ACER-CART Report—For the 2019 / 2020  RTAM AGM.

The priority for ACER-CART for the 2019 / 2020 year was the establishment and emphasis of Seniors’ issues for the 2019 Federal election. 

To that end, five issues that were communicated to the parties and their candidates in the run up to voting day and that have remained the priorities of ACER-CART throughout 2019 / 2020 are as follows.

• Making retirement income more secure—protecting accrued pension benefits, protecting employees and retirees in corporate insolvencies, and strengthening defined benefit plans.
• Establishing a National Pharmacare program—eliminating disparity in costs and availability, fewer hospitalizations, better medications monitoring, saving money for Canadians.
• Opposition to privatization of medical services---equal and timely access to quality care for ALL Canadians.
• Establishing a National Seniors Strategy---Health, quality care, financial security, affordable and appropriate housing, and social inclusion should all be parts of the plan.
• Endorsing a Canadian Federal Seniors’ Ministry.

Through ACER-CART, RTAM has joined with 150 National and Provincial organizations to forward our goals and their ultimate fruition to the appropriate legislators. This diverse coalition includes health care providers, non- profit organizations, unions, workers, business, seniors and patients from across the country.

These groups have joined in the push for a National Pharmacare program through signing a common letter to Bill Morneau in February and participating in a petition for the government. 

They also offer support individually for dealing with provincial issues as well. An example is the submission made by the Coalition For Retirement Security to our government in response to the provincial Pension Act Reform recommendations.

It is a privilege and an asset for RTAM through ACER-CART to have access to these kind of national partnerships, and to be able to rely on them in the future.

Connections to ACER-CART by RTAM are made through provision of reports to the Western Region and the National office, sharing information on local developments and concerns, sending representatives to conferences such as the one the President attended for the Western region meeting in Edmonton in November.

Due to Covid19, the National AGM has been canceled and replaced by a teleconference in June, in which the Director will participate.

Respectfully submitted—JoAnne Hoyak—RTAM Vice President and ACER-CART Director.

With the expectation of a possible Spring Federal election, ACER-CART is developing a pamphlet outlining who we are, the numbers we represent, the organizations with whom we collaborate and the issues we have prioritized.

To facilitate this project, RTAM is providing 50 cents per member.

ACER-CART has put Long Term Care Facilities shortcomings revealed by the pandemic and Pharmacare on the front burner of issues of concern.

We appreciate the updates and communication from the Federal minister Deb Schulte provided to us through the ACER-CART executive director Roger Regimbal.

RTAM provided a report to the ACER-CART Western Region January meeting.

Respectfully Submitted by,

JoAnne Hoyak, RTAM Vice President, ACER-CART Director

WELCOME TO OUR ACER-CART REDESIGNED WEBSITE
https://acer-cart.org

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the website at your own leisure, or to explore it using the ACER-CART Website Treasure Search.

Our aspirations in this redesign were guided by ACER-CART Objectives, as we focused on facilitating easy access to Advocacy information, to AGM approved Priorities that have evolved from issues affecting the well-being of seniors, and to Member websites and publications all across Canada

It may be a long winter with COVID numbers rising once again. Let’s use that time to become more familiar with the thirteen Members through their websites and publications.

Our predominant colours now are red and blue. If the banners are still showing yellow, refresh your computer. If that does not work, delete cookies and temporary files.

Stay safe, everyone, and believe that this too will pass.

Marilyn Bossert
Chair Communication Committee

BIENVENUE SUR NOTRE SITE WEB ACER-CART RÉNOVÉ
https://acer-cart.org

Nous vous invitons à vous familiariser, à votre guise, avec le site Web ou à l’explorer à l’aide de la recherche de trésor du site Web ACER-CART.

Nos aspirations dans cette refonte ont été guidées par les objectifs de l’ACER-CART, alors que nous nous sommes concentrés sur la facilitation d’un accès facile à l’information sur le plaidoyer, aux priorités approuvées par l’AGA qui ont évolué à partir de problèmes affectant le bien-être des aînés, et aux sites Web et publications des membres partout au Canada

Avec le nombre de COVID qui augmente à nouveau, l’hiver peut être un long. Profitons de ce temps pour nous familiariser avec les treize Membres grâce à leurs sites Web et à leurs publications.

Nos couleurs prédominantes sont maintenant le rouge et le bleu. Si les bannières sont toujours jaunes, actualisez votre ordinateur. Si cela ne fonctionne pas, supprimez les témoins (cookies) et les fichiers temporaires.

Restez en sécurité et croyez que cela aussi passera.

Marilyn Bossert
Présidente du Comité des communications

RTAM is one of 29 organizations which have already endorsed this Declaration:

A Declaration Concerning a National Health Care Strategy For Seniors (English)

Une Déclaration D’Accord National Sur Les Soins De Santé Pour Les Aînés (French)

Endorsement of the Accord to October 3, 2016

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1C2BJz20If_k6ByVNQFegxH5KiFOTUbJm

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/external-advisory-bodies/implementation-national-pharmacare/final-report.html