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 The 2011 annual meeting of Ontario members took place in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on May 27. Over 200 delegates, guests and observers, took part. The meeting was part of a highly successful annual meeting that included a Member Education Forum, Co‑op Management Conference, and national business meeting.
Participants at the Ontario meeting heard a keynote speech, via a video link, from Donna Cansfield, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. She gave an update on new government legislation, the Housing Services Act, and the Province’s Affordable Housing Strategy. She also brought delegates up to date on the status of her private member’s bill to reform the co‑op housing eviction system. For more on this issue see Eviction law reform bill dies on Order Paper. Resolutions Delegates considered four resolutions. Resolution R1, Amendment to Ontario Region Operating Rules, presented by the Co‑operative Staff Association of Central Ontario, called for the elimination of the co‑op housing residency requirement for three of the four at-large Council members. The resolution was defeated. Resolution R2, Reviewing the Rules About Who Sits on the Ontario Council, presented by the Ontario Council, was passed as submitted. The resolution asked the Ontario Region to consult Ontario members to find out their views on the rules governing who sits on the Ontario Council and to report back to the annual meeting in 2012. After further consultation at the 2012 meeting, the Council will bring a recommendation for any changes to the 2013 meeting. Resolution R3, Co‑operative Young Leaders Camp Sponsorship, presented by L. Simpson Management, called on the Ontario Region to sponsor youth to attend the Co‑op Young Leaders camp, run each summer by the Ontario Co‑operative Association. The resolution passed with an amendment asking for co-ordination with local federations and staff associations that also sponsor youth at the camp. Resolution R4, Co‑op Housing Makes a Difference, presented by the Ontario Council, passed as submitted. It set out the issues of importance to housing co‑ops as they prepare for the fall 2011 provincial election and called on members to be active in the campaign. Delegates also discussed a special resolution, Resolution 7, Election of Ontario Regional Director, that was then voted on at the national business meeting. The resolution called for the Ontario Regional Director to be elected in a “regional election” (by electronic means) prior to the annual meeting. The resolution passed and will be put into force if a majority of Ontario members confirm their support in writing within 180 days. CHF Canada will soon be in touch with Ontario members about this. Ontario Council elections Delegates elected Roxane Samms (Genesis Co‑op, London) as an at-large member of the Council and re-elected Nicole Waldron (Atahualpa Co‑op, Scarborough) to a second term as an at-large member. Judith Collins (Co‑op Housing Federation of Toronto) was acclaimed to a third term as the federation member on Council. The new Council held its first meeting on May 29 and elected Barb Millsap as President, Nicole Waldron and Cary Hubbard as Vice-Presidents, and Brian Burch as Treasurer.
Long-term service awards 2011 marked the tenth year that the Ontario Region has recognized housing co‑op staff for their long-term service to our movement. The awards were presented to 22 co‑op staff who have served for five, ten, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years in housing co‑ops. Online and downloadable documents
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