StraitTalk - November 2019

MARINE ATLANTIC EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2019
A PERSONAL JOURNEY OF REMEMBRANCE
PAGE 2
THE PAINFUL TRUTH ABOUT SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS
PAGE 8
FLU FACTS
PAGE 10

The Last Post at the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres
A Personal Journey
By Captain Alan Keeping & Michelle Rendell
Last month, we had the opportunity to visit
France to see some of the memorials and sites
that honour events that happened there over
100 years ago during the First and Second
World Wars. The effect that visit had on me
still resonates. I believe it will resonate with
me for the rest of my life. It’s difficult to put
into words both the beauty and profound
impact these sites have.
We first travelled to Beaumont Hamel and
found ourselves winding through tiny towns
and what became prevalent was the signs
leading to numerous cemeteries. Once we
arrived, we had a guided tour of Beaumont
Hamel. Right next to the main road what
looks like a ditch, is actually a trench, known
as St. John’s Road. This was where the Blue
Puttees, forming part of the 29th British
Division, attacked from at 9:15 a.m. on
July 1, 1916. They pushed their way to the
clogged front line through the dead and
wounded soldiers that had begun the initial
advance. Once they made it to No Man's
Land, they were then expected to cross
through tangles of barbed wire to reach the
enemy trenches nearby. Tragically, most fell
at a tree known as the Danger Tree. A replica
of which is erected there.
The Newfoundland Regiment would be
practically decimated in less than half an
hour of intense German fire. Of some 800
Newfoundlanders who went into battle that
morning, only 68 were able to answer the
roll call the next day. Our Day at Beaumont
Hamel ended at the Caribou Memorial which
points in the direction of Newfoundland, on
it is inscribed the names of those with no
known graves.
The next day, we set off for Vimy Ridge. Once
the Monument comes into view, the sheer
size is monumental, but it’s not until you
walk up next to it that you begin to see the
beauty of the monument. It commemorates
more than 11,000 men of the Canadian
Expeditionary Force killed during the First
World War in France and who have no known
grave. Many of them died in the Battle of
Vimy Ridge. The Canadians moved to the
front lines across from Vimy Ridge in the late
autumn of 1916. The Battle of Vimy Ridge
would be the first time all four divisions
of the Canadian Corps fought together as
one formation. The Battle of Vimy Ridge
began at 5:30 a.m. on Easter Monday, April
9, 1917. The first wave of 15,000-20,000
Canadian soldiers suffered great numbers
of casualties, but the assault proceeded
on schedule. Most of the heavily defended
ridge was captured by noon. Two days later
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STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

Vimy Ridge Memorial
Beaumont Hamel Monument
the Battle of Vimy Ridge was over. At Vimy
Ridge, regiments from coast to coast saw
action together in a distinctly Canadian
triumph, helping create a new and stronger
sense of national identity in our country.
We also stopped at the coastal town of
Dunkirk, a small town on the coast of France
that was the scene of a massive military
campaign during World War II. From May
26 to June 4, 1940, some 338,000 British
Expeditionary Force (BEF) and other Allied
troops were evacuated from Dunkirk to
England as German forces closed in on them.
The massive operation, involving hundreds
of naval and civilian vessels, became known
as the “Miracle of Dunkirk” and served as a
turning point for the Allied war effort.
On our last day, we visited the Menin Gate
Memorial in Ypres to witness the Last Post.
In 1928, a year after the inauguration of the
Menin Gate Memorial, prominent citizens in
Ypres wanted a way to express the gratitude
of the Belgian nation towards those who
had died for its freedom and independence.
Since 1929, the Last Post has been sounded
at the Menin Gate Memorial every night and
in all weathers. It was an honour for all of us
to view this ceremony.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit
Europe, take some time to visit these
sites which helped shape who we are as a
country today. You will see the beauty of
these monuments that honours the past
and reminds us of what was once so much
death and destruction. I’m sure If you visit,
the experience will stay with you forever; I
know it will for us.
Photos by Capt. A Keeping
The Danger Tree
3

