Ottawa Area Council

Area Councils are organizations recognized in the PSAC Constitution and are primarily responsible for political action. Within the National Capital Region, the Ottawa Area Council (OAC) works on the Ontario side, while the Conseil régional de l’action politique (CRAPO) works on the Québec side.

Chair:  Sonia O’Brien-Colterman

Secretary:  Nariman Hajjar

Treasurer: Ryan Ward

Directors: 
Director 1 – Cristina Machado
Director 2 – Steve Colterman
Director 3 – Lydia Picknell

Alternates: 
Alternate 1 – Patrick Bourassa
Alternate 2 – Vacant
Alternate 3 – Vacant

CONTACT

For more information about the PSAC-NCR OAC committee please email:  OAC-CRO@psac-afpc.com

When we meet

Meetings of the Ottawa Area Council are held virtually or in a hybrid format and are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.  Meeting details are shared via email at least one week prior to the meeting.

Background & Entitlement

Since the formation of the National Capital Region Council (NCRC), the Ottawa Area Council has been merged with the former NCR Political Action Committee, to become the committee responsible for political activities of the NCRC.

Affiliated Locals used to pay a small per capita dues to OAC, but affiliation is now free, as funding for political action is now provided directly to the regions. The Ottawa-Gatineau Area Council (OGAC) has been in existence since the early 1970s. It was renamed the Ottawa Area Council (OAC) and the Conseil régional d’action politique de l’Outaouais on February 23, 2005.

According to the PSAC Constitution, Locals may send two delegates for the first 500 members, and 1 additional delegate for each additional 500 members or part thereof. Components are each entitled to one delegate, as they were in the former Political Action Committee.

The Ottawa Area Council takes the lead in organizing Labour Day and May Day events, political lobbying and campaigning, and on issues of the day (pay equity, the International Women’s March, pensions, elections, etc.). Speakers and attendees at OAC meetings address and plan for upcoming events and report on those that have taken place. Our meetings are an opportunity for the Locals, in particular, to get plugged into regional union activities.

As a committee of the National Capital Region Council, OAC is represented at NCRC meetings, which take place in three times a year. The OAC chair or designate is now also represented on the NCR Council Executive. Besides reporting on present and future activities, and recruiting assistance for activities in our Region, the OAC may be delegated to new projects or activities falling within the political action mandate.

Membership strength is increased by networking. The Ottawa Area Council is one of several helpful links in our regional network of PSAC activists. For those interested in regional political and social activism, get involved! Locals, Components, members can share in the activities of the Ottawa Area Council and make your Union stronger.

PSAC Constitution

The current PSAC Constitution which speaks to Area Councils within Section 14, page 28.

By-Laws

The By-Laws of OAC allow for locals and Components to send delegates to meetings.

Attendance

To become a delegate to the OAC please fill out our Affiliation Form.  Meetings of the OAC are open to Observers which includes community organizers, members of the broader union family, as well as unrepresented workers.  To attend OAC as an observer, please fill out our Registration Form.

Contact

For additional information, please call the Ottawa Regional Office at 613-894-7520 and speak to Mundadi Diabe at DiabeM@psac-afpc.com or send an email to the Chairperson at OAC-CRO@psac-afpc.com.

Adopted Minutes

October 12th 2022

December 14, 2022

March 8, 2023

April 12th-2023

July 12, 2023

September 13, 2023

November 08, 2023

May 08, 2024

July 10, 2024