My fellow CT Community members,   

As 2024 draws to a close, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as the fourth president in ACFO-ACAF’s history. The past six weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind as I’ve settled into my new role, but I’m excited to begin my first calendar year as president and to continue building on the progress we’ve made as a community. 

While the title of President is new to me, I’ve been closely involved with the organization for more than a decade as a member of the Board of Directors. I’ve had the privilege of learning from past presidents, Milt Isaacs and Dany Richard. Working closely with both presidents enabled me to see firsthand the dedication and leadership required to move the organization forward, and I’m committed to building on their work.  

I want to thank Dany for his exceptional dedication and hard work during his nine years as ACFO-ACAF President. His dedication to the betterment of the CT Community and his remarkable leadership will be greatly missed by members and staff alike. We look forward to seeing him and his vibrant suits at future events, this time as one of our valued ACFO-ACAF members. 

ACFO-ACAF’s notable achievements in 2024 

Though the past few months have been a period of transition for me, the ACFO-ACAF staff have remained hard at work. Some of the organization’s most notable accomplishments of the past year include:  

• Collaborating with fellow members of the National Joint Council to secure major improvements to your Dental Care Plan; 
• Introducing the new CT Symposium lottery, giving our regional members an exciting opportunity;  
• Securing a new collective agreement for our members at NAV Canada; and 
• Expanding our JCDP offerings, providing members with more opportunities for growth. 

Looking ahead to 2025

As the new year approaches, we’re already focusing on issues we expect to possibly impact our members in 2025.  

One of our key concerns remains the return to the office, with our members now required to be in the office at least three days a week. We’ve been listening closely to your feedback to understand how this is affecting the CT Community. Please continue sharing your thoughts, as your input is vital to our advocacy efforts. We’re fully committed to advocating for your best interests and are working behind the scenes to ensure our members are well-supported. 

We’re also monitoring the potential for a federal election in 2025, as it is no secret that a change in government could have significant effects on the public service. While ACFO-ACAF remains non-partisan, we will navigate any leadership shift carefully and keep our membership informed along the way.  

Finally, we’re continuing to track the cost-cutting exercise that was announced on November 7. While details remain unclear and we have not received further information from the employer, we are prepared to act once more details are provided. 

If you’d like to hear my detailed thoughts on these topics, I encourage you to watch the recording of the fireside chat we hosted on December 12. It has been uploaded to the ACFO-ACAF member portal and is available for you to watch at your convenience. 

Until we chat again in 2025 

I’m eager to continue building connections with members throughout the new year. My focus will be on moving us forward and building upon the incredible work done by Dany, the ACFO-ACAF staff, Board of Directors, and especially our members over the last decade to get us to where we are today. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at rhawkins@acfo-acaf.com.  

Happy holidays from the ACFO-ACAF staff and Board of Directors – we look forward to reconnecting in 2025!