Toronto, ON – The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) elected two new officers and re-elected a third to for the core of the new leadership which will guide them for the next two years. Dubbing themselves “Team Ignite”, the three candidates were acclaimed or elected by delegates at the 17th Biennial OFL Convention.
Opening the Convention were Krista Maracle, Ethel LaValley and Dan Bowers of the Indigeneous communities.
Laura Walton from the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Ontario School Boards Council of Unions (OSBCU) was acclaimed as President; Ahmad Gaied from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) was re-elected as Secretary-Treasurer and Jackie Taylor from the United Steelworkers was acclaimed as Executive Vice-President.
The election was the highlight of the convention as the Ontario labour movement decided on who would lead them for the next two years. With the theme of Enough is Enough, delegates elected new leadership, heard many inspirational speakers and thoroughly discussed and debated a host of resolutions which would guide them in the years to come. Resolutions become official policy when delegates approve them.
The IAM brought a full complement of delegates to represent our membership across Ontario. Some delegates attended for the first time, while others were veterans and help explain the Convention process to those who were learning. The Convention also hosted a New Delegates Orientation on the Sunday before official proceedings began.
Throughout the two days, there were many speakers addressing many topics to inform and energise delegates including Andria Babbington, President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Ausma Malik, Toronto City Councillor, as well as Terry Melvin, International President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress and Natalie Mehra, Executive Director of the Ontario Health Coalition.
Each of the speakres echoed the theme of the Convention – Enough is Enough, and urged delegates to take the message back to their members to get involved if we want the labour movement to make significant change in the way Ontario looks and treats Ontarians.
The Women’s and Human Rights Forums were held on Monday and Tuesday night respectively and were well-attended by IAM delegates. Elections will be held on subsequent evenings for Labour Councils, Persons with a Disability, First Nations, Métis and Inuit, Women’s, Solidarity & Pride (2SLGBTQIA+), Smaller Affiliates, Young Workers and Workers of Colour. There were also workshops to broaden the awareness of all delegates.
David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice-President, who attended the Convention, said, “The OFL Convention was a great way to show IAM delegates that we are all part of a greater movement. There may be some disagreements, but, at the end of the day, we are all Brothers, Sisters and Siblings and we are all in the same fight. If we want to succeed, we MUST be part of a strong movement fighting for our rights and the rights of all workers!”
