Dmitry Gorodnichy

Better Protection and Support for Professionals
Through Engagement and Transparency! 

August 2, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

My name is Dmitry Gorodnichy (pronounced Dmit-ree Gorod-nee-chee). I am a bilingual Senior Data Scientist at CBSA (SE-RES-03) and I am running for the Vice-President (Part-time) position in the 2024 PIPSC National Election. 

My Bio is posted on PIPSC website. You can also learn more about my professional background and my path to being involved in the Union matters  in the About Me page.  

In short, since joining the Government in 2000, I have become quite successful in my field— developing and evaluating biometric and computer vision technologies —  leading national and international projects and teaching  data science  skills to my colleagues across the public service at the GCCollab.  Now, however, I have decided to shift from my lifelong passions of science and research to Union matters to become Your Voice at PIPSC.

I can no longer remain silent when the Union continues to disregard the voices of professionals whose fearless, evidence-based advice—especially in the times of  growing political suppression and foreign corporate influence —is more important than ever for all Canadians. 

I have the courage to stand up for all members without discrimination. 

I aim to represent all of you who have concerns about your employment conditions and the support you receive from the Union

I have the vision, leadership experience, and data evidence to achieve that.

Coming from a different background (Eastern Europe), I would ensure that no minority community, whether visible or non-visible, will feel excluded from the discussion. I understand you, I hear you, and I will be honoured to represent you.

Here I stand with you in seeking a part time role at our union’s Board of Directors, while continuing to work among you at the workplace. I will strive to collaborate with the new Board of Directors, and stand up for the following priorities:

My top three priorities:

1. Improve Openness, Transparency, and Fiscal Responsibility: 

   1. Implement a freeze on membership fees while improving transparency and accountability in Union operations, including on how senior non-elected officers are selected and how the decision to support the vaccination mandate was made, which resulted in denial of support for members who questioned the reasonableness of these mandates.

2. Address Political and Industrial Interference in the Workplace: 

   1. Protect professionals, especially those in health products, policies, and regulation, whose fearless advice is critical to all Canadians but who experience one of the highest levels of fear of reprisal in the Public Service, according to the Public Service Employer Survey.

3. Increase Support for the Most Vulnerable Union Members: 

   1. Prioritize support for members in contract and short-term positions, those who experience fear of reprisal, and those impacted by the pandemic and its related measures.

The full list of issues I plan to address are posted in my Electoral Platform.  If you have any other concerns or ideas, please Contact Me directly.  

Visit Member Engagement pages to explore Volunteering Opportunities and additional ways to express Your Concerns. 

View Data Evidence pages for additional details on some of the challenges I want to address. 

Subscribe to my Newsletter on Substack to stay updated.

Thank you.

Dmitry Gorodnichy, Ph.D. (CompSci), Ph.D.(Math)