My name is Kevin Gaudaur. I am the Business Manager and Financial Secretary for IBEW Local 1687 – Northeastern Ontario. We represent over 700 electrical workers including electricians, powerline technicians, groundworkers, operators, and network cabling specialists in the construction industry.
As we near Convention, I look back at where IBEW First District was five years ago, and it is night and day. This is specifically evident in the progress Russ and his team have made with the Government of Canada. There is no doubt that we are gaining access to high-ranking government officials, including the Prime Minister, and that this is translating into wins for our members. Whether it be legislative wins like the increasing of UTIP funding, the revamping of apprenticeship completion grants, the introduction of the Major Projects Office, or the advocacy for line workers to be recognized as first responders – all of these are steps in the right direction for IBEW members across Canada. The Major Projects Office is currently fast-tracking Canada Nickel’s Crawford Nickel Project located just north of Timmins, Ontario. This is the world’s second largest nickel reserve which is expected to operate for over 40 years. Getting shovels into the ground for this project is not just critical for my members but is critical to Canada’s economy going forward.
Some might want to downplay these successes or attribute them to lobbying firms, but it’s much more than that. Lobbyists might get Russ and his team in front of government, but it’s through interactions at these meetings where real relationships are formed, trust is established, and business is conducted. Given the current economic and political landscape, I believe it’s time to capitalize, not take our foot off the gas. Canada’s economy is changing and the government is ready and willing to partner with the IBEW. A change in leadership could prove to be irresponsible – we should not be spending time on creating new relationships, we should be spending time on fostering the ones we currently have in order to push our agenda forward and ensure that IBEW members occupy every project referred to the Major Projects Office. Russ has secured a seat at the table – it’s now incumbent on us to ensure we keep it.
It is for these reasons why I will be supporting Russ Shewchuk and the current administration at the upcoming International Convention in San Diego, California.
Sincerely,
Kevin Gaudaur
Business Manager / Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 1687
