ADP Constitution
Adopted by a General Assembly of the ADP
25 September 2026
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Article I Name
1.1 The name of this body is the Association of Dawson Professionals (ADP), hereafter referred to as the “Association.”
Article II Head office
2.1 The head office of the Association is located at 3040 Sherbrooke Street West, Westmount, Quebec, H3Z 1A4.
Article III Aims
3.1 The Association shall promote healthy, respectful, equitable, accessible, and sustainable working conditions that support the professional and personal well-being of members.
This includes advocating for psychologically safe workplaces, reasonable and sustainable workloads, respectful and inclusive professional environments, work-life balance, accessibility, professional autonomy, flexible and modern work practices where appropriate, including hybrid and remote work arrangements, and practices that support the long-term health, dignity, retention, and effectiveness of professionals.
More specifically, the aims of the Association are:
3.2 to ensure and encourage the active participation of professionals at all levels of College governance;
3.3 to ensure the just application of the Collective Agreement governing professionals, to promote understanding of its contents, and to participate in its negotiation;
3.4 to promote effective communication and collaboration within the Association and with other groups within the College; and
3.5 to model respect, ethical behaviour, accessibility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and professionalism within the Dawson community.
Article IV Membership and representation
4.1 All employees of Dawson College who perform duties defined in the classification plan, as established in the Collective Agreement for professionals, shall be eligible to become members of the Association. Each member shall complete a membership card.
4.2 The Association shall represent its members, including:
a) professionals who are employed on a full-time or part-time basis;
b) professionals who are on leave with or without pay; and
c) professionals who have been suspended, transferred, or dismissed and for whom action or grievance procedures are possible.
Article V Affiliation and disaffiliation
5.1 The Association is affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and the Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (FPPC), and shall comply with their constitutions, bylaws, and regulations, insofar as they apply to the Association.
5.2 The Association may decide to affiliate with any and all organizations, groups, or associations whose aims are consistent with those of the Association, provided the following conditions are met:
a) A notice of motion to hold a referendum on the subject of affiliation shall be given at least thirty (30) days in advance of the General Assembly where the matter will be addressed.
b) For an affiliation decision to be valid, it shall have the support of a majority (50% + 1) of the members as expressed in a referendum. See Article 12.8 on the procedure for conducting referenda.
5.3 The Association may decide to disaffiliate from any and all organizations provided the following conditions are met:
a) A notice of motion to hold a referendum on the subject of disaffiliation shall be given at least thirty (30) days in advance of the General Assembly where the matter will be addressed. The notice of motion shall also be sent to the CSQ and the FPPC at least thirty (30) days prior to the General Assembly meeting at which the proposal is to be made.
b) For a disaffiliation decision to be valid, it shall have the support of a majority (50% +1) of the members as expressed in a referendum. See Article 12.8 on the procedure for conducting referenda.
c) The CSQ shall have the right to delegate observers to oversee the referendum procedure.
5.4 The Association shall send the CSQ a copy of the notice of meeting and the proposed agenda of any and all General Assemblies, the copies to be sent prior to the meetings, within the prescribed time as set out in Article 12.3.
5.5 The Association shall agree to allow a maximum of two (2) authorized representatives of the CSQ to attend any and all General Assemblies and to express their views at such meetings; the CSQ shall make a request to this effect prior to the meeting in question.
Article VI Finances
6.1 All professionals at Dawson College shall pay union dues as established by the CSQ, the FPPC, and the Association.
6.2 The Association shall set the amount of the dues. The Advisory Committee shall recommend to a General Assembly that a referendum be held to approve any change in the established amount of the dues. Any change must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast in a referendum.
6.3 The Association shall mandate the CSQ to act as the collection agent for all union dues.
6.4 The Association shall produce annual financial statements. The financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
6.5 The Association shall prepare and present annually to the General Assembly a report on the use of its financial resources, which shall include, where applicable:
a) the amount of regular union dues, as well as any other amount collected, including any special assessment;
b) the Association’s total annual dues revenue, as well as the amounts of the affiliation contributions payable to the FPPC and the CSQ;
c) the name and position of each person elected to a union office, as well as any honorarium or other remuneration paid directly to that person by the Association and any other applicable benefit;
d) where applicable, the name and position of any non-elected person having the highest authority within the Association, as well as any remuneration paid directly to that person by the Association and any other applicable benefit;
e) the total accommodation, travel, and subsistence expenses incurred by persons elected to union office and paid or reimbursed by the Association, and, where applicable, by the non-elected person having the highest authority within the Association;
f) the total accommodation, travel, and subsistence expenses incurred by all other members and paid or reimbursed by the Association;
g) any other expenditure exceeding $5,000, where the Association’s annual dues revenue is $500,000 or less, or $10,000, where the Association’s annual dues revenue is more than $500,000;
h) any expenditure exceeding $25,000 made by the FPPC or the CSQ, as reported to the Association by those organizations.
