UTE CONVENTION 2026
To: Executive Council
Alternate Regional Vice-Presidents
Local Presidents
UTE Staff
Greetings!
In accordance with By-Law 9, your Executive Council decided to convene the Twentieth Triennial National Convention in Montréal, Québec from Wednesday, July 22 to Saturday, July 25, 2026.
The Centre Sheraton Montréal Hotel, 1201 René-Levesque Boulevard West has been selected as Convention Headquarters.
The Convention Committees will meet prior to the Convention at the Marriott Hotel, 100 Kent Street in Ottawa from April 24 until noon on April 26, 2026.
1. REPRESENTATION AT CONVENTION
By-Law 9, Section 1 (5) For the purpose of representation at a Convention, each Local shall:
(a) be entitled to one (1) delegate with full voting rights for each block of two hundred (200) members in good standing or fraction of this number during the calendar year preceding the Convention taking into account the month during which the number of members has been the highest for each UTE Local. Hence, the month may be different depending on the Local. Every delegate shall be a member in good standing of the Local.
(b) for the purpose of replacing delegates at Convention, submit to the National Office the name and ranking of the alternate delegates. Every alternate delegate shall be a member in good standing of the Local.
Convention Committees (By-Laws, Finance, Collective Bargaining and General) will meet in Ottawa as noted above. Each Local in accordance with Regulation No. 4 will be able to send a delegate to one of the Committees. All delegates attending the Committees must be delegates at Convention.
As soon as we receive membership data for all 12 months of2025, we will advise all Locals of their delegate and paid observer entitlement if applicable.
February 9, 2026 – Delegates to Convention Committees
Locals must provide through their RVP the names of their Convention Committee delegates and alternates, as well as the observers. Names must be received at the National Office no later than 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 9, 2026. Delegates selected to sit on one of the convention committees must also be registered as delegates for Convention.
At the same time, please indicate the delegate’s preference for the convention committee to which they would like to be assigned, along with their second choice of committee. To the extent possible, we will try to accommodate preferences for delegates. Locals must rank their alternates.
March 14, 2026 – Delegates and observers to Convention
As per Bylaw 9, Section 1 (4) d., locals must provide to the National Office by March 14, 2026, no later than the close of business of the Presidents Conference. the name and Credential Form for each of their Convention delegates and observers. Observers should be ranked in order of priority to determine replacement of delegate(s) if necessary. The ranking must be identified in the Alternate Ranking Area of the form.
March 14, 2026– Credential Letters
Credential Letters must be completed and submitted using the following electronic form: “CREDENTIAL LETTER.” These letters must be authorized by the president and another officer of the local executive. As stipulated in By-Law 9, Section 1(4) d., they must be RECEIVED by the National Office no later than the close of business at the Presidents' Conference on March 14, 2026.
While you are not limited to the number of observers that you may submit, we remind you that observers will be accepted on a first come basis and also subject to space limitation on the Convention floor. In the past, some Locals have named an excess number of observers in order to have contingency plans should some observers be unable to attend. On the forms provided, there will be an area for you to advise of hotel accommodations required. Please note that Locals are responsible for the hotel expenses for their observers not fully funded by UTE and therefore, accommodations should only be requested for those observers whom the Locals truly intend to send to Convention. Should those observers who the Locals have identified as needing rooms be unable to attend, another observer from the list submitted by a local may be substituted for the reserved room.
2. TRANSPORTATION, TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION AND WAGES - DELEGATES
Most delegates from Locals are expected to travel to Montréal on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, and to return home on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Expenses such as loss of wages, hotel accommodation and per diems will only be paid for the authorized period. Exceptions will be dealt with on an individual basis by the 1st Vice-President or, in his absence, by the President.
All delegates will be individually responsible for payment of their own room charges, applicable taxes, parking and incidental charges at the time of check-out. A credit card or full payment for the room nights, plus taxes and a Two Hundred ($200) Dollar deposit for each delegate’s room reserved for incidental charges is required. The deposit will be refunded upon check out. Delegates wishing to have their expense claim reimbursed before leaving, must provide a zero ($0) balance receipt prior to 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, July 24, 2026.