Day of Remembrance
for missing and murdered indigenous women
On October 4, we commemorated the Day of Remembrance for
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW ) by wearing
custom-designed REDress Pins. We remembered those who are
affected by missing and murdered Indigenous women by designing our
own beaded pins and wearing them in solidarity for victims of MMIW.
Pin by Elaine Fraser
The REDress Project is a widely-known art installment that helps
raise awareness for all the missing and murdered Indigenous women
in Canada. This project began as a simple art project that was initially
started by Jamie Black, a Metis artist based in Winnipeg. Now that
the project has grown and has turned into a big part of the awareness
around missing and murdered indigenous women.
For more information on the REDress project, visit
www.redessproject.org.
We were thrilled with the positive response we received from all of you
and are so pleased with the outcome of this special project that we
wanted to showcase some of our employees' beautiful red dress pins
and say thank you to everyone who participated and shared pictures.
Pin by Wally March
Pins by Tori Paul
Pin by Jackie Walters
Pin by Paula Janes
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STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

MV Blue Puttees, Purser
Alex Humphries wears his
pin that he created.
did you know?
Pin by Elaine Fraser
Native Women’s Association has drawn
attention to figure from Statistics Canada,
documenting high rates of violence against
Indigenous women.
• According to the 2004 general social
survey, Indigenous women 15 years
and older were 3.5 times more likely to
experience violence than non-indigenous
women, violence against Indigenous
women and girls is not only more
frequent but also more severe.
• Between 1997 and 2000, the homicide rate
for indigenous women was nearly 7 times
higher than for non-Indigenous women.
5

Commissioners
Pictured: John Trickett chats with Her
Honour Judy Foote, Lieutenant Governor of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Commissionaires NL - Serving Those Who Have Served Our Nation
When our customers first land in Port aux
Basques, often the first face they see when
disembarking is that of a Commissionaire.
The Commissionaires is a leading Canadian
security services provider-led and managed
by veterans for veterans. Established
in 1925, their mandate is to create
meaningful employment opportunities for
former members of the Canadian Forces
and RCMP – “serving those who have
served our nation”.
“MAI has been utilizing the services
of the Commissionaires NL, which is a
division of the national organization
of Commissionaires for approximately
30 years,” said John Trickett, Manager
of Corporate Security. “As a Crown
Corporation, we have a contract with
Commissionaires NL for security services
via a Public Works standing offer. We have
about 80 Commissionaires working with us
at our port locations, who provide a range
of security services for our organization.”
John was recently a guest of
Commissionaires NL at a Commissionaires’
Board of Directors’ dinner hosted by Her
Honour Judy Foote, Lieutenant Governor of
Newfoundland and Labrador, who serves
as the patron of Commissionaires NL.
Commissionaires NL provides security
services at several commercial and
government sites such as the House
of Assembly, St. John’s International
Airport, and Canadian Forces Base
Goose Bay, in addition to Marine Atlantic.
Commissionaires NL was founded in
1949 by then Lieutenant Governor
Leonard Outerbridge. Since that time,
subsequent Lieutenant Governors have
served as the patron for the organization.
Commissionaires NL currently provides
employment for 800 veterans throughout
the province.
Significance of Remembrance Day at MAI
Lest We Forget.
At Marine Atlantic, we honour the sacrifices and achievements made by all those who served our country.
Whether it was the Newfoundland “Blue Puttees” that bravely fought during World War I, the brave
Nova Scotia Highlanders’ regiments that were an integral part of World War II, the peacekeepers whose
efforts protect civilians in war zones or the thousands of military personnel who serve our country today,
we remember and honour this sacrifice.
We also recognize and honour the 136 men, women and children who perished in 1942 when the SS
Caribou was torpedoed by a German U-boat on its route between North Sydney and Port aux Basques.
6
STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

new vice president, operations
Darrell Gallant
Darrell Gallant has been appointed to the position of Vice President of Operations. Darrell has been with MAI since
2016, serving as Director of Facilities. He is a Professional Engineer and has previous senior-level management
experience in both healthcare and manufacturing. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Mechanical
Engineering, Certificate in Environmental Management and is a Certified Project Management Professional.
The effective date of Darrell’s appointment is October 21, 2019.
7