6.6 The financial statements and the report on the use of financial resources shall be presented annually to the membership at a General Assembly.
6.7 Following their presentation to the General Assembly, the financial statements and the report on the use of financial resources shall be accessible to any employee included in the bargaining unit represented by the Association. A copy shall be provided free of charge upon request, in accordance with procedures established by the Executive Council.
Article VII Fiscal year
7.1 The fiscal year shall begin on June 1 and end on May 31 of the following year.
Article VIII Governance: Executive Council
8.1 The governance structure of the Association shall consist of the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee.
8.2 Members of the Executive Council may only hold one (1) elected office within the Executive Council at a given time.
This restriction does not prevent a member of the Executive Council from serving, by virtue of their Executive Council office or by designation of the Executive Council, as a representative or alternate on the Labour Relations Committee (CRT), or on any other committee or body of the Association or College.
Members of the Executive Council are ex-officio members of the Advisory Committee, and may also serve as Association representatives on permanent College bodies and Association committees.
8.3 The Executive Council shall consist of one (1) President, up to two (2) Vice‑Presidents, one (1) Treasurer, one (1) Secretary, and one (1) Union Delegate.
8.4 The Executive Council shall be responsible for the administration and operational management of the Association, and for implementing the decisions adopted by the General Assembly.
Between meetings of the General Assembly and the Advisory Committee, the Executive Council may make operational and administrative decisions necessary for the effective functioning of the Association, provided such decisions are consistent with this Constitution, the Bylaws, and decisions adopted by the membership.
In exceptional circumstances where the positions of President and Vice-President are vacant, the remaining members of the Executive Council shall collectively ensure the continuity of the Association’s operations until at least one of these positions is filled in accordance with the election and vacancy procedures established by this Constitution.
The overall responsibilities of the Executive Council shall be:
a) to promote and maintain the rights, interests, and welfare of the professionals of Dawson College in all matters respecting their common interests, including drafting the local agreement;
b) to act as the only representative and voice of the professionals in College matters pursuant to its mandate, such representation including the authority to:
i) participate in the formulation and implementation of College-wide organizational and academic policies;
ii) forward, in the name of the Association, recommendations to governments, constituencies, bodies, or individuals;
c) to promote the involvement of professionals in the College community;
d) to promote and maintain communication between professionals and the College administration.
8.5 The responsibilities of the individual Executive Council leaders are as follows:
a) The President shall:
i) be the primary spokesperson of the Association;
ii) be responsible for the overall operations of the Association;
iii) ensure that all aspects of the Executive Council’s business are efficiently executed;
iv) be responsible for calling and chairing meetings of the Executive Council and the General Assembly;
v) be responsible for hiring and overseeing employees working on behalf of the Association.
b) The Vice-President(s) shall:
i) represent and advance the goals of the Association at meetings of the central union;
ii) liaise with other unions of professionals;
iii) assist the President in overseeing the overall operations of the Executive Council;
iv) assist the President in hiring and overseeing employees working on behalf of the Association;
v) replace the President when necessary due to absence, resignation, or permanent incapacity;
vi) where the office of President becomes vacant, ensure, together with the Executive Council, continuity of the Association’s operations until the vacancy is filled in accordance with this Constitution.
The position of Vice-President may be filled by two individuals who will share the responsibilities of the position.
When there are two Vice-Presidents, they shall determine between themselves the allocation of responsibilities, subject to the approval of the Executive Council where appropriate.
c) The Secretary shall:
i) act as Returning Officer for all elections and all electronic balloting, and the following tasks unless delegated by the Executive Council to an employee working on behalf of the Association:
ii) be responsible for taking the minutes of all Executive Council meetings and General Assemblies of the Association;
iii) be responsible for the accurate order of the Association files;
iv) be responsible for the publication of all agendas, minutes, notices, and the material relevant to the business conducted by and at meetings of the Executive Council and the General Assembly of the Association;
v) be responsible for keeping members of the Executive Council up to date on all relevant material, documentation, and events.
