FIREPAC CANADA Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. FIREPAC CANADAFrequently Asked Questions and Answers How much is in this fund already? - There is about $300,000 Canadian in the fund at the current time. It is fluid because the fund is constantly being drawn on by Canadian IAFF Local and Provincial affiliates.

2. Firepac Canada Q & As How much do we expect the Firepac Canada fund to grow to? - There is no cap on the fund. If you consider that every few years there will be federal, provincial and municipal elections in Canada, and that all Local and Provincial affiliates will make requests to fund politicians that are supporting Fire Fighter issues, you will understand the draw and fluidity of the fund.

3. Firepac Canada Q & As How much money goes to each political candidate or councillor that we support? - There is no set amount. The IAFF Canadian office allocates it on the merits made by the local or provincial affiliate making the request for support. We are seeking to improve our influence as a Local by supporting the fund more broadly than we have in the past.

4. Firepac Canada Q & As How is the fund accounted for? - At IAFF Convention (every 2 years) it is accounted to the delegates in attendance. In addition, any member may ask the Executive of their Local, and the information is available from the IAFF Canadian office as requested. For example, when questioned in a Station recently, we enquired of Asst to the Gen President for Cdn Ops, Jim Lee and he obtained the information the same day. It is not a secret.

5. Firepac Canada Q & As How do I know that my Firepac Canada contribution will remain in Canada and not be used for US Politics? - Firepac Canada was started and remains subsidized by our US Brothers and Sisters. As you can see from the pages of the International Fire Fighter, there are many more US members than Canadian, and they have been much more active politically than we have. Every cent contributed stays in Canada.

6. Firepac Canada Q & As Why would US Members subsidize us? How come we don’t get a tax break for being Firepac Canada members? This is a large question, but the following is pertinent: • US members envy Canadian Labor Laws. The Northern States tend to have the strongest labor laws, due in part by their ability to point to Canadian laws and compare them to what is needed. • In the Southern States, unionizing to attempt to bargain is illegal and will result in those doing so being given time in jail. These IAFF members want the right to bargain with their employer, something every Canadian member takes for granted.

7. IAFF Union (not Firepac) OperationThis slide does not pertain to Firepac Canada but explains the interaction of IAFF Funding US members of the IAFF have been subsidizing the entire Canadian operation since the IAFF was organized. In Canada, we have about 17,000 members paying about $10/member/month in dues to the IAFF, which is a little over $2 million annually. There are more than 250,000 US members. At our last meeting of Local 1212 we passed a budget for a little more than ¼ of that sum just to run the affairs of the almost 700 members of the Local. To run the Canadian operation must be subsidized, and in fact all dues we send to Washington in Canadian $ is sent directly to Ottawa to run our operation. Only recently has our dollar come up to par against the US greenback. We have always paid dues in Canadian money, being further subsidized by the US members.

8. Firepac Canada Q & As(Back to Firepac Canada!) • As far as FIREPAC goes, the US members are entitled to some tax relief if they contribute. Canadians do not receive that recognition unless they belong to a political party. Since Firepac Canada is non partisan and only recognizes candidates of any political stripe that support FF issues, we don’t qualify for a tax incentive.

9. Firepac Canada Q & As What types of political action will Firepac Canada be used for today, and what did it get us in the past? • Firepac Canada funds will be used federally, provincially and locally to support candidates who support Fire Fighter issues. • At the Federal level, the National Infectious Disease notification legislation, the 2.33% accrual rate increase for FF pensions and the changes to Criminal Code penalties recognizing FFs injured when responding to illegal grow ops and drug labs are 3 examples. • At the Provincial level, the struggle that occurred at the end of the 1990s to protect our Contract and Bargaining Rights during the “Bill 84,” campaign is an example of us having to be politically active to be able to react to an aggressive right wing government trying to put us back years in our bargaining and collective agreement rights. • At the local level, last year the Oakville FFA supported candidates for mayor and council that backed them. They went from Arbitration to a signed Collective Agreement in under 2 months, avoiding years of costly litigation and damaging relations with their employer as an example right next door.

10. Firepac Canada Q & As How about the Local Pac? You are asking that 20% of what I donate goes to a Local Pac. What’s the cap and how will it be accounted for? • The Local PAC will be reported at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Association to the full membership, and will be available by asking any Executive member at any time. We will be able to get the information from the Treasurer and Secretary. • It will be used to acknowledge our Local 1212 Firepac supporters and to ensure they are fed when out supporting politicians supporting us, for example. (yellow and gold shirts, coffee, sandwiches, etc. while working to elect candidates that support us) The Local intends to set up a Committee to monitor and make suggestions and recommendations on Policies and Procedures in this regard.

11. Firepac Canada Q & As Is dues check off a new initiative? How have members contributed in the past? • In the past, we wrote our own personal cheques to Firepac Canada. Recently, the Saskatchewan Professional Fire Fighters signed up every full time member in that Province for the fund. • Toronto started their fund by asking Union subs to donate to their own Local Pac. They contribute to a Local Toronto Firepac fund at the current time. • We in Local 1212 believe that membership in this fund is important and that a check off is the easiest way to be a part of this initiative.

12. Firepac Canada Q & As The Executive Board and Committee believe that the future will hold many challenges for us at all 3 levels of government. We need to have access to a viable fund to be proactive on the issues that arise and if absolutely necessary, be reacting to any negative initiative or legislation coming at us. We believe that this is the right thing to do. As you can see from the pages of the International Fire Fighter, we will be leading this initiative as there are comparatively few Canadian members currently in Firepac Canada.

13. Firepac Canada Q & As We acknowledge and thank the members who assisted with this initative and invite any further questions to come forth. BE INVOLVED! IT’S YOUR UNION AND YOUR FUTURE!