|
1. Attendance & Greetings
President
Pat Brady
welcomed all delegates and alternate directors to the 16th annual
general meeting of ACER-CART. Roundtable introductions were made. The
President welcomed the new Canadian Teachers' Federation Secretary General,
Dr. Calvin Fraser. The President expressed his appreciation to Johnson Inc.
and the C.T.F. for
their continued support of ACER-CART. Dr. Fraser brought greetings from the
C.T.F.
2. Reports
2.1 President's Report
The President's written report thanked the Executive Committee, Executive Director
Pierre Drouin,
ACER-CART Directors and member organizations, and recognized
Lynne
Richard
and other C.T.F. staff for their
support during 2006-07. He listed the items of major attention during
the 2006-07 year:
a) Pension Income Splitting: Brought to ACER-CART's attention by
RTO/ERO in 2006, policy was adopted
in support. Action taken included: Requesting CTF to pursue this
with federal budget officials;
ACER-CART, participated in an Ottawa conference on the topic; VP
Helen Biales and Executive Director
Pierre Drouin appeared before the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Finance to present a brief
(and advocate some other policies); member organizations and
Directors lobbied their respective MPs.
The result was success!
b) Congress of National Seniors' Organizations: ACER-CART was
represented at a number of meetings
throughout the year, and continued to press for financial
assistance for the C.N.S.O.
c) National Seniors Council: Formed in March 2007, it is to advise
the federal government on issues of
national importance to seniors. Its 12 members have a mandate
to foster an integrated approach to the
issues of a rapidly growing seniors' population. Funding is
provided by the federal government.
d) Federal Budget: Over the last two years, presentations have been
made to the House of Commons
Standing Committee on Finance, and to individual MPs. Two policy
positions have been achieved - the
raising of the age of conversion of RRSPs to RIFs from 69 to 71;
raising the Income Tax Act age credit
provision from $4066 to $5066 on January 1, 2007.
e) Quarterly Reports: Pierre Drouin was complemented for his
comprehensive reports which provided a solid
communication base for member organizations.
f) Website: Vaughn Wadelius's efforts to develop the website as a
communication tool were recognized.
g) Incorporation: Pierre was also recognized for his successful
efforts to steer the organization to
incorporation status.
2.2. Congress of National Seniors’ Organization (C.N.S.O.)
Val Alcock, the ACER-CART official representative to
the Congress of National Seniors Organization (CNSO) presented a verbal report
for 2006-07. She noted that CNSO was facing financial problems but it
continues to aim for getting as many national organizations as possible
together on issues of common concern. Pierre Drouin has advised them on
constitutional changes, and Alcock served on a committee looking at seniors
and emergencies. Home care is another issue of interest to them.
2.3 Committee Chair Reports
The Chairpersons of the major committees each gave a
report on their committee activities and achievements:
A. Pension and Retirement
Income Committee - Helen Biales, Chair
The limiting of the priorities to a manageable few
seemed to be effective. The committee’s focus was on lobbying for pension
income splitting, and a brief prepared with the assistance of Pierre Drouin
was presented by VP Helen Biales to the Federal Standing Committee on Finance.
Biales also attended the "Pension Tension Conference" along with some 30
MPs. Pierre also assisted lobby groups on the pension splitting issue. In
the March 2007 federal budget, pension splitting by seniors was announced.
B. Communications Committee - Vaughn
Wadelius, Chair
Website
A hardcopy of the website's pages was available for
review and suggestions. Website visits have grown steadily since its official startup in 2004.
This year updating of the standard features was done,
including a revised index page, and a website slide show photo gallery was
utilized.
Efforts to ensure the correctness of the Members page listing and the Meetings page
listing continue. The “What’s New?” page was revised to establish
direct links to the periodicals of the member organizations where updates of
their activities, issues, etc.
Newsletter
Two editions of the ACER-CART newsletter, OPTIONS, were produced in
2006-07 - a Summer 2006 edition released in early September was
devoted to AGM news for use by Directors and editors of
member organization publications. The Winter 2007 issue released in January
provided information from the Quarterly Reports of the Executive
Director and timely news items on pension splitting action and proposed
bylaw changes.
Member Organization Mailings
The chair had accepted the task of maintaining an updated publications
mailing list. A list was distributed in the Fall of 2006 with an update some
weeks later. Directors were requested to provide any revised information in
a timely fashion. Photos of Directors and Alternates on a regional basis who
attended the 2006 AGM were distributed soon after the event. This was to be
continued in 2007.