d) The Treasurer shall:
i) be responsible, in consultation with the Executive Council, for the administration of union funds and all Association bank accounts and expenditures;
ii) in consultation with the Executive Council, prepare an annual budget for adoption by the General Assembly;
iii) present financial reports to the Executive Council and to the General Assembly;
iv) oversee the preparation of the Association’s annual financial statements and annual report on the use of financial resources required under Article 6.5;
v) coordinate and ensure appropriate follow-up on any financial verification, review engagement, or audit required by applicable legislation;
vi) ensure that the Association’s annual financial statements and annual report on the use of financial resources are presented annually to the membership, made accessible to all members and professionals represented by the Association through the Association’s SharePoint site, and provided free of charge to any member or represented professional who requests a copy.
e) The Union Delegate shall:
i) serve as one of the representatives of the Association on the CRT and participate in consultation and labour-relations processes falling within its mandate;
ii) « advise professionals of their rights under the Collective Agreement » (Article 3-2.04 of the Collective Agreement);
iii) contribute to the administration, preparation, and follow-up of grievances and other labour-relations matters, in collaboration with the President, other members of the Executive Council, and the FPPC/CSQ, as appropriate.
8.6 The Association’s delegation to the Labour Relations Committee (CRT) shall consist of the following members of the Executive Council:
a) the Union Delegate, who shall serve as the principal CRT representative;
b) the President, who shall serve as the second CRT representative;
c) one (1) Vice-President, who shall serve as the third CRT representative; and
d) where there are two (2) Vice-Presidents, the other Vice-President shall serve as the alternate CRT representative.
Where there is only one (1) Vice-President, another member of the Executive Council shall be designated by the Executive Council to serve as the alternate CRT representative.
Where necessary because of absence, vacancy, conflict of interest, or inability to serve, the Executive Council may temporarily designate another member of the Executive Council as a CRT representative or alternate.
Article IX Governance: Advisory Committee
9.1 The Advisory Committee shall advise and support the Executive Council in fulfilling the objectives of the Association by facilitating communication, consultation, and collaboration among representatives and the membership.
In particular, the Advisory Committee shall:
a) advise the Executive Council on matters affecting the Association and its members;
b) receive and discuss reports from representatives serving on College bodies and committees;
c) identify emerging issues affecting professionals and make recommendations to the Executive Council;
d) support communication and consultation with the membership; and
e) contribute to the development of the Association’s priorities, positions, and initiatives.
9.2 The Advisory Committee shall consist of the members of the Executive Council and all professionals who have been elected to serve on the following permanent College bodies and Association committees:
a) three (3) representatives on the Senate, elected by the Association membership, who shall:
i) liaise between the Association and the Senate; and
ii) be responsible for the coordination of professional participation in any and all aspects and levels of the Senate, as applicable;
b) one (1) representative on the Board of Governors, elected by the Association membership, who shall:
i) liaise between the Association and the Board of Governors; and
ii) be responsible for the coordination of professional participation in any and all aspects and levels of the Board of Governors, as applicable;
c) two (2) representatives on the College Professional Development parity committee, elected by the Association membership, who shall:
i) oversee professional development activities of professionals; and
ii) approve the disbursement of professional development funds.
The ADP President will serve as an ex-officio member of the ADP Professional Development Committee;
d) one (1) representative on the College Budget Consultation Committee;
e) one (1) representative on the College Committee to Stem Violence, Discrimination, Harassment and the Abuse of Power;
f) one (1) representative on the College Health and Safety Committee;
g) one (1) member-at-large, without portfolio.
9.3 Vacancies in office
a) A position shall be considered vacant upon the resignation, removal from office, loss of eligibility, death, or permanent inability of the incumbent to perform the duties of the position.
b) Where a vacancy occurs in the office of President, a Vice-President shall serve as Acting President until the vacancy is filled. Where there are two (2) Vice-Presidents, the Executive Council shall designate which Vice-President shall serve as Acting President.
c) Where a vacancy occurs in any other Executive Council position, the Executive Council may designate an eligible member of the Association to perform the duties of the vacant position on an interim basis until the vacancy can be filled through an election.
d) Where a vacancy occurs on the Advisory Committee, the Executive Council may appoint an eligible member on an interim basis until the position can be filled through an election.
e) An interim appointment shall not extend beyond three (3) months without an election, except where exceptional circumstances make an election impracticable.
9.4 The Executive Council, with the advice of the Advisory Committee, may establish, modify, suspend, or dissolve ad hoc committees as required.
The resolution establishing an ad hoc committee shall identify:
a) the name of the committee;
b) the number or composition of its members;
c) the purpose and duration of its mandate; and
d) its roles, responsibilities, powers, and reporting obligations.
Members of an ad-hoc committee may be invited to attend Advisory Committee meetings as non-voting participants.
