Who used OPSEU money to campaign?

Seems the OPSEU Women's Committee decided it was okay to use OPSEU funding to allow one of the candidates for President to be the keynote speaker to their breakfast gathering. 

When several angry participants complained that Nancy Pridham was the keynote speaker, they were told that she had been asked before she announced her run for the OPSEU presidency.  So what?  It would have been simple enough to advise her that given her announcement it would not be fair to have her fulfil that keynote speaker role.  Alternatively, Pridham, could and should have turned back the request in fairness, or at the very least, told the Women's Committee that Thomas would have to be invited as well.

The Women's Committee must be non-partisan.  They are funded to advocate on behalf of women and to support women's issues and causes.  They are not funded to advocate for a particular candidate in OPSEU elections.  They can do that on their own time and their own dime - not on the members' time and money.

The irony is that it was Pridham who, on her Facebook page, falsely accused Thomas of using OPSEU funds to promote his campaign.  Turns out she was the one using OPSEU funds for campaigning.

Who else could fill in?  Oh, how about Patty Rout who was not running for office but had held the second highest office in OPSEU for the past four years!  Patty Rout was an obvious choice.  Once Pridham announced her candidacy, she had to replaced unless, of course, partisan politics was the intent of the Women's Committee and their Board advisor.   That would be a serious breach of duty.

The women of OPSEU deserve better from their provincial committee.  The Executive Board advisor to the committee should have advised the committee members better.  There is no excuse.

Solidarity