This was the first full year of operation under the new constitution, and utilizing three major committees to focus the action of the association. Each of the committees gave a report on their activities and achievements:

Website - Secured a domain name (acer-cart.org) and an Internet Service Provider. A bilingual website was developed with several pages of information. Some sections were set up as prototypes and will require the input from member organizations to be useful. The issue of translation cost and efficiency is under review.

Newsletter - One issue was produced in late November, 2003. The plan is to have two a year and issue these via email, snail mail, and posted on the website.

Media Releases - Mainly the prerogative of the President and Executive Director, this awaits an issue of interest.

Recommendations made and carried were:
   a) to adopt ACER-CART as the official acronym (replacing ACER/CART)
   b) to recommend that each member organization designate a person to ensure ACER-CART
       website names, addresses, etc. are up to date
   c) to reinitiate the contest for a newsletter name and ACER-CART logo

Set up to respond to request from member organizations, no specific requests had been received, so the committee undertook to deal with pension and benefits issues that lay in the federal arena. Various specific policy statements were developed from the general policy of ACER-CART and brought to the AGM for ratification. As well, support for the policies would be sought from other organizations of seniors.

Policies presented and adopted were:
   a) That the RRSP and pension contribution limits be increased to $19,000 immediately - with
       further increases to $27,000 by January 1, 2006.
   b) That the age at which RRSPs must be annuitized or converted to a Registered Retirement Income
       Fund (RRIF) be immediately raised from (age) 69 to 71 and to 73 by January 1, 2006.
   c) That Registered Pension Plan contributions be shared under the same rules as CPP/QPP pensions.
   d) That defined benefits pension plan limits be increased from $1722 to $3000 immediately.
   e) That household income splitting for tax purposes be implemented immediately.
    f) That the federal government permit deductions for medical expenses in a similar fashion to
       charitable deductions - i.e. allow the option of carrying forward unused medical expense amounts
       for up to five years.
    g) That age tax credit benefits be raised and not tied to income.
    h) That fees levied by professionals for advertising and/or managing self-directed RRSPs and RRIFs
        be treated as investment expense and be eligible for income tax deductions.

ACER-CART member organizations were urged to recommend similar policies to their members and lobby government for support.

The committee made an effort to narrow the general principles of already existing policies of concern to members. In summary the general policy on health advocates:
   a) acceptance of the five core principles of the Canada Health Act
   b) ensure that national standards are adhered to
   c) establishment of a funding formula
   d) meet the growing demands for home care
   e) support a national Pharmacare program
   f) create geriatric centres to provide health care to the elderly.

Specific steps to bring about these objectives require a starting point and the committee concentrated on health issues of concern to seniors: Long Term Care, Pharmacare, Visual Health Care.

Long Term Health Care was the priority issue and the following emphasis was accepted as the basis of a comprehensive policy:
   a) to receive long term care for as long as possible in one's own home
   b) to have access when it becomes necessary
   c) to live in dignity in one's home with a standard of living when spouses institutionalized that is
       not threatened
   d) not to have hard earned and frugally saved assets taken into account when long term or home
       care are assessed.

The following were passed:

 QPARSE: That ACER-CART endorse the CTF position with respect to CPP - survivors CPP benefit
                    not affected by any other benefit paid.

 QPARSE: That minimum withdrawal rates from RRIFs be lowered.

 BCRTA:    That the Government of Canada be urged to establish a National Prescription Drug Agency
                    to [control costs], establish a national formulary, review the Canada patient law, use the
                    Catastrophic Drug Transfer to offset the costs of drug plans, and integrate prescription 
                    drugs in the national formulary into the Health Care system.

 BCRTA:     That the Health Care Act be amended to ensure accountability of funds transferred to
                    provinces and territories.

 BCRTA:    That ACER-CART members write to their governments to request that an annual audited
                    health report be published.

 STS:         That increased funding be provided for direct compensation to care givers and to adjust EI 
                    and CPP to relieve pressure on those who have to discontinue jobs to care for sick family
                    members.

 STS:         That national training and standards for home care givers be established and integrated into
                     the health care system.

 BCRTA:     That the Federal Government raise the current tax credit of 16% of the first $200 of charitable
                     donations to 100% of all charitable donations.

 BCRTA:     That the Federal Government change the current tax credit for medical expenses to include
                     any medical expense over the lesser amount of $1775 or 2% of net income.

 BCRTA:     That any provincial medical service plan premiums be considered a medical expense for
                      tax purposes.

 BCRTA:     That the Federal Government reduce the GST of transportation fuels to 4% or less.

 STS:         That ACER-CART urge the Government of Canada to reduce the effect of bracket creep by
                  indexing tax brackets to inflation, increasing the basic exemption or give a special tax credit          credit   for low income earners increase tax credits for home care to reflect the true cost of services.

Several of the organizations gave detailed written reports on their activities. It was noted that few followed the recommended standard format, and time limits were very prohibitive to a full discussion on the issues raised, so the AGM delegates agreed to add a half day session to the 2005 AGM devoted to this activity. Using the ACER-CART website on a regular basis will also aid in keeping directors and members updated on provincial issues.

5. Budget

A new budget format was used and found to be more useful in understanding the revenues and expenditures of ACER-CART. No increase in fees was necessary.

The current executive officers were re-elected by acclamation.

President: Val Alcock
Regional Directors: George Little (Atlantic), Patricia Steele (Central), Patrick Brady (West)

The delegates selected a Vice-President from among the three regional representatives, and Patrick Brady was selected for a second term.

Two regulation changes were agreed upon at the AGM:
    1. The AGM will be held on the first Friday and following Saturday in June.
    2. The signing officers will be any two of the President, Executive Director and Accounts Manager.

The AGM heard from two presenters. Jean-Guy Soulière spoke on behalf of the Congress of National Seniors. He recommended an informational web page which could be linked to the ACER-CART website. Cathy Kuhlmann of Johnson, Inc. spoke on wellness initiatives being advocated.

The CTF support staff person, Aline Petrie, who was assigned to assist ACER-CART has accepted an early retirement. A replacement has been promised by CTF. Aline was honoured during the banquet sponsored by
Johnson, Inc.