Last spring, a delegation of RCCAQ board members met with representatives from various ministerial offices, along with officials from specific provincial government departments. During those meetings, we emphasized the need to train our members so they can navigate the COVID-19 pandemic more effectively.

Attending those meetings were staffers of the Quebec Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity (MTESS), who showed us a high level of consideration while taking note of our concerns. Further discussions were held with ministry officials regarding the possibility of a grant.

The first milestone was reached on July 3 when we were given confirmation that we would be receiving a grant to fund training for RCCAQ members. Issued under the PACME COVID-19 job protection program, the grant will be used for the "Leader's Tour", which includes nine modules covering various aspects of human resources. Further details will be provided in our upcoming communications.

We will be continuing our efforts to obtain financial aid for the staffing component. We will keep you up to date on future developments, which we hope will be helpful to members seeking to address staffing-related challenges.