This year on-line registration is available through the Member Portal for all delegates, alternates and observers listed on the Local Credential Form submitted by the Local President. This will allow you to request a hotel room, childcare and/or a time-off letter without completing a form.
Hotel Rooms
The deadline for booking a hotel room is March 8, 2024.
Members attending convention must register using the Member Portal to advise of your length of stay and bed preference (one or two beds).
Delegates and alternates will be booked into one of the following Convention hotels, as per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (section 10.1-3). If they stay at another hotel, their room costs will not be paid.
- Fairmont Royal York Hotel
- 100 Front Street West
- The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto
- 1 Harbour Square
- Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown
- 249 Queen’s Quay West
- Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
- 123 Queen Street West
- Marriot Toronto City Centre
- One Blue Jays Way
Delegates will be reimbursed for the cost of a single room, as per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (section 10.1-3). Rates at all hotels, excluding taxes, is $319. for a single room.
Alternates and observers are reimbursed for their hotel room costs by the Local.
You must contact the Conference and Travel Unit at [email protected] if you need to cancel your hotel room. Members are responsible for payment of their hotel room upon check-out. Ensure that the receipt you send with your “Members Expense Claim Form” indicates zero balance owing.
Delegates who need accommodation after adjournment of Convention (noon on Saturday) must submit their rationale and get approval from the office of the First Vice-President/Treasurer to have expenses paid as per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (section 4-3).
Check-out time at these hotels is noon on Saturday. We have arranged with the hotel to leave luggage at the bell captain’s desk.
Parking
Members staying at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Intercontinental Toronto Centre, Marriott Toronto City Centre, Westin Harbour Castle and Radisson Blu must park their vehicle at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Shuttles will be available to take you and your luggage to the hotel. Please use the specialized link to order your parking pass on OPSEU/SEFPO’s website. Do not use the public link to obtain a regular parking pass. You will only be reimbursed for the negotiated OPSEU/SEFPO rate, if you submit a parking receipt. The deadline for the parking pass to be sent to your home address is April 3, 2024.
Members staying at the Sheraton Toronto City Centre must park at the Green P – Nathan Phillips Square Garage at 110 Queen Street West.
Only one parking option can be used for the duration of the Convention. OPSEU/SEFPO policy does not permit or reimburse expenses for valet parking.
OPSEU/SEFPO travel policy
As per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (section 10.1-12), the most economical means of transportation must be used.
All delegates are to make their own travel arrangements. You are directed to use unionized providers, where available, as per policy.
Please take advantage of the discounts for Via Rail, Park’N Fly and UP Express, here on OPSEU/SEFPO’s website.
Please note all Membership Expense Claim Forms require itemized receipts with your full name on the receipt.
Non-claimable expenses
The following expenses are not to be claimed:
- spouses’ expenses, room service, valet parking, other personal charges and any fees incurred above the set rates for this Convention
- Meal expenses for virtual attendees
Internet and telephone calls may be claimed to a maximum of $15 per day. A receipt is required.
Expense claims should be received by head office no later than three months after the expense has been incurred, as per OPSEU/SEFPO policy (section 10.1-7).
Advances (delegates only)
Advances are provided by Head Office to delegates’ only. Alternates and observers must contact their Local Treasurer.
Please complete the Advance Request Form with a breakdown of estimated expenses and be sure to indicate the total advance amount requested. Submit this form to [email protected].
Specify whether the cheque is to be mailed to your home or regional office. It is recommended that you enroll in Direct Deposit by accessing the Member Portal.
Hotel, parking, and telephone expenses for Convention will not be directly billed back to OPSEU/SEFPO, nor will it be deducted from your local rebate cheque. Make sure you include these costs in your advance request.
Credentials
All local credentials must be submitted to [email protected] by March 8, 2024.
- All locals must submit the local credential, which must be attested to by two officers of the local.
- Insert union ID number, first name, last name, and ranking of each delegate/alternate/observer.
- Each member attending Convention is required to register by using the Member Portal. This lets us know if you want a time-off letter, a hotel room or if you require child care.
- If you have special needs, complete the Human Rights Accommodation Request Form and return it to [email protected]. If you already have an approved accommodation, you do not have to submit this form.
- If you don’t have a credential and wish to attend Convention, you must bring your OPSEU/SEFPO union card, together with photo ID, for verification.
If there are any issues with respect to registration at Convention, you must see a member of the Credentials Committee, who will be available in the registration area.
Cancellation
If you are not attending Convention, please notify the Convention Office at OPSEU Head Office toll-free at 1-800-268-7376 ext. 3269 or by email at [email protected] as soon as possible.
You must contact the Conferences and Travel Unit at [email protected] to cancel your hotel reservations at least 72 hours before expected arrival. If you do not cancel, you will be responsible for paying for the room.
If you are sharing your room, only cancel your portion of the room and be sure to let your roommate know you have cancelled. Again, deposits are refundable only if a reservation is cancelled at least 72 hours before expected arrival.
Any advance cheques issued are non-transferable. They must be returned to Head Office.
Change in status
If there is a change in status from alternate to delegate, it will be done in order of alternate ranking, e.g., first alternate, second alternate, etc. If there is a change in delegate status, it must be authorized by the Credentials Committee at the time of registration.
Observers cannot become or replace delegates or alternates.
Convention Hours
Thursday, April 25: 9am – 5:45pm
Friday, April 26: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, April 27: 9am – 12 pm
Time-off letters
To avoid delays in processing time-off requests, please complete the time-off request portion by using the Member Portal.
Time Off letters will ONLY be issued for alternates and observers if the Locals TARs are up to date and the Local submits the authorization form to deduct wages from their rebate.
Ontario Public Service (OPS)
Specify your ministry, the name of your manager, and their email address. All OPS delegates will receive Convention leave reimbursable.
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services shift workers
Please note that in your collective agreement, leave “shall be granted for not more than four (4) consecutive days for each employee delegate for the purpose of attending the Annual Convention.”
Colleges of applied arts and technology
Specify the name of the college.
BPS
The following information must be provided: full name, title, and email address of appropriate contact person to whom the letter will be addressed. The appropriate contact person will be the director of human resources or equivalent.
LBED
Please follow the ‘Request for Union Leave (RUL) process.