September October 2019
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Volume 42, Number 1 • September - October 2019 To The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan President’s Report Sunil Pandila Happy autumn everyone! I am sure greetings from the STS. I hope that Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism that everyone is busy with their fall you joined the STS to take advantage (SSM) to hold candidate nights routines of getting things ready for of the many benefits available to to highlight responses to issues winter. Gardens are getting tilled, members. While you are in for affecting older adults across Canada. yards are being fall fertilized, leaves a change in lifestyle, I hope that are being raked and composted, you take the time to participate in My phone and email have already Halloween decorations are ready Chapter activities and to strengthen been busy scheduling Chapter visits to put up, last minute house ties with fellow superannuates. this October and November. Thank renovations are being completed, Having an identity and being part you to all those Chapters who have and cars are being serviced to ensure of social connectedness are parts of contacted me to attend their Chapter no worries during winter. And, I human nature, so take advantage meetings. To the rest who may yet am sure there are many more fall of the many Chapter opportunities be in the planning stage for the year, activities superannuates are carrying offered throughout the year to help please contact me. I would love to on around the house. keep you fit and active. Besides, come out and provide information there is always a great meal to go on the work of the Provincial I would like to welcome our Chapter along with the events. Executive. Officers back for a new year as you start the process of planning The fall season also signifies the start For more information about activities for your members. Thank of Executive meetings in a new fiscal any of our programs, initiatives, you for your service on behalf of year for the STS. I appreciate the or how we can support you in all superannuates who are grateful work that Executive members put in your Chapters, please do not for the work you do! Of course, to making sure that we are meeting hesitate to call the STS Office at September is also a busy time as the goals of our organization. We 306-373-3879 or visit the website schools get back to business, and just met on September 16-18, and all at www.sts.sk.ca. You can contact students across the province are the Committees set their goals for me at [email protected] or excited about the new school year. the year. 306-630-8866. On behalf of the STS, I would like to welcome teachers back to their busy I would like to focus on the and exciting classrooms. We hope Advocacy Committee’s work to all of you have fun and enjoy great start the year. It is nearly Federal opportunities for student learning Election time. Some Chapters throughout the year. No matter have already scheduled candidate which year of teaching you are in, forums to question candidates to please take time to plan for your help get a better understanding and years of retirement. It is time well perspective of where the political spent and from my own experience, parties stand on important issues well worth the effort to enjoy your facing Canadians. The Advocacy passions after the last bell. Committee encourages everyone to do the same and be better For those who have retired in the informed before voting. We will be past year, I extend to you warm working with ACER-CART and the Annual General Meeting Budget, Jane Isinger and Doug Still Finance and Audit The 2020 Annual General Meeting that has been gathered since our will be held in Saskatoon, at the September Executive meeting. Don Gabel Travelodge Hotel, from May 12-14, 2020. Our AGM Planning Committee Goals for 2019-20 are as follows: The Budget, Finance and Audit The Committee has begun the Committee met September 17, 2019, planning process for the AGM. 1. To present a quality AGM that keeps in touch with the with the auditors from Deloitte. Evaluations from the previous membership They explained the 2018-19 audited AGM, as well as feedback from financial statement for the STS Chapters, individual members 2. To keep costs within budget Operating Fund and STS Extended and the Executive are guiding our 3. To respond to suggestions and Health Plan for year ending June 30, decisions. Based on this input, concerns expressed in the AGM 2019. We received a clean audit with we are exploring many excellent evaluations no concerns. suggestions for interest sessions The AGM is an excellent opportunity for Chapter representatives to and entertainment, as well as Our 2018-19 STS Operating Fund learn more about the STS and to improvements in other areas. At the had a surplus of $231,964. Our interact with