9.5 Meetings of the Advisory Committee of the Association shall be held at least three (3) times during each of the fall and winter semesters. A majority of members shall constitute quorum.
9.6 Members of the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee shall maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive, privileged, or confidential information obtained through their role within the Association, including, but not limited to, labour relations matters, grievances, negotiations, legal issues, personnel matters, and member concerns.
9.7 Members of the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee shall declare any real, potential, or perceived conflict of interest relating to matters under discussion.
Any member in such a situation shall recuse themselves from related discussions, duties, and votes.
The remaining members of the Executive Council may determine, by majority vote, whether a recusal is required.
Article X Elections
10.1 All positions on the Executive Council and on the Advisory Committee are elected positions.
To be eligible for one of the Association’s elected positions, a candidate shall have completed the equivalent of at least one (1) year of service as a professional at Dawson College.
10.2 All members of the Executive Council and the Advisory Committee shall be elected for three-year terms, which shall begin on the date of election and be renewable, pending an election or ratification.
10.3 Procedure for elections:
The Association’s Secretary shall act as Returning Officer.
Elections shall be conducted using a secure electronic voting system that protects voter confidentiality and the integrity of the voting process.
All members shall be eligible to vote.
a) A call for nominations shall be sent electronically to all members. The period of nomination shall be at least five (5) working days before the election date. A candidate shall be nominated by at least one person and shall accept the nomination. The nomination, together with the nominee’s acceptance, shall be sent to the Returning Officer.
b) If there are two (2) or more candidates, the candidates shall be invited to prepare a short statement about their qualifications for the position, which shall be sent electronically to all members.
c) Access to the electronic poll shall be sent to all members, and members shall be given a period of five (5) working days in which to vote.
d) The Returning Officer, in the presence of another member of the Executive Council, shall tally the votes. A person shall be elected by a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast.
e) Where only one eligible candidate is nominated for an elected position, the candidate shall be considered acclaimed.
An acclaimed candidate for a position on the Executive Council shall be subject to ratification by the membership in accordance with Article 10.3-f before being declared elected and assuming office.
An acclaimed candidate for a position on the Advisory Committee shall be declared elected by acclamation.
f) All members of the Executive Council who are elected or acclaimed to office shall be subject to ratification. Members of the Advisory Committee are not subject to ratification.
Ratification shall be conducted by confidential vote and shall require a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast. If a candidate is not ratified, the position shall remain vacant and a new call for nominations shall be issued.
g) The outcome of any election, acclamation, or ratification shall be communicated electronically to all members, including the name and position of each person elected, acclaimed, or ratified. For ratification votes, only whether the candidate was ratified or not ratified shall be communicated; vote counts and percentages shall not be disclosed.
The outcome shall also be communicated to non-member employees within the bargaining unit who have provided the Association with the information necessary to receive such communications, in accordance with applicable legislation.
Article XI Removal of representatives from office
11.1 The procedure for removing any elected member of the Association’s Executive Council or the Advisory Committee shall be the following:
a) the Advisory Committee may remove one of its members from their position by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority;
b) by petition to the Advisory Committee, any member of the Association may request the removal of a member from their position in the Advisory Committee.
11.2 The grounds for removal are:
a) contravention and abuse of the Constitution and/or adopted procedures by a member of the Advisory Committee in the course of duty for the Association;
b) failure to fulfill the duties and responsibilities as conferred by this Constitution and/or adopted procedures;
c) abuse of the position of office and/or the privileges thereby conferred.
Article XII General assemblies and referenda
12.1 All members of the Association shall be entitled to participate in General Assemblies and shall be voting members.
General Assemblies, Executive Council meetings, Advisory Committee meetings, and referenda may be conducted in person, virtually, or in hybrid format, as determined by the Executive Council, after consultation with the membership of the body involved.
Members attending meetings virtually through approved electronic platforms shall be considered present for the purposes of quorum and voting.
12.2 A minimum of one (1) General Assembly shall be held during each of the fall and winter semesters.
12.3 Notice of a General Assembly meeting shall be provided in writing to each member, including by electronic means, at least five (5) working days before the meeting.
The notice shall include, at minimum, the date, time, and location of the meeting, information necessary to participate virtually where applicable, and the proposed agenda.
In the case of an emergency General Assembly convened pursuant to Article 12.5, only matters identified in the notice and proposed agenda may be considered.
12.4 Quorum for a General Assembly shall be one-third (1/3) of the membership, as established by the College’s list of professionals.
If quorum is not achieved, the Executive Council may reconvene a second General Assembly with the same agenda and a minimum of three (3) working days’ notice, at which those present shall constitute quorum.