Slips, Trips,
& Falls
You might think someone slipping, tripping or falling at work is nothing to be
concerned about but you would be wrong. Slips, trips and falls continue to pose
a real threat to MAI employees. 70% of Lost-Time Injuries are a result of slips,
trips and falls.
To get an understanding of just how much slips, trips, and falls impact our work
life, have a look at the numbers:
Slip / Trip / Fall by Incident Type
20
First Aid
Medical Aid
15
Lost Time
10
Impacts of Slips, Trips, and Falls
Think about the pain caused by an injury, having to take time off work and
the impact on you and your family.
5
Despite various mitigations used by safety managers such as non-slip
mats, the number of slip, trip and fall incidents in the workplace continues
to be one of the biggest safety threats. In fact, the issue remains one of
the top problems for safety professionals. The most common contributors
to these types of injuries are:
0
2019 (YTD) 2018 2017
Slip / Trip / Fall Lost Time by Year
• housekeeping issues - lack of tidiness, when things are left out for
people to trip on
• wet or slippery surfaces
• human factors such as fatigue, rushing and complacency
2017
2018
2019 (YTD)
2 4 6 8
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STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

the painful truth about
The Impacts of Slips,
Trips, and Falls
Have you ever thought what the impact of a slip,
trip or fall might have on you? Just imagine you
are a parent of 2 children, working on board the
vessel for 15 days. Imagine that you are counting
down the days when you can get home to see the
kids. Maybe you have a fun-filled 2 weeks off
planned, including hiking the Starlite Trail, and
going to a campground for a week. Say your gross
earning is expected to be $4,700, and that you
will be paid before leaving on the mini-vacation.
Slipping into Distraction
When it comes to fall prevention,
complacency is usually the
biggest mental factor that can
cause people to get hurt. Physical
slip hazards like spills wouldn’t be
a problem if everyone was aware
of their surroundings 100% of
the time—we’d just see them and
walk around them.
We’ve probably all seen instances
where people slip on a freshly
polished floor despite the halfdozen
wet floor signs that are all
within arm’s reach. It’s because of
a phenomenon called inattention
blindness that literally makes
us blind to familiar objects that
they’re not looking for. Because
wet floor signs are such common
features of our daily lives, it
becomes easy for people to tune
them out and stop recognizing
them for what they are—
important warnings that a hazard
is present.
Practice good housekeeping
and cleaning up wet floors.
Following good housekeeping
procedures will help reduce slips
and trips. Keep floors mopped
and debris swept up.
• Remove obstacles and clutter
from walkways and stairways.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Secure mats, rugs and
carpets that don’t lay flat.
• Keep file cabinet or storage
drawers closed.
• Cover cables that cross
walkways.
• Keep working areas and paths
well-lit.
• Wear the correct footwear.
Three days into the shift, you slip and fall on
the deck outside, not realizing there was water
there. Let’s say you fall against the rail, hitting
your head, and then strike your shoulder. You
are immediately taken to the hospital by your
supervisor where you are diagnosed with a
possible rotator cuff tear and concussion. You
must put your arm up in a sling and are referred
for an MRI and to a surgeon. You feel nauseated
and have a headache that may last for weeks.
What is the impact of this painful accident? You
might not be able to return to work, and you
might have to apply for Workers’ Compensation
Board (WCB) benefits. Your gross earnings
drop to $2800 and there may even be a delay
in getting your payment while the claim is
reviewed by WCB. Your trip with your kids may
even have to be cancelled as you cannot do
anything physical. A little extra attention could
have prevented this accident.
9

2019: The Year of Good Health
A wellness newsletter brought to you by your Wellness Committee Issue 11, November 2019
true or false
Get the Facts about the Flu
Smart Living Tip
The flu can be serious. - True
• The flu is very contagious and can spread quickly and easily.
• Before you even know you are sick, you can pass the flu on to
others.
• In Canada, an average of 12,200 hospitalizations and 3,500
deaths related to the flu occur each year.
The flu can affect anyone. - True
• Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious.
Nobody likes getting a shot, but a shot is better than
Influenza! Get the flu shot to help protect your family and
• People at higher risk of serious complications are:
friends, and others around you that are unable to get the
flu shot because of health issues. ► those living with one or more ► young children
chronic health conditions
► pregnant women
► those residing in nursing
► Indigenous peoples
homes or other facilities
► adults aged 65 and over

