During USJE’s September National Executive meeting, Executive members agreed unanimously to donate $10,000 to the Prince Edward Island Red Cross. These monies will be used to provide support to those who have been recently devasted by Hurricane Fiona.
USJE member Nicole Akhenak met with Edmonton MLA Kaycee Madu on September 10. She approached the conservative MLA with a copy of the Presumptive Injury report. Nicole reminded the elected official that provincial legislation is too restrictive and fails to cover many of our USJE members.
The devastating events in Saskatchewan a few weeks ago, with 11 dead and 18 others injured, have rocked this country. As Canadians collectively mourn the loss of life, they are also asking crucial questions about what could have been done to prevent this tragedy.
The answers, while complex, fundamentally boil down to systemic change.
While we absolutely understand the urgency and gravity of the situation, USJE’s fundamental concern is that the use of internal investigators will undermine the early confidence in the ICHR, and ultimately discourage some of the most aggrieved and vulnerable RCMP employees from coming forward.
Michael Reeves from Local 20086 Vancouver CSC Community Parole is the winner in USJE’s convention slogan contest with Keeping Canadians safe – from the mountains to the sea.
Given the tragic events that unfolded in and around the James Smith Cree Nation, the top priority was a detailed overview of the way the Federal public safety departments operates. This included precise information on the essential role of Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), Parole Board of Canada (PBC) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
MP Lamoureux expressed a keen interest and requested a tour of the CCC so that he could meet with our members and see the CCC first-hand. This request was fulfilled on September 16.
National President David Neufeld, Regional Vice-President Valda Behrens and Local President, Samuel Bourget, met with Mandi Bolstad, Assistant Deputy Minister and Solicitor General in the Department of Justice in the North-West Territories. This meeting aimed to highlight the role that USJE members play in keeping Canadians safe and transmit to the Premier Cochrane’s office the details around our Presumptive Injury Campaign.
The members of our union work tirelessly to keep Canadians safe. To accomplish this duty, our members constantly face up to immense moral and ethical responsibilities. They perform their job selflessly without a thought to the pernicious cumulative impact that job can have on their well-being. At USJE, we wish to reiterate just how well-paced our trust in our members is. Our support and respect for our members is unwavering.
As we head into the fall, with many of our members returning to the workplace – either more frequently, or for the first time, within the new Hybrid working arrangements being developed by departments, we are still frequently receiving questions around leave, particularly 699 Leave, as it relates to Covid.