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On-line survey for MOE members
The Revitalizing the MOE Project Team sprang into action last week. The group
of OPSEU members from the Ministry of Environment e-mailed a survey to their
fellow members in the ministry Dec. 14. Members can fill out the survey on-line
by going to: http://www.opseu.org/walkerton/surveyindex.htm.
The purpose of the survey is to draw on the experience and knowledge of OPSEU
members to suggest solutions regarding the policies, practices and procedures of
the Ministry of Environment.
The information gathered through this survey will contribute to a report that
OPSEU plans to submit to the Walkerton Inquiry. All responses will be kept
strictly confidential by OPSEU. Comments from OPSEU members will be attributed
to anonymously in the report. If you have specific concerns about
confidentiality, please contact Megan Park at 1-800-268-7376 ext. 207 or mpark@opseu.org.
Members have been asked to complete the survey by Dec. 22.
Globe and Mail editorial calls for rebuilding the
MOE
An editorial in today’s Globe and Mail (Dec. 20) follows up on the
testimony we’ve heard this week from Stan Koebel. The editorial talks about
the need for tougher and more tightly defined training requirements for water
works operators, particularly for the "grandfathered" operators. The
Globe goes on to say:
"The tougher standards will also be meaningless without enforcement and
monitoring. That requires rebuilding Ontario’s decimated Environment Ministry.
The Conservative government has slashed the ministry’s budget by 40 per cent
since 1995 and cuts about one-third of its staff. It also privatized water
testing, further reducing its oversight of the system.
We couldn’t agree more. The renewal of the MOE is crucial to ensuring
Ontario’s drinking water is safe in the future. That is why OPSEU members from
the MOE have formed the Revitalizing the MOE Project Team. Their first action
was to put together a survey for their colleagues in the ministry to fill out.
We can’t leave the rebuilding of the MOE solely to the government which
"decimated" it. The front-line workers and the public must be
involved.
Procedure for Inquiry: Contact OPSEU’s legal
counsel first
The law firm representing OPSEU at the Inquiry, wrote Dec. 12 to counsel for
the Inquiry and the government confirming with them that the union’s legal
representative must be contacted first before they approach an OPSEU member to
testify.
Gowlings’ lawyer Ian J. Roland reminded the Inquiry and the government that
"OPSEU has standing before the Inquiry to represent its members, especially
in the event that the Commission wishes to call an OPSEU member to testify at
the Inquiry."
In addition to calling Gowlings first, Roland wrote: "no interview of an
OPSEU member is to take place, for the purpose of testifying before the Inquiry,
by either Commission Counsel or Counsel for the Government of Ontario until we
have first had an opportunity to discuss such matters with the OPSEU
member."
This procedure was not followed when Chris Johnston, an unclassified member
at the Spills Action Centre, was called to testify Dec. 6. Thanks to the quick
thinking of Bruce Carlin, a steward in Local 555, OPSEU and Gowlings were
notified in time. Johnston was represented by Gowlings at the Inquiry.
In closing, Roland wrote: "However, we understand, from discussions with
your offices, that you now appreciate that this protocol is to be followed with
respect to all OPSEU members, and that you will adhere to it."
Roland reminded the Inquiry and the government that unclassified staff are
members of OPSEU. For a full text of the letter, go to: http://www.opseu.org/walkerton/index.htm
.
Framing the issues for Part 1B
In conjunction with other concerned groups, OPSEU has developed a list of
issues we believe the Inquiry should examine in Part 1B. This list has been
forwarded to the Inquiry for further discussion.
Part 1B will look at "the effect, if any, of government policies,
practices and procedures" on the events in Walkerton. Hearings are
scheduled to start Feb. 19.
OPSEU’s contribution to the list of issues follows up on evidence that has
been heard to date at the Inquiry and suggestions from our members. If you have
further suggestions, please email them to mpark@opseu.org.
For a copy of the list, go to: http://www.opseu.org/walkerton/index.htm
.
Inquiry transcripts now on-line
You can access daily transcripts for the Walkerton Inquiry by going to OPSEU’s
website http://www.opseu.org/walkerton/index.htm
and clicking on the link to the transcripts website at www.tscript.com.
The transcripts are posted daily. Click on "transcript repository",
then choose "Walkerton" and you will see a calendar of days. Select
the day you wish to see. Once you have the transcript on your screen, you will
see a bar on the left which details where all words may be found within the
transcript. This makes the transcripts effectively searchable. To make it easier
to read the transcript, right click on it, and then select "open in new
window".
Please post, distribute the
pipeline
Distribution is by e-mail only to members on our e-mail list, so please make
copies for OPSEU members in your workplace and/or post the pipeline on
your union bulletin board.
We have attempted to get one e-mail contact for each MOE and OCWA workplace.
How to get in touch with us
To get on our e-mail list or talk to us about the Inquiry, contact Megan Park
at 1-800-268-7376 ext. 207 or mpark@opseu.org.
Check regularly www.opseu.org/walkerton/index.htm and the official Inquiry
website at
www.walkertoninquiry.com.
Original authorized by Leah Casselman, president
Return to Walkerton
Inquiry Index Page