A Simple Way to Stay Healthy: Hand-Washing
Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent
infection. Frequent hand-washing is one
of the best ways to avoid getting sick and
spreading illness.
As you touch people, surfaces and objects
throughout the day, you accumulate germs
on your hands. You can infect yourself with
these germs by touching your eyes, nose or
mouth, or spread them to others. Although
it's impossible to keep your hands germfree,
washing your hands frequently can
help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses
and other microbes.
Always wash your hands before:
• Preparing food or eating
• Treating wounds or caring for a
sick person
• Inserting or removing contact lenses
Always wash your hands after:
• Preparing food
• Using the toilet, changing a diaper or
cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• Touching an animal, animal feed or
animal waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• Treating wounds or caring for a
sick person
• Handling garbage
• Handling pet food or pet treats
• Also, wash your hands when they are
visibly dirty
It's generally best to wash your hands
with soap and water. Over-the-counter
antibacterial soaps are no more effective
at killing germs than regular soap.
Follow these steps:
• Wet your hands with clean, running water
— either warm or cold.
• Apply soap and lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20
seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces,
including the backs of your hands, wrists,
between your fingers and under your
fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean towel or airdry
them.
Hand-washing offers great rewards in
terms of preventing illness. Adopting this
habit can play a major role in protecting
your health.
Sources: Health Canada, Mayo Clinic
You need to get vaccinated every year. - True
• Flu viruses change each year. Experts create a new vaccine to
protect you each flu season.
You can't get the flu from the flu shot. -True
• The viruses in the flu shot are either killed or weakened and
cannot give you the flu.
The flu shot is safe. - True
• The flu shot has benefited millions of Canadians since 1946.
• Most people don't have reactions to the flu shot; those who do
may have soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site.
• Severe reactions to the vaccine are extremely rare.
Everybody wins when you get vaccinated. - True
• If you do get the flu, the flu shot may reduce the severity of your
symptoms.
• By getting the flu shot, you protect yourself and others because
you are less likely to spread the flu.
• It's a simple action that can prevent complications and save lives.

Awareness Up, Injuries Down
SafeStart is an internationally recognized safety
enhancement program focussed on creating awareness of
the role human factors play in injury prevention. Safestart
will help us all realize the impact that states such as rushing,
frustration, fatigue, and complacency have on our everyday
lives before they have the potential to cause serious injury.
It’s not about rules and procedures or specific workplace
hazards. It’s about keeping those hazards in mind and in sight
24/7, in every aspect of our daily lives – home, work, and play.
“The SafeStart concepts are so simple, they are almost
intuitive,” explains SafeStart Trainer, Paula Murphy. “They’re
even simple enough for our children to understand.” The
value of SafeStart comes in developing the skills required to
self-trigger quickly enough, and the habits that either need
to be developed or changed—those take time and personal
effort. But it’s time and effort well spent when you take into
consideration the significant results that you can expect
from SafeStart.
SafeStart will help us to:
• Significantly reduce personal injuries – at home, work and play
• Improve safety communication in our homes and workplaces
• Create a shared safety vocabulary: “eyes on task,” “mind on
task,” “line-of-fire,” and “balance, traction, and grip”
• Share safety tips, stories and learning with our loved ones
at home
SafeStart is a company-wide training initiative for all
employees. To start your SafeStart journey, visit the training
calendar on MyPort for dates and times, and discuss with your
supervisor how to register for your first session today!
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STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

New Cyber Security Booklet
Every day each of us encounters information which MAI depends upon to successfully provide ferry services. We are all responsible to
make sure information is kept secure and is only accessed and used by authorized individuals.
Be on the lookout for a Cybersecurity booklet that will be sent to your home which has tips to help you protect your information and stay
cyber-safe at work and at home.
If you have further questions, please let us know by contacting the IT/IM Help Desk at helpdesk@marineatlantic.ca.
from bpr to sap
Our Innovation Journey Continues
In July we launched Release 1 of BPR, which included moving our MyMAI, time and
attendance reporting, and payroll system to a new SAP-based platform. Building on the
success of this SAP platform, project teams are now being assembled to help apply SAPbased
solutions in additional areas.
Going forward, the BPR Program will become known as the SAP Program with several
projects rolling out under it – the first of which will be the new Health, Safety &
Environment (HSE) solution – SAP: HSE.
As we continue to improve the systems we depend on each day, stay tuned to MyPort and
Strait Talk for more SAP Program updates.
What is SAP?
SAP stands for Systems
Applications and Products
in Data Processing. SAP is a
business software package
designed to integrate all areas of
a business.
13

