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Ottawa – November 17, 2016 – UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema and UFCW Local Union presidents and activists from across the country recently gathered in Ottawa to participate in political action meetings with government ministers and Members of Parliament.

Leadership and activists from UFCW Canada Local Unions and the National Office met with a number of ministers and MPs on November 15 to advance the voice and interests of UFCW Canada members.

"The decisions made by political parties and elected officials affect UFCW members in their workplaces and in their communities,” says National President Meinema. “To ensure that our political leaders understand and act on the hopes, interests, and concerns of UFCW members, it is essential for our union to be politically active at all levels of government, and that is why meetings like this are so important.”

The meetings served to introduce federal politicians to the membership and work of UFCW Canada and UFCW Canada Local Unions, and also provided activists with an opportunity to discuss a number of key issues with MPs and their staff, including closing the gender wage gap; the impact of international trade deals; labour law reform; the development of a national food policy; immigration reform; energy policy; and working towards Reconciliation with First Nations.

Throughout the day, UFCW Canada leaders and activists met with Thomas Mulcair, leader of the NDP; Rhéal Fortin, leader of the Bloc Québécois; Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture; the staff of Status of Women Minister Patty Hajdu and Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr; Sheri Benson, NDP Critic for Labour; and Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food.