Revised: June 20 2016
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) National Consultation Team
Preamble
These terms of reference define the composition and structure of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Consultation Team (“the Team”). They are intended to clarify the internal functioning of the Team within the framework of the Institute’s Policy on Union-Management Relations.
Acronyms
UMCC: Union Management Consultation Committee
Also known as: LMCC: Labour Management Consultation Committee
ERO: Employment Relations Officer
PIPSC: Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (“The Institute”)
President, Vice-President and Team are defined within these Terms of Reference
Requirements
1. Composition and Structure
1.1 While all Institute stewards within INAC are eligible, if willing to serve, to conduct consultation within INAC as approved by the Team President, the PIPSC National INAC Consultation Team shall be composed of a President, a Vice-President, an OSH representative and of the Regional Representatives conducting local or regional consultation. Revised: June 20 2016
1.2 An effort will be made to ensure appropriate representation by regions and by groups.
2. Positions
2.1 President
The President is to be appointed according to PIPSC’s consultation team election process. The term is for two years. Election to be held in even numbered years.
The President is responsible to call and chair the Consultation Team meetings; to submit the budget; to represent the Team at the PIPSC Advisory Council and on the PIPSC Working Group on Consultation; The President represents the Institute at the National UMCC meetings and National Human Resources sub-committee.
2.2 Vice-President
The Vice-President is to be elected by and from the Consultation team members. The term is for two years. The election is held in odd-numbered years, alternating with the President’s election.
The Vice-President assists the President and acts as President in the absence of the President. The Vice-President normally represents the Institute at the National UMCC meetings and at the National Occupational Safety and Health sub-committee.
2.3 Alternate
If the President and Vice-President become unavailable to attend a meeting, then an alternate will be selected by the President.
3 Consultation
The Team participates in Union Management Consultation meetings with INAC and addresses concerns at three (3) levels:
National UMCC
Regional UMCC in each of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Regions Local UMCC in some locations
4. Budget
4.1 The Team is responsible for preparing a budget and the President submits the budget to the Institute for approval. Unexpected activities require the President to submit a business plan including a budget for approval by the PIPSC Executive Committee.
4.2 The President is responsible for managing the budget as approved.
4.3 In accordance with the Institute’s Policy on Union-Management Relations, the Team will meet annually in person.
5. Team Communications
In accordance with the Institute’s Policy on Union-Management Relations,
5.1 Communications among Team members is necessary for the purposes of preparation for consultation, post-consultation debriefing, dissemination of information, and other team business.
5.2 It is expected that the bulk of communications between Team members will not be in person. Modern technologies (including but not limited to teleconferences, videoconferences, newsletters, web-based information, electronic discussion groups, and email) will be the primary form of Team communications.
5.3 The Team will communicate with PIPSC members on consultation activities at least quarterly. This is normally done on the PIPSC INAC Consultation web page.
5.4 When required by the Institute, the Team will provide a briefing note to the Institute’s Executive Committee.
5.5 Any team member who is absent from multiple consecutive meetings of the National INAC Consultation Team without valid reason shall be deemed to have resigned from the Team. Revised: June 20 2016
6. Advisory Council and Working Group on Consultation
The President is the Team representative on the Institute’s Working Group on Consultation and Advisory Council.
7. Institute’s staff
7.1 The NCR ERO assigned to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada provides assistance and guidance to the National Consultation Team. The NCR ERO is an ex-officio member of The Team.
7.2 The NCR and regional PIPSC Staff assist the Team with meetings and travel in accordance with the approved budget. Revised: May 26 2012
Approved at the Working Group on Consultation meeting – May 3, 2013.