Dear CEOs,
I hope you are well and staying safe in these ever-changing times. I wanted to reach out before the holidays to briefly update you on our latest work to support the sector. I also wanted to thank you for completing our Member Engagement Survey as it gives us important insight into your priorities and how we can better serve you. I will share more on the survey results in the new year, but I am pleased to report that your support for CCUA continues to grow, and you believe that the value we offer has increased over the past several years. This is very gratifying and due in large part to your strong support and guidance as members.
We understand the importance you place on CCUA being your voice with the federal and many provincial governments. Our advocacy work continues to move forward in all of our jurisdictions with the sector’s key policy priorities. Since the federal election in October, we have been busy re-engaging with the Finance Minister, her team, and key officials on our main priorities of tax policy reform and open banking – two clear priorities for our members. We have restarted in-person meetings and we are reconvening the All-Party Credit Union Caucus to keep our sector’s issues at the forefront of Parliament’s agenda. And we have an exciting virtual federal forum planned for March 29 and 30 next year. So please note the date.
On the provincial front, in BC this month we hosted a successful, multi-day virtual advocacy event with the Finance Minister and credit unions meeting with MLAs from all parties in the legislature. In Saskatchewan, we met virtually with the Saskatchewan Party caucus. New regulations from the updated Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act in Ontario were recently published and we are working with our members on a formal response. And, in the Atlantic, new regulations are being developed in Newfoundland and Labrador and we are nearing completion of recommended updates to the Credit Unions Act on Prince Edward Island.
As you know, we are planning on gathering in person May 8-11, 2022, in Niagara Falls for CCUA’s National Conference and Annual General Meeting and ask you to please mark your calendars. We are putting together an exciting agenda and are making your safety our first priority. We will finally be able to recognize our past National Award winners, with the latest Awards nominations opening on January 1 2022 (nominations for the Distinguished Credit Union Leader Award are currently open). We will also be holding our Treasury and Finance Forum in person, June 21-22 in Toronto. As we continue to meet your professional development and training needs, Cusource has introduced new pricing bundles (available Jan. 14) which provide discounted prices on e-learning courses in Understanding our Business, Conduct, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Our work ensuring CCUA’s governance is ongoing. Every three years, CCUA is required to review its by-laws. At the December 9 meeting, the Board approved the launch of a system consultation on proposed bylaw changes, among which is a restructure of CCUA’s current peer groups. A Bylaw Consultation paper will be released soon, and we look forward to further engagement with credit unions early in 2022.
At the same time, peer group elections for five open positions on the CCUA board will take place the week of March 28, 2022. A Nominations Package to be completed by interested candidates will be available before the end of December and nominations will be accepted up until February 25, 2022.
I’m pleased to report that CUCC has hired an Executive Director to lead the organization. Andrew Wilczynski, who has been Managing Director of the Large Credit Union Coalition (LCUC) since November 2015, will become Executive Director of CUCC on December 20. The transition of CCUA’s Managed Services and Network Compliance Team is well underway and the staff transfers will be completed on January 1, 2022.
Finally, as you know by now, I have announced my retirement as of June 3, 2022. I believe over the past several years, a strong foundation has been laid for CCUA to continue serving you across a changing financial services landscape. The search is underway for my successor and if you have any recommendations, please let me know and I will put you in touch with the search committee of the CCUA Board.
I want to wish you all a very safe and happy holiday and new year. These are challenging times, but the resilience of our sector and its people has been amazing to witness.
Thank you for your incredible support and here’s to a better year in 2022.