inging all the parts together
Natalie Musseau
manager, customer relationships
Managing our relationships with our
customers, both tourism and commercial,
is at the heart of Natalie Musseau’s new
role. Natalie recently took on the position of
Manager of Customer Relationships. In the
new role, she is responsible for developing
customer strategies to help drive business
growth and maintaining strong business
relationships with key stakeholders.
“Being the voice and advocating on behalf
of our customers, as well as being the voice
of the organization back to our customers
is a unique position to be in. I think that
by having an open dialogue, we can foster
more understanding that will lead us to even
greater service excellence,” Natalie says.
Of course, we all know Natalie in her former
role as Assistant Terminal Manager in Port
aux Basques, which she did for the last 9
years. Having an in-depth knowledge of MAI is
a huge asset as she navigates the new waters
of Customer Relationships. She also worked
on the Drops Project where she gained a lot
of insight into how the commercial side of
the business works, as well as the impacts on
front-line employees.
“I really enjoy learning new things every
day,“ she says. “I learn something new about
our customers, their needs, about our own
company and how things work and seeing
how the many parts all fit together.”
Even while taking on this new role, Natalie is
continually learning and is currently tackling
an MBA. “It makes for a busy life but it’s
something I love.” When not working and
studying, you may just find Natalie out for
a walk on the beach with her dog, Hoshi or
taking on home renos with husband, Todd.
Well known in the Port aux Basques
community, Natalie, a native of Nova Scotia,
worked as a reporter for the Gulf News prior
to working with Marine Atlantic. “During
my time as a reporter, I learned just how
important Marine Atlantic is in our port
communities and to the economic well-being
of our provinces.”
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STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

don barnes named
New Official Languages Champion
As a federal Crown Corporation, Marine Atlantic is subject to
the Official Languages Act and must offer customer service
in Canada’s two official languages, French and English. At our
various locations, terminals and on board our vessels, customers
have the right to ask for service in their official language of
choice, and that’s why designated positions throughout the
Corporation have been identified as bilingual. Any materials
published by MAI for distribution outside the organization are
required to be bilingual.
To assist Marine Atlantic in meeting the requirements outlined
in the Official Languages Act, two internal positions have been
designated to monitor our actions in meeting the legislation and
work towards continuous improvement.
Don Barnes, Vice President of Customer Experience, was
recently named as the Corporation’s Official Languages
Champion. In this role, Don will provide leadership in the
development of action plans towards the promotion of
initiatives related to official languages within Marine Atlantic.
“I am very excited to take on this important position and
help our Corporation meet our obligations under the Official
Languages Act. In this role, I will be joining 215 of my
colleagues from all federal departments, agencies and Crown
Corporations across the country. I look forward to our joint
efforts in providing the best possible service to our customers
in the official language of their choice.”
Don will join Darrell Mercer, the Corporation’s Person
Responsible for Official Languages, in working with employees,
and continuing MAI’s outreach activities with representatives
from the across the country who monitor and work to improve
official language offerings at all federal government institutions.
Should you have any questions regarding official languages at
Marine Atlantic, please feel free to contact
Don: dbarnes@marineatlantic.ca, (709) 772-8973,
or Darrell: dmercer@marineatlantic.ca, (709) 772-0073.
Official Languages Act
Communications with and services to the public (Section 6.2)
Deputy heads ensure that the language obligations of offices of
their institutions are determined according to the OLA and the
Regulations. Bilingual offices communicate with and provide
services to members of the public in the official language chosen
by the member of the public. In addition, deputy heads ensure that:
• 6.2.1 (Active offer) The institution actively offers
communications with and services to the public at designated
offices in both official languages.
• 6.2.2 (Equality and simultaneity) The institution respects the
principle of substantive equality in its communications and
services to the public. It also respects the equal status of both
official languages by making communications and services in
both official languages available simultaneously.
• 6.2.3 (Third party services) The institution respects the right
of the public to receive communications and services in the
official language of its choice when the public communicates
with or receives services from a third party acting on behalf of
the institution.
• 6.2.4 (Method of communication) The institution meets its
official languages obligations with regard to communications
with and services to the public regardless of the method of
communication used.
• 6.2.5 (Precedence of the public’s rights over employees’ rights)
The institution informs employees, according to section 31
of the OLA, that the public’s right to communicate with and
receive services from the institution in the official language of
the public’s choice takes precedence over the language-of-work
rights of employees.
15