members from across next Provincial Executive meeting Extended Health Plan and Benefit the province. Please contact your in October, we will begin to make Plan is doing well. Details will be local Chapter if you are interested in decisions based on the information provided in the Group Benefits serving as a Delegate. report. Our Contingency Fund has a balance of $1,234,481, an increase Advocacy from last year of $110,729. Sue Amundrud The Committee will monitor the current budget as we move through the year. Our organization is in a sound financial position. The Advocacy Committee focused • Achieving National Pharmacare on two main areas at our September to ensure considerable savings As of September 17, 2019, our meeting: what might our focus in the cost of drugs, and membership is 11,711, an increase of be in the upcoming federal and eliminating the disparity in drug 263 from last year at this time. costs, insurance coverage and provincial elections, and how might The Committee will review our drug availability we incorporate sessions into the goals for 2019-20 at our October • Opposing the privatization Chapter Presidents’ Meeting and our meeting. AGM on items of particular interest of medical services so that all to retired teachers and retirees in Canadians have equal access to general. We encourage members to quality medical care; that the Canada Health Act is enforced, raise any issues that they believe and that the delay of timely are of importance to the STS with access to care is eliminated any member of the Executive or by • Developing a National Seniors’ Resolutions contacting the office. Strategy to ensure that Seniors Alan Laughlin For the federal election on October receive the right care, at the 21, we echo the areas of focus right time, in the right place at identified by ACER-CART, and all stages of aging; to provide The Executive is presently receiving encourage you to raise these with more long term, community and resolutions to be debated at the 2020 your local candidates: home care closer to home; to enable more primary caregivers AGM. Please forward resolutions to • Making retirement income more and geriatricians to provide the STS Office by March 1, 2020. secure by protecting accrued a consistent and appropriate pension benefits, protecting quality of care; to support the employees and retirees in eight million informal caregivers corporate insolvencies, and who support a family member strengthening Defined Benefit or friend; and, to address social Plans isolation, elder abuse, and a lack of age-friendly strategies 2 ACER-CART Marie LeBlanc-Warick ACER-CART Executive 2019-20 strengthening Defined Benefit consistent and appropriate • Bill Berryman, President Plans, quality of care, to support the • Gerry Tiede, Vice-President b. Achieving National Pharmacare 8 million informal caregivers • Margaret Urquart, Regional to ensure considerable savings in who support a family member Representative – East the cost of drugs, and eliminating or friend, and to address social • Martin Higgs, Regional the disparity in drug costs, isolation, elder abuse and a lack Representative – Ontario insurance coverage and drug of age-friendly strategies. • Marilyn Bossert, Regional availability, Representative – West c. Opposition to Privatization Highlights ACER-CART AGM • Brian Kenny, Past-President of Medical Services so that all June 2019 Canadians have equal access to • The resolutions submitted by ACER-CART’s focus for fall 2019 is quality medical care, that the STS to ACER-CART were carried centered around Elections 2019 at Canada Health Act is enforced, with some changes in wording the same time as being committed and that the delay of timely to promoting healthy, active and access to care is eliminated, • Presentation by Minister of Seniors Filomena Tassi at AGM dignified retirement living for retired d. The development of a National teachers and Canadian Seniors. Seniors Strategy to ensure that Note: ACER-CART’s areas of focus for Seniors receive the right care, at • Dr. Eric Hopkins Final Report 2019 Federal Election are; the right time, in the right place A Prescription for Canada: at all stages of aging, to provide Achieving Pharmacare for All, a. Making Retirement Income More more long term, community and Final Report of Advisory Council Secure by protecting accrued home care, closer to home, to on the Implementation of pension benefits, protecting enable more primary caregivers National Pharmacare June 2019 is employees and retirees in and geriatricians to provide a corporate insolvencies, and available online Group Benefits Maxine Stinka The Committee reviewed the two months of the second year of regarding the Benefit Plan will be audited financial statements for the the 2018-21 contract show a surplus forwarded to Saskatchewan Blue Extended Health Fund for the year of almost $368,000 for Health and Cross.