The Convention is the supreme body of the Federation.  It adopts the political and union orientations and priorities. All unions ensure that the decisions of the Convention are enforced while preserving their operational autonomy.

The Convention is composed of:

• delegates from each local union and each certification held by a regional or sectional union
• members of the FIQ Executive Committee
• the president of a regional or sectional union or her replacement and three other members from the board of directors
• two delegates from the RIIRS

The Federal Council is the supreme body between conventions. It plays an important political role. It is responsible for making decisions that are in line with the orientations of the convention and serving the collective interests of the members. It is a preferred forum for debates and union consensus-building. All unions ensure that the decisions of the Federal Council are enforced while preserving their operational autonomy. It is composed of:

• delegates from each local FIQ affiliated union
• members of the FIQ Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is responsible for the planning, organization, leadership and control of the Federation. It ensures follow-up on the debates, activities and mandates. It takes stands on all topics, in line with the organization’s orientations and in the interest of all.

The Executive Committee is composed of 9 members elected at the convention:

• 1 Nurse vice-president
• 1 Licensed practical nurse vice-president
• 1 Respiratory therapist vice-president

The mandate of the committee is to ensure that the Federation income and expenses comply with the decisions and budgets adopted by the FIQ Federal Council or Convention and to inform the members thereof.

The committee must also analyze important differences in the budget, examine existing policies and administrative processes and suggest any mechanism deemed relevant for maintaining the financial health of the Federation.

The committee submits a written report on its work to the Executive Committee, Federal Council, and the Convention.

The committee members meet at least twice a year.

The members of the committee are responsible for organizing and supervising the elections. None of the committee members are permitted to run for a position or promote any candidates up for election.

In compliance with the Union Defence Fund Bylaws, it is the committee’s duty to:

• study and manage requests that the UDF receives for financial assistance;
• authorize all outgoing funds;
• ensure all amounts owed to the UDF are collected.

Mandate

• Discuss communication and social media issues;
• Discuss new communication trends;
• Measure the impact of the FIQ’s communication tools;
• Evaluate the FIQ’s communications to ensure that they meet the needs and demands of members and affiliated unions.

The Negotiating Committee is at the heart of negotiations. It represents members’ demands and brings proposals and counterproposals
to the bargaining tables. The Negotiating Committee must have a global vision of all factors that influence negotiations and consider the professional diversity that characterizes the FIQ. The union reps elected to the Negotiating Committee will work closely with the Negotiation Coordination Committee, composed of two joint political officers for negotiations and union consultants. The Negotiation Coordination Committee is an integral part of the Negotiating Committee.

Mandate

• To integrate and promote the feminist approach at the FIQ’s various decision-making bodies.
• To participate in organizing the Women’s Network.
• To encourage activism and the creation of local status of women committees in FIQ affiliated unions.

The committee members’ main responsibility is to ensure that healthcare professionals’ concerns are integrated into the various training programs. Under the FIQ’s Constitution and Bylaws, the committee must report on its activities to the FIQ Executive Committee and the Convention. It can also submit progress reports and recommendations to the Federal Council.

One of the OHS Committee’s main mandates is to help decide on and create the annual OHS theme and develop information tools for members in preparation for the annual OHS Week activities. The research and development of the theme takes into account healthcare professionals’ occupational health and safety issues and day-to-day reality.

The Committee also proposes methods to encourage local teams and members to participate in activities held in health institutions. Furthermore, one of the OHS committee members sits as an administrator on the board of directors of the Association paritaire pour la santé et la sécurité du travail du secteur affaires sociales (ASSTSAS).

Mandate

• Foster union activism and involvement among young healthcare professionals in their union organization.
• Inform the FIQ about the reality of young healthcare professionals as workers and women and on the challenges and problems they face.
• Respond to the requests for consultations from the organization’s other committees.
• Carry out any mandate assigned by the Provincial Executive Committee or by another FIQ decision-making body.

To contact the Youth Committee members, write to comite.jeunes@fiqsante.qc.ca.

The Women’s Network is a place for feminist thought and action to address issues that affect healthcare professionals as women.

The Network of OHS Union Representatives is a place for discussion and reflection specifically for local OHS officers. This way union reps have a place to discuss their concerns and experiences, a place where they can acquire new knowledge and tools and together find solutions to problems in the field. The Network of OHS Union Representatives is held once a year.

The Youth Network is a platform reserved for healthcare professionals aged 35 and under where they can discuss union and social issues that affect them. The Youth Network takes place twice a year.

The Organization of Work and Professional Practice (OWPP) Network is a place for exchanging on organization of work and professional practice issues, in particular with regard to implementing safe ratios.