• Orange Shirt Day/National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Webinar Wednesdays - IBEW Votes 2021
• NextGen and Women's Committee Monthly Meetings
• Happy Labour Day!
• Federal Election September 20th
• Remembering 9/11
• Let's Build Canada
• Women's Conference November 18-20th

Orange Shirt Day helps to continue the conversation and efforts around reconciliation.  Those who have suffered tell their stories and continue to heal.  For the rest of us it's about supporting our Indigenous brothers and sisters that have been affected and to remind ourselves that Every Child Matters.

In 2017, Member of Parliament, Georgina Jolibois submitted private member's bill C-361 calling for a national holiday.  The bill passed through the House of Commons on March 21, 2019 but never made it through the Senate before the next election was called.

On September 29, 2020, Canada's Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault tabled bill C-5 proposing that Orange Shirt Day become a national statutory holiday, similar to the previous bill by Georgina Jolibois. The new holiday would be officially named the "National Day for Truth and Reconciliation".  On May 28, 2021, the day after 215 children's bodies were discovered in an unmarked cemetery on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, all parties in the House of Commons agreed to fast-track the bill and it passed in the House of Commons by unanimous consent. The bill passed the Senate unanimously six days later and received royal assent on June 3, 2021.

This September 30th, we ask that you take some time to learn about the history of residential schools and work towards ensuring something like this never happens again. A great place to start is reading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's 94 Calls to Action.

In solidarity,

Cheryl Paron
International Representative

[Sources: Wikipedia and Parliament of Canada]

Webinar Wednesdays!

Thank you to all who participated in our latest webinar, "Mental Health" held August 25th.  We're excited to announce our next new webinar titled "IBEW Votes 2021".  To prepare for the upcoming federal election on September 20th, join this webinar to learn how the Canadian political system works and how you as an IBEW member and Canadian citizen can be engaged in the process.  We will cover key election topics and political party policies along with how to ensure you’re registered to vote.

Once again, our next webinar will be offered twice to reach as many of our members as possible.  To register for either day, please use the links below.

IBEW Votes 2021

• Eastern Canada – Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 7pm EDT - Register here
• Western Canada – Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 6pm PDT - Register here

For those new to Webinar Wednesdays, we will be covering a variety of subjects on the IBEW and labour movement.  Webinars will take place via zoom and will run for 1 hour.  Details on the subjects covered and how to register will be communicated to your local union and can be found on our social media accounts and website.  This is a great opportunity to stay connected to your union and become a more informed member.  Hope to see you there!

Looking to revisit our past webinars?  Check out the recordings on the IBEW Canada YouTube page.

Please note that this webinar is only open to IBEW members and retirees.

Calls for September are as follows:

• NextGen Committees - Tuesday, September 14th 7:30pm EDT (2nd Tuesday of the month)
• Women's Committees - Tuesday, September 21st 7:00-8:00pm EDT (3rd Tuesday of the month)

Typically we would spend Labour Day at various parades or events, coming together in solidarity with other unions and labour groups to show support for the labour movement and remind the public that unions still have a very important role in maintaining and achieving rights for working people.  However once again, due to COVID-19, Labour Day will be celebrated differently.  Innovative ceremonies such as caravans have been organized to show our solidarity and continue celebrating the struggles and achievements of the labour movement.

For many, the Labour Day weekend marks the end of summer but as the labour movement we know that it represents so much more.  As we continue to trek on through this global pandemic we will continue to fight for better working conditions and improved safety, particularly for our front line workers - many of whom are IBEW members.

Thank you for everything that you do for the IBEW, the labour movement and this great nation!

Federal Election September 20th

The federal election is rapidly approaching.  If you have not received your Voter Information Card and/or you're not registered to vote, you can still vote.  Consult Elections Canada's Website for information on polling station locations and ID required to vote.  

We want to remind our members that this is our opportunity to elect a labour friendly government.  Let us not forget about the anti-union legislation (Bill C-377 and Bill C-525) that was passed by the Harper Conservative Government, of which current Conservative leader Erin O'Toole was a part of.  Use your voice and your vote to ensure that we keep the Conservatives out of power and elect a government led by a Prime Minister who will protect our rights as unionized workers.  We also want to encourage our members, especially our NextGen committees to get out and support labour friendly candidates in your area.  If your local has a Political Action Committee (PAC), partner with them. 

There are many options for casting your ballot which include early voting and voting by mail.  If you plan to vote by mail you must request your ballot no later than September 14th.

Let’s Build Canada is a coalition of building trade and construction unions representing workers from thousands of communities, large and small, in every province and territory.  Our members are the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA); and Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU).

For decades, the unionized building trades have led the way in building Canada’s middle class. We’ve fought for good jobs – jobs with wages you can support a family on (and maybe take a vacation), benefits that protect you in the present and for retirement, and time off for you and your loved ones to pursue your own lives.

We're back for the 2021 election campaigning for progressive policies and good jobs. Canada is facing incredible challenges. Climate change, COVID-19 and a changing global economy all require bold, progressive solutions. To build a stronger Canada, we need strong leaders who will make the right decisions for the prosperity of all Canadians.  Our platform includes:

• Making it easier for working Canadians to get to the good jobs wherever they are across the country
• Building the good jobs of tomorrow by ensuring our oil and gas workers and their families have a fair and just transition to the low-carbon economy
• Building strong training programs that will prepare Canadian workers to prosper in the future

Registration is now open for the IBEW Canadian Women's Conference being held November 18-20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel and Suites in Richmond Hill, ON.  The deadline to register for both the conference and to book your hotel at the preferred nightly rate of $139 plus tax is October 25, 2021.

The theme of the conference is "Diversity. Equity. Unity".  The agenda will include speakers and workshops designed to inspire and build strong IBEW leaders.  New this year we will offer programming specifically for allies.  The plenary sessions will be open to all attendees but we will offer a specific track of workshops designed to engage allies in the Diversity and Inclusion conversation.  We will explore issues currently faced by our female members and provide tools and strategies for becoming better allies.  We encourage all IBEW members in leadership positions who do not identity as women to participate in the allies portion of the conference.

As for the regular conference portion, we ask that you support this conference by sending women to participate.  This conference is the greatest opportunity our IBEW women have to learn, network and build solidarity with the other sisters across the country.  We ask that if funds are limited you prioritize sending women to the conference over allies.

The province of Ontario is introducing a vaccine certificate program which will go into effect September 22^nd.  In order to access certain businesses and settings which include conferences, you will need to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination along with photo ID.  People are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving the full series of a COVID 19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by World Health Organization (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine series).  The government of Ontario is working on an enhanced vaccine certificate, as well as a verification app to allow businesses to read the QR code, which will be available beginning October 22.  Participants will also be required to abide by all public health measures which may include hand sanitizing, mask wearing and physical distancing.  We are keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 situation in Ontario and will work diligently with the hotel to provide a safe experience for all participants.

If you are interested in attending, please speak to your local union.  We look forward to seeing all of you in person!