PIPSC AFS-Headquarters Sub-Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) Draft Minutes 2023

Item

Topic and Discussion

Action

Roll Call of Existing Members of the Executive

Daryl Boychuk (Director/Member-at-Large, AFS Headquarters Sub-Group) called the 2023 AGM to order at 5:39pm.

Daryl performed a roll-call and identified those members who currently serve on the Sub-Group executive:

Brian Busby - Acting President Andra Weis - Acting Vice-President James Armstrong - Treasurer Patrick McIver - Secretary

Earle Loftman - Director/Member-at-Large Louise Lepore - Director/Member-at-Large Daryl Boychuk - Director/Member-at-Large Tabitha Fuller - Director/Member-at-Large

Absent was Lin Bian (Director/Member-at-Large), who sent his regrets.

Daryl Boychuk

Introduction of the Guests

Daryl introduced the special guests who were in attendance at the AGM: Doug Mason (AFS President), Abraham Garcia (Headquarters Region AFS Representative), and Bruce Buchardt (Past-President, AFS Headquarters Sub-Group, retired).

Daryl thanked these individuals for attending and welcomed them to the 2023 AGM.

Daryl Boychuk

Moment of Silence for Members That Passed Away

Daryl asked the members in attendance for a moment of silence to remember those former AFS members who passed away since the last AGM.

Daryl explicitly mentioned the name of Ian Tait, a retired AFS member who served PIPSC members at all levels: AFS Headquarters Sub-Group President; AFS Group Executive; AFS bargaining and national consultation teams; and as a branch executive member.

Daryl Boychuk

Approval of the Agenda

The draft agenda for the 2023 AGM was posted on the Sub- Group’s PIPSC webpage (in the Notices of 2023 AGM and Executive Elections) and was provided to all registered members in advance by email. Hard-copies were also distributed to members when they arrived at the AGM.

Andra Weis moved the motion to adopt the draft agenda. Patrick McIver seconded the motion. Motion passed. Agenda approved.

Daryl Boychuk

Adoption of the Minutes from the Previous AGMs

The draft minutes of the 2021 AGM and 2022 AGM were posted on the Sub-Group’s PIPSC website and were subsequently linked to in the Notices of 2023 AGM and Executive Elections posted onto the website. The linked minutes were also provided in an AGM reminder email all registered members received prior to the AGM.

Brian Busby moved the motion to adopt the draft minutes of the 2021 AGM and 2022 AGM. Motion seconded by Earle Loftman. Motion passed. Minutes adopted.

Daryl Boychuk

Business Arising from the Previous AGM Minutes

There was no business arising from the 2021 AGM and 2022 AGM.

Daryl Boychuk

Item

Topic and Discussion

Action

Report from the Sub-Group Acting President

Daryl called up the Sub-Group’s current Acting President Brian Busby to give a President’s report and an update to the membership in attendance.

Brian informed those in attendance that he assumed the President’s position on this year’s retirement of Bruce Buchardt. Since then, Brian has been involved in handling member inquiries, complaints and challenges concerning the CRA’s return-to-the-office policy, which included dealing with exemption and accommodation requests being denied / challenged by CRA management. Brian also said the

Sub-Group is dealing with the challenge of identifying new CRA employees and getting them to sign-up as members, which has become more difficult since most executive members are only in the office a few days per week. Brian explained that the current executive is looking to engage in more mobilization activities to increase the visibility of the AFS Group and increase member participation in their union.

Brian Busby

Guest Presentation / AFS National Update

Daryl called on Abraham Garcia and Doug Mason, as invited guests, to address the membership. Abraham started the address by introducing himself to all those present and to advise that he was the successful candidate in the election to fill the position of Headquarters Region representative on the AFS Group’s national executive. Abraham replaced Dan Quinn on July 1, 2023.

Abraham spoke about his role on the national executive before turning the floor over to Doug Mason, AFS Group President, to give remarks.

Doug gave a presentation to the members on the current status of collective bargaining with the CRA, the bargaining process, and explained how it works. He said the group’s bargaining team is working hard to advance the member’s priorities, which include fair wage increases, where members work and when they work. Mason said the bargaining team is back at the negotiating table next week, and discussed the possible outcomes should AFS not reach a tentative agreement with CRA management. Doug also said the AFS Group has a Facebook page where they post, on a quicker basis, the last information arising out of a bargaining session, and encouraged members to follow that page.

At the end of his prepared presentation, Doug took questions from the members in attendance.

Abraham Garcia and Doug Mason

Item

Topic and Discussion

Action

Financial Reports

Following dinner, Sub-Group Treasurer James Armstrong presented the 2021 and 2022 financial reports and the 2023 and 2024 draft budgets. Hard-copies were distributed to all members in attendance.

First, James presented the financial reports showing the results from the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years (ending December 31st), He explained in detail the financial statements for these years and took questions from the floor. He also gave an explanation of how the Sub-Group’s funding from PIPSC is determined.

Brian moved the motion to approve the financial reports for 2021 and 2022. Motion seconded by Louise Lepore. Motion passed.

Following the adoption of the financial reports for 2021 and 2022, James presented to the membership, for their approval, the 2023 and 2024 draft budgets. James explained in detail the proposed budgets for these years, and took questions from the floor.

Earle Loftman moved the motion to approve the 2023 and 2024 budgets. Seconded by Art Iwinski. Motion passed.

James Armstrong

Item

Topic and Discussion

Action

Daryl turned the meeting over to the Sub-Group’s Elections Committee to preside over the elections for the vacant positions on the Sub-Group’s executive.

The members of the Elections Committee were: Andra Weis (Acting Vice-President and Director/Member-at-Large), Audrey Wojcik (Director/Member-at-Large), Dixie Toma (retired AFS Sub-Group member), and Helga Welward (retired AFS Sub- Group member).

Elections were held for the following positions:

President (one position for a two-year term):

Brian Busby nominated from the floor by James Armstrong. Brian accepted nomination. No other nominations received. Brian Busby acclaimed Sub-Group President for a two-year term.

Sub-Group Elections

Treasurer (one position for a two-year term):

James Armstrong nominated from the floor by Brian Busby. James accepted nomination. No other nominations received. James Armstrong acclaimed Sub-Group Treasurer for a two- year term.

Andra Weis, Audrey Wojcik, Doxie Toma, and Helga Welward

Director/Member-at-Large (three positions for two-year terms): Art Iwinski nominated from the floor by Amy Wang. Art accepted nomination.

Louise Lepore nominated from the floor by Earle Loftman. Louise accepted nomination.

Tabitha Fuller nominated from the floor by Patrick McIver. Tabitha accepted nomination.

No other candidate nominations received from the floor.

Therefore, Louise, Art and Tabitha all acclaimed to one of the three Director/Member-at-Large positions, for two-year terms.

The Elections Committee thanked everybody for their participation in the election.