C. Health Services and Insurance Committee -
Fred Ripley, Chair
During the past year the chair responded to phone and email
inquiries regarding various forms of insurance, and tracked a variety of
health issues concerning retired teachers. The latter was a
continuation of the discussions over the last two years: long term care
assistance; drug programs; Medicare programs vs. private coverage; travel
insurance provisions for pre-existing conditions. He noted that he and
Pierre have been working on data from the surveys on two tier health care
systems, type and cost of health plans, and drug plan make-up and costs to
seniors. Provincial health plan comparison data was provided for
information. Among the findings:
a) There is wide diversity in premiums paid by retired teachers (0%-100%).
b) With the exception of Quebec, Johnson Inc. has input in most provinces
as consultants, brokers,
insurers, or administrators to retired teacher health
plans.
c) Travel insurance trip duration, cost and coverage varies greatly.
d) Administrative fees vary widely from one province to another.
e) Most provinces have a seniors' drug plan at age 65 (age 70 in Quebec),
but not all drugs are covered
and dispensing fees are high.
f) Half of the retired teachers have plans tied in with the active
teachers, which is having an effect on
financing costs.
.
3. Executive Director’s Report
Pierre Drouin
distributed a detailed and comprehensive annual report summarizing his
activities during the previous year. Among the items were:
a) An update on the status of motions passed at the 2006 AGM.
b) Work to prepare bylaws and regulations in keeping with amendments from
the 2006 AGM, and policy
drafts requested for the 2007 AGM.
c) Incorporation efforts, culminating in the receipt of letters patent and
nonprofit status.
d) Presentation of the brief to the Standing Committee on Finance.
e) Development of a new format for financial statements.
f) Affiliations with other organizations, notably the International Network
for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
(INPEA), the Canadian Caregiver Coalition (CCC), and the Congress
of National Seniors' Organizations
(CNSO), and the pension splitting common front, where ACER-CART
played a major role.
g) Participation in a workshop organized by Radiopharm Inc. to gauge the
reaction of seniors to proposals
for changes in the pharmaceutical industry's services.
h) Development of the federal government's advisory National Seniors'
Council which will focus on matters
relating to the health, well-being and quality of life of
seniors.
4. 2006-2007 Budget and 2007-2008 Budget Estimates
Copies of the 2006-07 revenue and expenditures to date, and the 2007-08
proposed budget, were distributed and reviewed. It was requested and agreed
that a clearer report on the reasons for and use of the reserve fund be
developed.
5. Member Reports
Directors provided, for discussion, written reports on the major
concerns of their provincial organization. They highlighted their reports
and responded to questions during the discussions.
6.
Bylaw Changes
The following changes to the Bylaw were presented for discussion:
A. Wadelius, ACER-CART – Biales,
ACER-CART: THAT Bylaw VII be amended by adding VII-H-14 Yukon Retired
Teachers Alumni. This was carried.
B. Poste, RTO/ERO – Biales, ACER-CART: THAT
Bylaw X-A-1 be changed to XI-B-3, to change from 3 Regional Directors to 4
Regional Directors and to add YRTA to Region 4. This was carried.
C. Poste, RTO/ERO – Biales,
ACER-CART: To amend by-law IX-Q-12 with the following addition IX-Q-12
in relation to the existing by-laws IX-I-12 and IX-1-3
"IX-U The responsibilities of the Board are to:
Determine the guiding principles, the priorities and the objectives
of ACER-CART
Adopt by-laws, policies and procedures
Establish fees to be paid by Member organizations"
New IX-H-11
"A vote to amend by-law IX-Q-6 or by-law IX-Q-7, shall be weighted vote
with each Director casting a
number of votes equal to one vote per one
(1) dollar of fee paid by the Member organization.
Each member of the
Executive shall have one vote."
An amendment was proposed to the new XI-H-11:
Lauber, BCRTA – Lynch, RTAM:
To delete "per one (1) dollar
of fee paid by the Member organization" and add "per each $2,500 or portion".
The amendment passed but the amended motion failed to achieve the 90%
majority.
D.
Fred Ripley –
Biales, ACER-CART: THAT by-law XI-E-10 be amended
by adding:
"and the representatives to outside organizations AFTER appoint the
chairs of committees"
The motion was carried.
E. Herron, STS - Wadelius, ACER-CART:
THAT the current bylaws be amended to reflect the
concomitant changes
resulting from the changes in bylaws passed at the 2007 AGM.
