lewis and Sister Jackson presented their reports.

E) Northern Saskatchewan Reps Sisters Hladun & Casey Joint Report

Sister Hladun and Sister Casey presented a joint report.

F) Southern Saskatchewan Reps Brother Bains' Report Brother Veeder's Report

Brother Bains and Brother Veeder presented their reports.

G) Manitoba Reps Sister Buck's Report Sister Hall's Report

Brother Bergeron's Report Brother McLeod's Report

Sister Buck, Sister Hall and Brother Bergeron presented their reports.  Brother McLeod was not in attendance but his report was presented on his behalf.

H)  Direct Chartered Locals Rep

Sister Mohr was not in attendance so no report was presented.  Sr. Benson advised that Casino Regina has entered into negotiations.  A brief strategy meeting was held and some action may be required.  The Casino does not have a mandate yet and probably won’t have until the fall.  Sr. Benson advised the council that PSAC has entered into a service agreement with Casino Regina.

I) Women’s Rep Sister Karamanoglou's Report

Sister Karamanoglou presented her report. 

J) Aboriginal Rep Brother Curotte's Report

Brother Curotte presented his report.

K) Persons with Disabilities Rep Sister Denesiuk's Report

Sister Denesiuk presented her report.

L) GLBT Rep Sister Abramchuk's Report

Sister Abramchuk presented her report.

M) Racially Visible Rep Sister Channan's Report

Sister Channan presented her report.

N) Youth Rep

Sister Duffenais is on a leave of absence so no report was presented. 

6.  Committees

A)  Education Education Committee Report

Education Committee Report Mar 3rd

The Education Committee reported.  The Committee reported that there will be no School this year as it is a convention year.  The Committee asked the PRC to contact them if they had concerns about courses, the timing of courses, or any other issues relating to training so that they can work with Sister Shannon to get the training needs met.

B)  Finance

Brother Molsberry went through the 2005 financial statement.

C)  Political Action Political Action Committee Report 1 Political Action Committee Report 2 Political Action Committee Report 3

The Committee shared their minutes from their conference calls held since the last meeting. 

D)  Youth Youth Committee Report

Sister Karamanoglou and Sister Buck shared their report.  Sr. Benson advised that a pilot is being done in BC for a Youth Workshop.  The Prairies will have a seat on it and then the Youth Committee will look at it to see if it will be valuable to the Prairies.

E)  Health & Safety Health and Safety Committee Report

The Committee reported on the Regional Health and Safety Conference being planned. 

Open Discussion

As requested at the October 2005 PRC meeting the last half hour of the day was committed to open discussion.

Sunday

F)  Area Councils Area Council Committee Report

The Area Council committee sees value in working with the Political Action Committee.  They feel there should still be two committees but would like to meet together to work on common issues.

G)  Communication Communications Committee Report

The Communications committee is working on updating the PRC pamphlet.  They are also working on a template for introduction letters. 

H)  Convention

Convention committee will report at the next PRC.

I)  Honours and Awards

The Honours and Awards Committee was struck at this meeting.  The members are Sister Veilleux, Sister Jackson, Sister Casey and Brother Curotte.

J)  By-Laws

Nothing to report

7.  Finances

Sr. Benson advised that the 2006 Local Development Funds have not been disbursed to the regions.  The REVP’s are responsible to approve the funding.  Council may identify locals that need specific training and talk to the Regional Reps in the RO’s.  A discussion then needs to be held between the REVP and the RVP and Component involved.

Sr. Benson advised that when the budgets come in from the Area Councils, RWC’s and HRC’s she will review with the PRC members representing each of them to determine funding.

Br. Molsberry advised that the Finance Committee approved $4,000.00 for Globalization training and $10,000.00 for the H & S Conference from the surplus.  They also approved the registration of $600.00 for the SFL Kids Kamp.

A discussion was held about the PRC Rep Budgets and the associated line item.  It was determined that they will each have $1,000.00.  As this is a three year budget they will have a $3,000.00 budget.  The PRC will review it each fall to see if adjustments need to be made.

Sr. Benson advised that a CGA from Canada Revenue Agency has been contacted to audit the books for 2005.

8.  Items Submitted

1. Resolutions

It was moved by Brother Molsberry and seconded by Sister Denesiuk that the non-concurrence Finance/General Resolutions from convention be accepted.

Motion was carried.

It was moved by Brother Molsberry and seconded by Sister Denesiuk that the non-concurrence General resolutions from convention be accepted.

Motion was carried.

7.  JCTC

Br. Molsberry updated the Council on the demise of the JCTC’s.  In Manitoba the Career Fair and Career Pathways are going to be funded by the Federal Council until the end of June.  He asked that we ensure we get copies of all Career Pathways Modules in the RO’s. 

Br. Molsberry asked Sr. Benson to request $10,000.00 from the AEC to ensure the livelihood of the JCTC.  This will help cover the costs of LWOP for the steering committee for the Career Fair. 

Sr. Benson advised that there have been consultations at the national level to try and keep the JCTC’s alive.  She believes that Treasury Board will use the School of Public Service to replace the JCTC.

4.  Organizing and Staffing Update

The Organizer position for the Prairies was posted.  A transfer request was put in and Don Dudar will be taking up residence in Winnipeg shortly.

A Regional negotiator position for the Prairies has been requested in the budget.

Sr. Benson advised that the canteen workers at the RCMP depot in Regina have been signed up and we are in the process of having them certified.

Sr. Hladun advised that Starbucks had an organizing drive in Regina.  The employee who signed the members up was fired and a complaint was filed.  The Labour Relations Board ruled that the member was to be reinstated with full pay and also that all current and future Starbucks employees at all locations in Regina will now automatically be certified.

2.  Observer to PSAC Convention

A discussion was held and it was determined that the PRC would send two observers to the PSAC convention.

3.  Minutes of Geographical Meetings Equity Reps Report

Manitoba Geographical Reps Report AB Geographical Meeting

Minutes of the Geographical meetings held in the fall of 2005 were presented as submitted.

5.  Finances

Sr. Jackson asked for clarification on how it is determined what money we receive as a region.

Sr. Benson advised that there is a $700,000.00 budget for Regional Councils.  We receive $105,465.00 of that budget for the Prairies. 

6.  Name Tags

Sr. Lewis suggested that we have name tags for the PRC for when they are representing the PRC at such events as Career Fairs, demonstrations, etc. so members know who they are.  The Communications Committee will look into it and follow up by the end of April.

Sr. Benson thanked the Council for their work during the past two days.

Meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.