ACER-CART appeals to Prime Minister Mark Carney for a full-time Minister of Seniors

September 28, 2025

The Right Honourable Mark Carney

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2

Re: Secretary of State for Seniors

Dear Prime Minister Carney:

L’Association canadienne des enseignantes et enseignants retraités/Canadian Association of Retired Teachers (ACER-CART) wishes to express our profound disappointment and concern following your government’s decision to eliminate the standalone Minister of Seniors position from the federal cabinet.

As the voice of retired teachers in Canada, representing 93,533 members in eleven member organizations, we are deeply concerned about the downgrading of this portfolio to a Secretary of State position.

The following two resolutions were passed unanimously at the ACER-CART Annual General Meeting on June 6, 2025:

That ACER-CART actively advocate for the reinstatement of the position of Minister of Seniors as a full cabinet appointment.
That ACER-CART engage Members of Parliament to advocate for the reinstatement of the position of Minister of Seniors.

Since June 2018, the Minister of Seniors has been a vital advocate at the cabinet level, ensuring seniors’ issues received dedicated attention at the highest level of government–a role for which ACER-CART and its members have advocated for over a decade. In fact, the first Minister of Seniors, Honourable Filomena Tassi, addressed our Annual General Meeting in Ottawa in June 2019.

The Secretary of State position, which is not a full cabinet post, raises serious questions about your government’s commitment to addressing the unique and urgent needs of Canada’s ageing population.

ACER-CART calls upon your government to seriously reconsider this decision and restore a dedicated full-time Minister of Seniors. Seniors deserve and expect a strong voice in the cabinet to address critical issues such as health care, financial security, long-term care, pharmacare and the fight against ageism.

I eagerly look forward to action and your response to this request.

Yours sincerely,

Bill Berryman

President ACER-CART