The motion was carried.
7. Presentations
Don Brooks
from Johnson Inc. made a presentation and provided copies to the
participants.
8. Elections
The following 2007-08 executive officers were elected:
President: Helen Biales
Regional Representatives: Thomas Gaskell (Atlantic)
Ron Poste
(Ontario)
Vaughn
Wadelius (West)
A representative from Quebec will be sought.
Vaughn Wadelius will serve the one year term as
Vice-President.
9. Priorities
The following were set as priorities for ACER-CART in 2007-2008:
a) elder abuse
b) availability and cost of prescription drugs
c) the effect of escalating property taxes on seniors
10. Budget (2006-2007)
The budget requirements for 2006-07 were presented and reviewed. The notice
of motion that the fees for
ACER-CART be
increased from 20 cents to 25 cents per year per member was presented,
debated and
adopted.
The 2006-2007 budget was amended and adopted
11. Motions Passed
The following motions were passed at the AGM:
a) Herron, STS – Ripley, ACER-CART: That
ACER-CART lobby the Government of Canada to restore funding for literacy.
b) Herron, STS – Little, NBSRT: That ACER-CART lobby the
Canadian Teachers’ Federation to
urge all provincial Departments of
Learning/Education to require the study of History,
especially Canadian
History, in all Canadian High Schools.
c) Herron, STS – Case, RTANL: That ACER-CART lobby the
Government of Canada to restore funding for the Status of Women.
d) McMullen, ARTA – Lynch, RTAM: THAT ACER-CART lobby the federal
Government to
expand the $500 tax deduction for youth fitness to the plus 55
age group to encourage
seniors wellness as well.
e)
Biales, ACER-CART – Wadelius, ACER-CART: That ACER-CART adopt the
following
policy:
Support and Assistance to Active
Teachers’ Organizations
ACER-CART believes that well-funded, public
education systems provide the best opportunity for a quality education for
all citizens in Canada.
ACER-CART supports the Canadian Teachers’
Federation and its affiliates in those activities that will enhance the
quality of teaching and learning for teachers and students in the
publicly-funded education systems across Canada.
ACER-CART supports active teachers in their efforts
to maintain and improve the publicly-funded education systems of Canada,
which teachers, past and present, have worked so diligently to build.ACER-CART supports the right to work sanctions by
both teachers and support staff in Canadian schools as a basic condition
of employment and a legitimate means to achieve collective agreements.
f) Wadelius, ACER-CART – Ripley, ACER-CART: That
ACER-CART adopt the following policy:
Support for Humanitarian Organizations
ACER-CART may support charitable causes related to human relief and
support services; civic and
cultural development; environmental and
ecological preservation; promotion and advancement of the
education,
physical and mental health and well-being of children.
ACER-CART’s support may be in many forms, for example: letters of support,
in-kind services, and
lobbying.
g) Alcock, ACER-CART – Wadelius, ACER-CART: THAT
ACER-CART continue its membership in the Congress of National Seniors
Organizations (CNSO).
h) Biales, ACER-CART – Wadelius, ACER-CART:
THAT the Canadian Caregiver Coalition be informed
that ACER-CART will not renew its membership in the Coalition but
that ACER-CART is open to working
with the Coalition on issues of common interest.
i) That the International
Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse be informed that ACER-CART will
maintain its membership in the INPEA.
j) Gaskell, RTO-NSTU – Little, NBSRT:
That ACER-CART express its concern re the process, the
appointments, and the geographic distribution of appointments for
the National Seniors’ Council.
k) McMullen, ARTA – Herron, STS:
ThatACER-CART review the Bylaws to clarify the definitions of
member, member organization, eligible votes and the voting
majorities required for the various motions.
l) Gaskell, RTO-NSTU – Herron, STS:
That ACER-CART lobby the Federal Government to rectify the
Government understating of CPI and reimburse the pensioners
accordingly.
12. Adjournment
Several delegates noted that they would not be returning next year and said
their farewells.
The meeting ended on June 2, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. The next AGM is scheduled
for June 6 - 7, 2008.
|
Previous Annual
General Meeting Reports of ACER-CART. |
-
Report of the 12th Annual
General Meeting of ACER-CART
-
Report of the 13th Annual
General Meeting of ACER-CART
-
Report of the 14th Annual
General Meeting of ACER-CART
-
Report of the 15th Annual
General Meeting of ACER-CART
-
Report of the 16th Annual
General Meeting of ACER-CART
|
