Sector 10 – HPD Health Care Conference 2024: Better Care for Our Future, Dec 3, 2024

This is to advise you that Sector 10 – HPD is hosting a unique public policy focused conference titled Better Care for Our Future to envision and strengthen the public health care system in Ontario.

The postwar era social contract – the commitment of the state to look after its citizens via public services – is in deep crisis. Our predecessors were able to achieve the initial development of the public health care system via collective and progressive efforts. Much of that vision has been stifled in the past few decades as we saw public policy shift its focus to advance the ideology that serves profit motives over people. The scale of this definitive shift has been extraordinary in nature and the people of Ontario are hurting. Nowhere is this hurt more acutely felt than in the health care system. The intensity of it has worsened since the pandemic.

These are transformative times, when we must reform, renew, and revive public health care that truly serves us better. We need newer visions and clearer strategies to alter our course for an effective public health care system in our province. We are hosting this gathering to advance progressive reforms in Ontario’s health care system in line with the greater interests of the people. Our goal is to advance from the defensive struggles to safeguard public health care from the cuts and privatization, to move towards collective efforts to develop tangible plans that would truly build a meaningful and sustainable health care system for all Ontarians. This conference is an earnest effort to that end.

Date

• Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 9 am to 5 pm

Application Deadline:

• Friday, November 8, 2024

Hotel

• Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
• 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2M9
• +1 416 361 1000
• Single/double rate: $289 +taxes

Meeting Room:

• Provincial Ballroom, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

Registration:

• Tuesday, December 3, 2024,  8:30 am – 9:00 am

Parking:

• Green P Parking under Nathan Phillips Square

*Note: valet parking receipts are not a reimbursable claim.

Please note: This is a hybrid event. If you elect to attend virtually, one week prior to the event a Zoom link with instructions will be sent to you. No expenses outside of time off (if required) will be reimbursed unless otherwise pre-approved. Meals for virtual participants are not covered. To inquire about pre-approval, please email conferencesandtravel@opseu.org.

Delegate Entitlement

Each HPD bargaining unit shall be entitled to send one (1) delegate to the conference. This delegate should be the local president or highest ranking member. Additionally, members of the Divisional Executive shall be automatic delegates and shall not count towards their bargaining units delegate entitlement.

Hotel Room Bookings

In accordance with the OPSEU/SEFPO Policy Manual (Section 4.2), any member who resides further than 60 kilometers from the event may request that OPSEU/SEFPO make their hotel reservation on their behalf by completing the Hotel Registration section when registering for the event in the OPSEU/SEFPO Member Portal.

OPSEU/SEFPO will be booking all hotel rooms centrally. Delegates will be reimbursed for single room hotel accommodation.

Members are also responsible for payment of their hotel room upon check out as there are no charges billed back to OPSEU/SEFPO. Please save your itemized receipt and submit it with your Membership Expense Claim Form.

Please also notify the Conferences Unit of any special accessibility needs that you may have with respect to your hotel room.

Any additional nights outside of this policy must be pre-approved by the Conferences Unit, regardless of Region or distance from the event.

OPSEU/SEFPO Travel Policy

As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (Section 4.2 7.1), the most economical means of transportation should be used. All delegates are to make their own travel arrangements. As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy, you are directed to use unionized providers where available. Please note all Membership Expense Claim submissions require itemized receipts.

Human Rights Accommodation Request Form

Should you require a human rights accommodation or have an existing accommodation under the Human Rights Code, please complete and submit the Human Rights Accommodation Request Form in full.

Family, Dependent and Attendant Care are covered expenses for this event for those who require it at the event or at home.

OPSEU/SEFPO Child Care Policy

OPSEU/SEFPO undertakes to provide child care services, when requested, at all union educationals, conventions, regional, divisional, and demand-setting meetings where the membership requests at least three weeks prior to the event. Members who bring their children to OPSEU/SEFPO sponsored functions should normally be required to use the on- site child care service if it is available. The three-week notice will ensure adequate time to process advances when requested. If no requests for on-site child care are received three weeks prior to the activity date, child care arrangements for on-site child care may not be made. If members then bring children to the event without the required notice, the member should be responsible for making his/her own child care arrangements.

Procedures for Online Submission of Forms

Entitled delegates must register via the Member Portal by no later than 10 am, Friday, November 8, 2024. Attached you will find the following documentation as well, all of which must be submitted to the appropriate email addresses by the above-mentioned date.

1. Call-out
2. Advance Form
3. OPSEU/SEFPO Human Rights Accommodation Form
4. Locals that wish to use rebates form
5. Credential attestation form

We appreciate your participation in this conference.

In Solidarity,

Sara Labelle
Divisional Chair

Authorized for Distribution:

J.P. Hornick
OPSEU/SEFPO President