Looking ahead to 2017
The Federal Council which was held last week marked not only the end of a very busy year, but also gave us an indication of what lies ahead for us in the coming year.
First, 2017 will be a major voting period for the FIQ that will be held from January 30 to February 24 and is a direct result of the merger of the institutions following the passing of Bill 10. Thus, Québec will continue to be cut up, in order to remind everyone that the FIQ is the only organization to offer union representation by healthcare professionals and for healthcare professionals. To learn about the campaign that the FIQ is currently conducting on this subject, we suggest that you go to our website. The healthcare professionals who are still not members of the FIQ will also find information on the advantages of choosing the FIQ on the website.
2017 will also mark the arrival of new unions emerging from the mergers. That will be a major challenge for the FIQ which has to adapt to this major change. Obviously, the reflection on the impacts of this reform on our functioning and our services began as of the first day that Bill 10 was passed. Several Federal Councils have addressed this issue since then. The different sectors and services have also been involved in order to better define the form that these transformations will take. Nevertheless, in spring 2017, we will be facing this new reality in a much more concrete way.
Lastly, 2017 will be a Convention year. Scheduled for the fall, it will include the election of a new Executive Committee. The Convention will also be an opportunity to welcome the delegates from the new unions which will have decided to join the FIQ and to propose new motions in order to continue playing a leading role in the issues on health care, the promotion of the status of women and the renewal of Québec unionism.
In conclusion, I want to remind you that health care does not take a vacation during the Christmas season. On behalf of the FIQ, I wish you all a holiday season full of love and, to the healthcare professionals, recognition of the extraordinary work that you do.