12.5 In case of an emergency, a General Assembly may be called by the President, or Acting President, and two other members of the Executive Council, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours’ notice. The first order of business at such a meeting shall be the confirmation by two-thirds (2/3) of those present that the issue in question required an emergency meeting. If confirmation is denied, the meeting shall be adjourned immediately. The normal requirement regarding quorum shall apply to emergency meetings.
12.6 The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by the Executive Council under the direction and authority of the General Assembly.
The Advisory Committee shall support the Executive Council in an advisory and consultative capacity.
The responsibilities of the General Assembly are as follows:
a) to provide feedback on priorities for collective bargaining and to ratify negotiations pertaining to any collective agreement, local agreement, etc.;
b) to form ad-hoc committees that advance the aims and operations of the Association;
c) to receive and adopt an annual budget;
d) to receive and adopt the Association’s financial statements and the annual report on the use of financial resources, and to appoint the person or persons responsible for financial verification, where applicable;
e) to mandate the Treasurer annually to carry out the financial verification of the Association, subject to any additional requirements imposed by applicable legislation;
f) to receive the reports of committees, as needed;
g) to provide feedback and advice to the above-mentioned committees;
h) to adopt amendments to the Constitution, as required;
i) to authorize referenda on affiliation or disaffiliation with a central union, or on any other matter it considers appropriate;
j) to conduct such other business as the Chair may consider appropriate.
12.7 Only members who are actually present at an assembly shall be entitled to vote. Votes shall be decided by a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast. The Chair shall not cast a vote except in the case where a deciding vote is needed to break a tie.
12.8 The General Assembly shall authorize referenda on matters where a broader consultation of the membership is required or desired.
a) The General Assembly shall approve the wording of the proposal and the nature of the information that will be submitted to the membership.
b) A referendum shall be conducted by electronic polling, prior to which members shall have had at least ten (10) working days to inform themselves about the proposal.
c) Access to a secure electronic poll shall be sent to all members of the Association, who shall be given five (5) working days in which to vote.
d) Except where this Constitution expressly provides otherwise, a referendum shall be decided by a simple majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast.
12.9 Under extraordinary circumstances (e.g. labour unrest or negotiations with the College), a General Assembly may, by a majority vote, grant the Executive Council the mandate to make policy decisions without referring such decisions to a vote of the membership.
12.10 Procedural disputes shall be decided by the Chair’s interpretation of the Association’s Constitution or of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article XIII Electronic polling
13.1 Rules and procedures for electronic polling shall be defined in Bylaw 1.
Electronic voting and referenda conducted by the Association shall utilize secure voting platforms that ensure accessibility and integrity of the voting process.
The Executive Council shall establish reasonable timelines and procedures for electronic voting, and communicate them clearly to members in advance.
13.2 All votes conducted by ballot shall be by secret ballot.
Where applicable, secret-ballot voting shall be conducted in accordance with the Policy on the Secret-Ballot Voting Procedure Pursuant to Loi 4, annexed to this Constitution.
13.3 Contestation of any votes governed by Law 4 (Loi 4):
Any member in good standing may contest the conduct or results of a vote by submitting a written notice to the competent authority responsible for the vote within five (5) working days following the communication of the results.
The notice shall specify the grounds for the contestation. The competent authority shall review the contestation and may take any appropriate measures necessary to ensure the integrity of the voting process, including, where warranted, ordering that a new vote be held.
Any person directly concerned by the contestation or otherwise in a conflict of interest shall not participate in its review or decision. In such circumstances, the Executive Council shall designate an impartial member in good standing to review the contestation.
Article XIV Ratification of and amendments to the Constitution
14.1 Any proposal to amend the Constitution or Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Council.
The Executive Council shall forward the proposed amendment, including the text of the proposed new wording, to all members at least ten (10) working days before the General Assembly at which the proposal will be discussed.
14.2 Open discussion by the membership at a General Assembly shall be held prior to a ratification vote.
14.3 Subsequent to the ratification vote of this Constitution, amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast in a referendum. See Article 12.8 on the procedure for conducting referenda.
14.4 The Executive Council shall ensure that the Association’s Constitution and Bylaws are reviewed at least once every five (5) years. In conducting the review, the Executive Council may consult the Advisory Committee, the membership, and any other appropriate resource or body.
Following the review, the Executive Council shall:
a) determine that no amendments are required, in which case no amendment vote shall be necessary; or
b) recommend proposed amendments to the membership, which shall be considered and ratified in accordance with the amendment procedures established in this Article.