16th Canadian Legislative Conference Cancelled
Next edition will take place in April 2009

Dear Affiliates,

A few weeks ago, I wrote to you to about the 16th Canadian Legislative Conference and how, in the usual spirit of persistence, we would go ahead with it in October despite the likelihood of a federal election call.

Now that the actual election date is known and some of its ramifications have come into clearer focus, I have been forced to re-examine our options and I’ve made the difficult decision to cancel the October Conference. Instead, we will regroup and conduct our next Canadian Legislative Conference seven months from now, during its usual April timeframe.

I regret if this decision causes you and your local any inconvenience. I simply have to make the best decision with the information that’s available at the time. We are one of many federal lobby groups that have been affected this way by the unstable nature of the minority governments we’ve had in Canada since 2004.

This is a dynamic time in Canadian politics. You will be receiving an electronic copy of the IAFF Canada 2008 Federal Election Strategy via email shortly. This is a comprehensive strategy that’s designed to assist you in a political action initiative at the local level during this campaign. I encourage you to review the information carefully when you receive it and consider making the voice of professional fire fighters heard in your local riding between now and the October 14 vote.

In the meantime, we will plan for a 16th Canadian Legislative Conference in April 2009 in Ottawa, and I hope to see you there.

Fraternally Yours,

Harold A. Schaitberger
General President

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