Biennial Canadian Policy Conference Begins Aug. 30 in Vancouver

May 14, 2009 -- The IAFF is pleased to announce that the IAFF 2009 Biennial Canadian Policy Conference will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, August 30-September 2, 2009. The host will be IAFF Local 18, Vancouver Fire Fighters’ Union.

UPDATE: Click Here to learn about Special Events!

For those locals who have not attended a Canadian Policy Conference, the conference is the opportunity for the Canadian membership to assemble and discuss issues of particular importance to them. Many resolutions adopted and passed at this conference are submitted to the IAFF Convention for disposition.

What follows is the information you will need to register for the conference. Registration will take place on Sunday, August 30, 2009, 2:00-4:00 p.m. and Monday, August 31, 2009, 8:00-9:00 a.m.

Representation:

Representation and delegate voting shall be in accordance with the IAFF Constitution Article IV, Section 2.

Local unions with a membership of 100 or less shall be entitled to one delegate. Locals with a membership exceeding 100 shall be entitled to delegates as follows:

101 to 250........................ 2
251 to 500.............. ......... 3
501 to 750............. .......... 4
751 to 1000...................... 5
1001 to 1250.................... 6
1251 to 1500.................... 7
1501 to 1750.................... 8
1751 to 2000.................... 9
2001 or more.................. 10

Representation of the local union shall be allocated on the basis of the average amount of per capita tax paid monthly by the local union on its members during the preceding twelve (12) months. For the purposes of this conference the dates will be April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009.

Locals must pay their per capita tax on full membership through and including July 2009 in order to be entitled to representation at the conference.

Each provincial association shall be entitled to two delegates. No more than one alternate delegate may be issued credentials for each elected delegate.

Conference Credentials/Conference Registration:

Credentials will be mailed to all locals who have paid per capita through March 2009. The original credential should be completed and given to the delegate elect to present at conference registration. The duplicate of the credential must be mailed to the IAFF Canadian Office, 350 Sparks Street, Suite 403, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8 by Friday, July 31, 2009 accompanied by the registration fee.

Registration fees are $350. (includes one banquet ticket) for each delegate or alternate. Cheques should be made payable to the 2009 Canadian Policy Conference.

Alternate Credentials: If an affiliate elects to send alternate delegates to the conference, there shall not be more than one alternate for each delegate.

Proxy Credentials: Local unions of 100 or less members who do not send a delegate to the conference may be represented by a joint delegate by giving its proxy to another local union delegate (and also the alternate local union delegate), provided the following conditions are observed:

A. A local union granting a proxy and the delegate and alternate from the local union accepting the proxy must be in the same District of the International Association as such Districts are enumerated in Article V, Section 3 of the IAFF Constitution and By-Laws;

B. A proxy may be authorized only after nomination and election by secret ballot among the members of the local union granting the proxy. Nominees must be named delegates of another local union in the District that has already elected such delegates to go to the conference. Nominations may be made at any meeting of the local union but a notice of when nominations will be held must be given and notice of the date, time, and place of election must be mailed to its membership at least 15 days in advance of such election. Nominations and election may be held at the same meeting provided that the notice has been sent. The election must be conducted by secret ballot, but if only one delegate is nominated to carry the proxy it is not necessary to conduct the election.

C. No local union delegate may accept proxies to represent membership in excess of 100 and provided further, however, that in no event shall the total of proxy votes carried by all delegates within a local union exceed 200.

D. Proxy voting at the conference shall be permitted only in a call of the roll vote and shall be cast by the delegate carrying the proxy.

Conference ID badges must be picked up by 9:00 a.m., Monday, August 31, 2009 for you to be seated at the conference.

Hotel Location and Registration:

Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel 655 Burrard Street Vancouver BC V6C 2R7 Phone: 604-683-1234 Toll Free (Reservations): 1-888-421-1442

Here is the link for the hotel: http://vancouver.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/services/maps/index.jsp

Affiliates can contact the IAFF Canadian Office for the link for on-line room reservations for the IAFF Canadian Policy Conference.

Room rates are as follows:
Single Occupancy: - $249. + taxes
Double Occupancy: - $249. + taxes
Triple Occupancy: - $284. + taxes
Quadruple Occupancy: - $319. + taxes
View Room: - Additional $25. per room per night
Balcony Room: - Additional $30. per room per night
Balcony View Rom: - Additional $50. per room per night
Regency Club: - Additional $75. Per room per night

All rates are subject to the appropriate provincial, federal and local occupancy taxes and fees in effect at the time of the meeting. These are currently ten percent (10%) Provincial Rooms Tax, five percent (5%) Goods and Services Tax and one and a half percent (1.5%) Destination Marketing Fee.

The deadline for hotel reservations is Saturday, August 8, 2009. Reservations received after this date will be based on availability at the Hotel’s prevailing rates.

Resolutions/Amendments:

In accordance with Article XX, Section 2, of the International Constitution and By-Laws, all such amendments or resolutions to be considered must be received by the Canadian Office no later than 50 days immediately preceding the opening of the conference –Monday, July 13, 2009 - and no later than 5 p.m. EDT of the cut-off date…. . In addition to the mail service, copies of the resolution may be faxed or e-mailed to the Canadian Office no later than 50 days prior to the opening of the conference. A properly signed, original hard copy of all resolutions submitted by fax or e-mail must be received in the Canadian Office at least forty (40) days before conference begins - Wednesday, July 22, 2009 - in order for the resolution to be considered by the delegates. Any resolutions received after 5:00 p.m. EDT on the cut-off date will be returned to sender.

Observers/Guests:

All observers from IAFF locals must be registered in person at the start of the conference. They will be permitted to watch the proceedings from a designated area, but are not allowed on the floor. Conference kits are reserved for delegates and alternates only; none are available for observers.

Banquet tickets for observers/guests are available for $70. and should be paid for separately by cheque payable to the 2009 Canadian Policy Conference. Banquet tickets may also be purchased at the conference office.

If you require any additional information, do not hesitate to contact the Canadian Office.

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