New Year’s Address: Reflections on 2024 and The Way Forward

What a year it has been!

Who could have imagined that in my very first attended Union Regional AGM, I would win the election to the Executive Board of the National Capital Region (NCR) - the largest region of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)?

Or, that I would receive over a thousand votes in the National elections for the PIPSC Vice President (part-time) position, with nearly five hundred choosing me as their first choice? Following the nomination by over eighty members, my presentation at the town-hall with other VP candidates, and the development of brand new portal - dmitry.gorodnichy.ca - where you can now find all information releated to my electoral platform and union related matters?

These accomplishments are not only a great honour but also an immense responsibility. I now feel accountable to meet the hopes and expectations of all those many members who voted for me, nominated and supported me, especially those who shared their stories of disbelief and discrimination during the pandemic, and who were frustrated by the Union’s inadequate response to these issues.

Challenging the system is never easy, especially when the individuals in the system have been in place for many years. As a newcomer, I faced a steep learning curve. But I am proud of the progress I have made, and I look forward to reporting back on the results at the end of this year.

One of the key areas I’ve been focusing on is the current Equity statement. It fails to include discrimination based on medical or health choices, and it restricts the definition of religion to practices tied to churches and religious leaders. However, as many of us know, true religion is deeply personal and does not require religious institutions. It’s found in the hearts of true believers, including many First Nations peoples, Buddhists, and other individuals practicing diverse spiritual enlightenment practices. None of these are represented in the existing Equity statement.

Interestingly, the Equity statement is read at the beginning of every executive board meeting. It is even printed in the minutes of all meetings. Initially, I found this a bit redundant, as it takes up valuable space in the minutes that could otherwise be filled with important details. However, my colleagues explained that this is done to emphasize the importance of the Equity statement to everyone. So, let's hope that this statement will eventually be expanded to include additional grounds for discrimination. To make sure this happens, I have submitted a request to the legal department and have also authored a resolution for the 2024 AGM (Resolution P-22). This resolution, published on the Union's website, is now referred to the Board of Directors for consideration

Another significant challenge I addressed was opposing the proposed increase in membership dues. While we were unable to reject the increase, at least we spoke out about the concerns of many members who were strongly against it, particularly in light of the Union’s lack of transparency and its failure to address the discrimination some of our members faced during the pandemic mandates.

The most important lesson for me this year, however, has been understanding how Union politics works—specifically, the logistics and rules that govern how decisions are made, and making the connections within the Union.

Let me explain how the process works. Imagine you are a member of an Executive Board with 13 members (which is the case for NCR). You have a great idea—let’s say you want to propose a motion to make the minutes of every Executive Board meeting available to all members, just as it is done for the Board of Directors. In order to get this motion approved, you need a second from another Board member. Then, it must be discussed and voted on by a majority—at least six members. If no one seconds the motion, it won’t even be discussed. And even if the motion is seconded, then the majority of the board members are likely to vote against it because they are used to the status quo—no minutes being made available to members. So, the motion will not get anywhere.

Or another example - Imagine you want to propose a more democratic process for electing NCR regional executives. Currently, executives are elected at the AGM (referred to as Regional Council) by members who have been selected as delegates for this Council by the present Executive Board, and most of whom are part of the existing network of executives within the Region. Compare this process to the national elections, which are done electronically and where any member can be nominated for an executive motion and can vote. Naturally, the percentage of NCR members who vote in national elections is significantly higher than that in regional elections (10% vs. 1%). If you propose a motion to change the presently existing regional executive election process, there’s a very low chance it will pass because the majority of current executives are likely satisfied with the system as it is. So, despite having good intentions and support from members, your motion might not even reach the discussion stage, and it will be unlikely approved.

This has been my experience with several motions I’ve raised, such as motions to request the newly elected Board of Directors to prioritize the consideration of resolutions related to violation of fundamental constitutional rights and distress caused by vaccination mandate, publish more details and votes on each voted motion in meeting minutes, makes minutes available to all members, removing funding for the LGBTQ+ Gala, to name a few.

So, how do we go from here? What can we do to create the change? The answer lies in understanding parliamentary procedures and using them effectively to push for change, even when supported by only a minority. This is something I will be focusing on in 2025. I have been studying Alice Sturgis’ book on parliamentary procedures, which is available to any member through the Union Library, and it provides insight on how to make democratic changes within the existing system.

As we enter the New Year, I want to wish you all a peaceful year filled with hope and a commitment to bring positive change to our lives through democratic processes. Each of us can find a niche where we can make a difference—whether in our communities, workplaces, or organizations. This is my resolution for 2025: to bring positive change through the democratic processes given to us by our ancestors.

Happy New Year! Let’s remain positive, constructive, and kind to our neighbours and colleagues. Only through unity and respectful engagement will we make the true change for the better!

Ps. Paper decorations on the Christmas tree are made by my 12-year old daughter :)

To learn more about my electoral platform and actions taken to date, please visit dmitry.gorodnichy.ca.