By-Law 9, Section 1 (7) Travel expenses of delegates, named by a Local, shall be paid by UTE in accordance with Regulation.
Any delegate missing a session of the Convention shall not be reimbursed expenses for the period of absence unless the Executive Council, after reviewing the circumstances, decides to authorize payment.
IMPORTANT NOTE (1):
Each delegate will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the Convention.
IMPORTANT NOTE (2):
You must use the corporate discount code with Air Canada if your travel is funded by UTE.
For those with an Aeroplan account, all you need to do is sign on to the Air Canada website using your own Aeroplan number or email at https://www.aircanada.com. Then once logged in, enter the Promotional Code in the booking section. The Promotional Code is provided below.
For those who do not have an Air Canada Aeroplan account, you only need to enter the Promotional Code in the booking section on the Air Canada website https://www.aircanada.com. The Promotional Code is provided below.
If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact the Finance Department.
IMPORTANT NOTE (3):
We have registered the Convention Committees with Air Canada’s Meetings and Conventions and we have negotiated the following discounts: 5% discount for economy standard fares, 10% discount for economy flex fares.
The promotional code to use is: CHVAGUW1. All participants who are flying to this event, both delegates and observers who are funded by UTE, must book their flights using the promotional code to get the discount. You can travel 7 days prior to the event and up to 7 days after. Simply do your booking and put the promotional code in the appropriate box. Voilà, it’s that simple!
IMPORTANT NOTE (4):
We have registered the Convention with Air Canada’s Meetings and Conventions and we have negotiated the following discounts: 5% discount for economy standard fares, 10% discount for economy flex fares.
The promotional code to use is: CTMNHHY1. All participants who are flying to this event, both delegates and observers who are funded by UTE, are to book their flights using the promotional code to get the discount. The travel period begins 7 days before and after, the date of the event.
Please do not hesitate to contact the UTE Finance Department if you have any questions concerning this matter.
By-Law 9, Section 1 (8) - The cost of accommodation and per diems of the delegates at Conventions and all loss of salaries incurred as a result of attendance at the Convention shall be paid by UTE at the rate and under conditions determined by the Executive Council. Delegates missing a session of the Convention shall not be reimbursed for loss of salary for the period absent unless the Executive Council, after reviewing the circumstances, decides to authorize payment.
By-Law 9, Section 1 (9) – Each Officer of the Executive Council shall be considered a delegate and entitled to attend Conventions with full voting rights as provided in By-Law 9, Section 1 (5). Their expenses, including traveling expenses, shall be paid by UTE. Regional Vice-Presidents shall be considered delegates from the region they represent. The President and Vice-Presidents shall be considered delegates from the region in which they resided immediately prior to their initial election to the national position.
3. TRANSPORTATION, TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION AND WAGES - OBSERVERS
All observers from Locals fully funded by UTE are expected to travel to Montréal on Tuesday, July 21, 2026,and to return home on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Expenses such as loss of wages and per diems will only be paid for the six-day period.
All observers will be individually responsible for payment of their own room charges, applicable taxes, parking and incidental charges at the time of check-out. A credit card or full payment for the room nights, plus taxes and a Two Hundred ($200) Dollar deposit for each observer’s room reserved for incidental charges is required. The deposit will be refunded upon check out. Observers funded by UTE wishing to have their expense claim reimbursed before leaving, must provide a zero ($0) balance receipt prior to 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, July 24, 2026.
By-Laws 9, Section 1 (12) - UTE shall pay the transportation costs in accordance with By-Law 9, Section 1 (7) for one (1) observer per Local in order to attend the Convention.
By-Law 9, Section 1 (13) - UTE shall pay the transportation cost in accordance with By-Law 9, Section 1 (7) as well as accommodation costs, loss of wages and per diem for one (1) observer to the UTE Convention from each Local having two hundred (200) or less members in good standing.
Any observer fully funded by UTE missing a session of the Convention shall not be reimbursed expenses for the period of absence unless the Executive Council, after reviewing the circumstances, decides to authorize payment.