Below is an overview of some things that you may be experiencing as you use MyMAI - this will provide you
with quick notes, some of its new features and tips on how to deal with any issues you might have.
1. Vessel employee travel allowance
what’s happening
I am a vessel employee and I noticed that I received twice my travel
allowance even though I didn’t submit a travel claim.
why it's happening
The new system picks up that you travelled for work and
automatically pays your travel allowance each time.
solution
Vessel employees no longer submit a travel claim for your travel
allowance if you have come back for work after your initial monthly shift.
2. Income Tax
what’s happening
My additional income tax deductions look different.
why it's happening
The additional taxes that you requested to be taken out are no longer
shown on a separate line on your pay stub in the new system.
solution
All income tax, whether regular or additional, are combined on one
line on your pay stub.
3. Other Employer Costs
what’s happening
What is the health/post- secondary education line on my pay stub? Is
this deducted from my pay?
why it's happening
Other employer costs are not a deduction from an employee’s pay.
This section shows amounts that MAI pays on behalf of the employee
for benefits, Workers’ Compensation Benefits and NL Health & Post-
Secondary Education Tax, etc.
solution
This amount is the employer’s (MAI) contribution and is not deducted
from an employee’s pay.
4. Pay Issue
what’s happening
If there is a mistake in my pay, how do I see it in time to have it fixed
before my payday?
why it's happening
Employees can review their timesheets throughout the pay period to
ensure they are paid the proper positions, hours, dates, etc. Approx.
3 to 4 days prior to their pay date they can also run a pay stub.
Please note there may be a slight difference in your pay between
the first time you are able to see your pay result and payday as items
missed are able to be corrected in the interim.
solution
View your pay stub 3 days prior to your payday and if there is a
mistake, contact your supervisor.
5. Allotment Pay
what’s happening
My gross pay doesn’t look right.
why it's happening
There is an issue with allotment pay, overtime or banked earnings
showing as gross pay in the new system.
16
STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

solution
We are aware of this situation and are working to correct it.
No action required by employees. Actual amounts are correct.
6. Union Dues
what’s happening
My union dues don’t look right.
why it's happening
Union dues (for Unifor employees) are displayed on your new pay stub
as 2 different codes in the new system. No action required.
solution
The coding for union dues looks different (2 codes vs the former 3
codes) but the amounts are correct.
8. Unpaid Training Reference
what’s happening
I noticed that there is a reference to unpaid training on my timesheet.
why it's happening
When a person is scheduled to attend training, it is noted in the
timesheet. If there is a change of status, even if the status is
cancelled it is still captured in the timesheet. There is a reference in
the pay code column of “Training Unpaid” per the below screen. If the
employee is scheduled for work, they can still see the Training Unpaid
on the same day but in an additional row. This does not prevent the
time approver from approving the time worked, it just needs to be
approved on the line where they are scheduled into their job. The line
of the Training Unpaid reference has no impact on the employee’s pay.
7. Leave Balances
what’s happening
The leave balances on my pay stub are different than in MyMAI.
why it's happening
The leave balances on the dashboard in MyMAI (under bank balances)
are current up to today’s date. This means that any adjustments to
the bank balances, up to and including today’s date, will be accurately
reflected here:
The leave balances on the pay stub, on the other hand, reflect the
information up to the pay period ending date (in red on the attached
pay stub):
solution
This is an in-office item, so employees can just ignore this.
We keep track on whether an employee is or was registered,
cancelled etc., in the class column.
If an employee is “registered” it does not mean that they were
contacted as they may have been identified or requested to attend
the training but could not be released to attend.
An employee can choose the “Identified” as a status selection option
so that they are not placed as registered until confirmed.
solution
EXAMPLE: The employee’s dashboard is showing the balances as of
today’s date (in this case Oct 17). They have holiday bank of 196 hrs
(95.25 + 100.75), Overtime bank balances of 155.63 and vacation
of 40 hours. On the pay stub, you see 178, 142.13 and 40 hrs
respectively…same order. That is as of the last pay processed.
This means that the employee has banked 18 hrs of holiday bank
since the last pay processed (196 vs 178), plus 13.5 hrs of OT bank.
If you are experiencing challenges with your pay, please contact
Payroll Department 709-695-4284
Help Desk 1-866-977-3354
For scheduling issues, please contact the Crew Calling
Department using 1-877-413-4785, a toll-free line.
Terminal employees please contact your Timekeeper.
17

