May 5, 2006

Election Day at PSAC Convention

John Gordon new PSAC President

John Gordon has been elected as the PSAC National President. Gordon has been PSAC's National Executive Vice-President since 2000. Competing against three other candidates, Gordon was elected on the third ballot. Over 400 Convention delegates participated in this process.

“PSAC will be moving quickly to implement the plan to defend quality public services adopted at our convention this week,” said Gordon. “We don't intend to have the Conservative government's proposed budget ‘savings' come at the expense of needed public services and our members' jobs.”

Prior to his election as National Executive Vice-President, Gordon was the National President of the Union of Public Works Employees from 1982 to 1999. A PSAC activist since 1974, when he joined the federal public sector as a tradesperson with Public Works Canada, Gordon has held a variety of union positions in his Component.

Patty Ducharme new NEVP

Delegates also elected Patty Ducharme as PSAC's National Executive Vice-President (NEVP) in a two-way race for the position. For the past six years, Ducharme has been the union's Regional Executive Vice-President (REVP) for British Columbia.

Prior to her election as REVP in 2000, Ducharme had worked as a customs inspector in British Columbia and served as First Vice-President of Branch 20040 of the Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise (CEUDA). She has been a PSAC activist for over 20 years holding a variety of union positions.

Richard Des Lauriers new Alternate NEVP

In another two-way race, Richard Des Lauriers, President of the Union of Postal Communications Employees component was elected as the alternate NEVP.

More than five priorities: PSAC outlines its vision

The federal government is elected to make choices. The current federal government has identified the five priorities it thinks Canadians want. We need more than five priorities. We need a government to make choices that will make a real difference in the well-being of all Canadians. We want commitments that will put fairness and compassion ahead of privilege and profit. We want choices that improve the prosperity of our communities. We want commitments that will make caring and compassion a collective priority. We want a Canada that welcomes diversity and inclusion. We want a clean environment for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

To read about PSAC's choices for Canada , visit the PSAC web site: www.psac-afpc.com

Credentials Committee Report

Delegates: 441
Observers: 264
Guests: 46

Total: 751