OBSERVERS SENT BY LOCALS ARE COVERED UNDER BY-LAW 9, SECTION 1 (12) OR SECTION 1 (13) BUT NOT UNDER BOTH.
4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
By-Law 11, Section 8 - Election of Officers – Officers are elected by an absolute majority of votes (simple majority vote of the total votes cast); if no candidate obtains the required majority in the first ballot, the candidate with the lowest result in that ballot is eliminated and a new ballot is held. This process is repeated until a candidate obtains the required majority. Where only two (2) nominees remain, or where only two (2) nominees are standing for election for the same office and a tie vote results, the Chairperson of the Nominations Committee will declare no ballot and a new vote be taken immediately.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if only one candidate accepts the nomination for a position, the candidate is declared elected by acclamation at the close of nominations without the need for a ballot.
5. ACCOMMODATION
All hotel accommodations will be made by the UTE National Office. Any delegate or observer requiring other than standard accommodation should indicate so using the credential letter under the Special requirements section, it being understood that anything over and above standard accommodation will be at the delegate's or observer's own expense.
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Centre Sheraton Montréal Hotel - The room rate for standard accommodations is $259.00 plus applicable taxes for single/double occupancy. This rate will be available from July 14th to July 29th inclusively. Guests must also maintain a $200.00 deposit for incidental room charges. Valid ID is required at check-in.
6. CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS – March 14, 2026
Convention resolutions are a means by which the membership can formally propose policy and procedure changes, direction, suggestions and ideas on matters which affect or are of concern to them. Resolutions that are applicable only to UTE come into effect when they are adopted during our Convention unless otherwise stated. Resolutions that require some action by the PSAC are referred to their next National Convention for consideration and debate. Adopted resolutions establish official policies for the guidance of and/or instruction to the governing bodies of the organization.
THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE JULY 2026 UTE CONVENTION IS NO LATER THAN THE END OF BUSINESS OF THE PRESIDENTS’ CONFERENCE ON MARCH 14, 2026.
As many Local Executive Officers may find this a new experience, the following are suggested as guidelines for the preparation and submission of resolutions:
- Appoint a Convention Resolutions Committee of three to five members. More than this number may be unwieldy.
- Instruct all Executives and members to submit resolutions to the Committee. The Committee should also be encouraged to submit resolutions of its own. Allow the Committee sufficient time to prepare its report.
- Establish a date for a general meeting of the members to study the Committee's report and any additional resolutions.
- The members should be given ample opportunity to debate each resolution and to endorse, amend or reject same.
- Each resolution adopted by the meeting is to be submitted to the National Office by March 14, 2026 no later than the end of business of the Presidents’ Conference.
- Depending on the size and activities of any given Local, it may be more suitable or expedient to appoint several Committees to deal with the individual subject matters and have each Committee report to the membership meeting.
A resolution should be concise and deal with one matter only. There is a maximum of 150 words in English or 165 words in French that must be respected. The WHEREAS clauses are used as an introduction and explanation of the subject matter and the BE IT RESOLVED clauses are the "heart" of the resolution; it should specify the objective of the resolution.
- Each resolution must be clearly written on a separate form.
- Amendments to By-Laws and Regulations should be clearly identified either in bold, italic or in some other manner clearly signifying the change.
Here is an example of a resolution: “EXAMPLE CONVENTION RESOLUTION FORM.”
Please use the following form: “CONVENTION RESOLUTION FORM” to write and submit each of your resolutions. Each resolution must be numbered and the total number submitted must be indicated, for example, No. 2 of 5.
All locals must submit the following certificate “RESOLUTION CERTIFICATE” specifying the number of resolutions your local is submitting to the National Office.
Remember that your delegates should be prepared to understand and provide the rationale for your resolutions at the Convention Committees and/or the Convention.
7. CONVENTION REGISTRATION
Registration for Convention will take place at the Centre Sheraton Montréal Hotel, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, with the opening session of Convention commencing at 9:00 a.m.
There will be no registration fees for the 2026 UTE Triennial National Convention.
In Solidarity,
Marc Brière
National President
Encl.
c.c.: National Office Staff