supply chain management department
Welcomes a New Position
Stephanie Pothier has taken on a new role in
the Supply Chain Management Department.
With the long title of Contract and Vendor
Performance Management Supervisor,
Stephanie is pioneering new territory for
the department. In her new role, she will
be the liaison for Business Unit, Client and
Vendor relationships while managing all
Purchasing Agent files from development of
solicitation documents to scope of work and
deliverables and the resulting contracts.
She is also responsible for promoting
continuous improvement and motivation
while managing employees that are
involved in Treaty-Obligated Competitive
Procurement processes. She will also be
responsible for developing and managing
a Supplier Relationship Management
program to ensure that services procured
meet the needs of the department’s
internal customers, while obtaining optimal
value for the Corporation’s spend.
Stephanie will serve as a key resource in
Procure-to-Pay Lifecycle Management
liaising with vendors, business units,
front-line users of services, Finance and
Purchasing. Stephanie started working
with MAI in 2017 as a Purchasing Agent and
brings 14 years’ experience in Public Sector
Procurement through all phases of Contract
Life Cycle Management. She brings a deep
knowledge of RFP design and drafting,
evaluation methodologies and criteria.
She previously worked in Fort McMurray
as a senior buyer for 8 years. Stephanie
holds a Supply Chain Diploma, Contract
Management Certification, Certificate in
Purchasing and is Public Sector Procurement
Professional Certified.
“Stephanie has a proven track record
with pre and post contract award
activities, including negotiations, contract
management, supply arrangements and
service level agreements,” said Angie
Hutchinson, Director. “She has led the
continuous improvement of our contract
repository to current state as a single
source of truth for all contract life cycle
management.”
When not busy with her new role, Stephanie
runs her own makeup business and has
“two amazing little gingers” that keep her
on her toes!
18
STRAIT TALK // NOVEMBER 2019

HR Update
NEW HIRES
JULY 29, 2019
JENNIFER SOLO
Bilingual Ticket Clerk
AUGUST 22, 2019
DAVID PASHER
Carpenter / NSY
AUGUST 22, 2019
BRADLEY OXFORD
ERA
SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
TORI PAUL
HR Coordinator, Training Department
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
JOSEPH ANTHONY
Marine Superintendent / NSY
2020 Pension
Contribution Rates
Previously, we communicated that we are transitioning to align with the pension
plan contribution requirements set out in the 2013 Federal Budget. One of those
expectations was that MAI move to a 50-50 cost-sharing arrangement between
employees (both unionized and non-unionized) and MAI.
Effective January 1, 2014, employee contributions to the pension plan were
gradually increased with the goal of attaining the 50:50 cost-sharing in 2017. As
indicated in previous correspondence, annual pension plan contribution rates
may change based on the valuation of the pension plan.
The results of the December 31, 2018, actuarial valuation of the pension plan
allow for your contribution rates for 2020 to remain at the current level.
SEPTEBER 9, 2019
MARCUS FORD
Student Work Placement IT / St. John's
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
ALDIN BOSNJAKOVIC
First Year Engineering Cadet
SEPTEMBER 9, 2019
HUNTER GNAEDIG
Third Year Navigation Cadet
SEPTEMBER 17, 2019
JAMES KERR
Manager Onboard Services
RE-HIRE
SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
NICK FEILD
Third Year Engineering Cadet
RETIREES
MAY 19, 2019
MICHEL GRATTON
HR Planning & Compensation Advisor
If you have any questions, contact the
Compensation and Benefits Specialists
at 902-794-5754.
19

Don’t forget to have a toolbox talk!
Toolbox talks are a great way to reinforce safety basics, focus on
risk scenarios and to inform everyone about changes to working
conditions that may have occurred since their last shift.
Need a toolbox talk idea? Check out Employee Essentials on MyPort for safety moment ideas.