May 18, 2021 PNA Virtual National Convention May 21, 2021 PNA National Elections Check CBC Pensioners’ website for details https://www.cbcpensioners.ca/

May, 2021 Our Pension is in good shape

By Dan Oldfield to provide pensions and with a file from Alain Pineau meet the promise made to existing employees against The CBC Pension Plan has the assets of the plan. had an impressive year In simple terms. going finishing 2020 with its best concern is basically the results in more than 20 book value of the assets. years. It’s total assets now On that front the surplus In this issue... sits at more than $8 billion represents 161% of assets and reported a going against liabilities. The Pension Sharing concern surplus of $3.3 solvency calculation is theoretical and based on an billion and a solvency Agreement pg. 2 surplus of $381 million. assumption the plan is being wrapped up and SAF Changes pg. 3 The results of the annual existing assets are sold Pres.’ Report pg. 4 valuation were verified at and long-term investment vehicles purchased. The the March 29th meeting of Killing Time pg. 4 the Pension Board of current low interest rates Trustees. will yield a lower return. Talking to Plants However, in both cases the pg. 5 plan is reporting a surplus. By way of background, the Ditching the big house performance of the plan is pg.6 measured in two ways – Why does this matter? going concern and solvency. RIP pg.7 Both represent the This latest report is important for a couple of Share a Memory pg. 8 difference between what assets the plan needs Pension Plan contd. on pg. 2 1 Pension Plan from pg 1 reasons. First, it One final note of caution PENSION demonstrates the overall comes from Alain Pineau, health of the plan. In this the PNA’s representative on SURPLUS case the results the Pension Board of demonstrate the plan is in Trustees who notes, SHARING solid financial shape due in “Markets continue to show large part to its competent a lot of volatility, and AGREEMENT plan management and the according to some, cannot application of its long-term continue to go up like they UPDATE have over the past several By Dan Oldfield, investment strategies. PNA Representative to the CCSB months, especially if the Reprinted from Durham Buzz Secondly, the results are current health crisis goes A dispute with the CBC over important in terms of the on. It is therefore totally the status of the Memorandum of possible that the year-end Memorandum of Agreement Agreement signed between results for 2021 will not be regarding the sharing of any the Pensioners National so stellar, but one thing is surplus in our pension plan Association, the Unions and sure: you can rest confident is headed to arbitration. The the CBC on the sharing of about you pension cheques parties are working on the pension surpluses. The coming in! All our thanks appointment of an agreement reached in 2009 go to the Pension Plan staff arbitrator acceptable to provides for a sharing of who work in difficult both sides. surplus once the lower of circumstances because of the two calculations Covid.” The process of getting an exceeds 105% of liabilities. arbitrator is taking We aren’t quite there yet In other words, there is no considerably longer than but in this case the lower of guarantee the past will rep- anticipated but it is hoped the two figures now sits and resent the future. We will that this issue will be 104.6%. keep you apprised on the status of the plan and with resolved soon. In December of 2019, the CBC A couple of notes of regards to progress on our dispute with the CBC over unilaterally declared the caution the surplus sharing MOA was concluded and no

agreement. longer in effect. While the current overall picture is positive there are Pension On a related matter, the a couple of things that need CBC is refusing to provide to be appreciated. Administration an accounting of the funds held for the purpose of The CBC is attempting Centre Have a question about your offsetting health care costs. to renege on the deal it pension? signed in 2009. The PNA Need to make changes to While the use of the funds and Unions have advised your pension payments? is not directly relevant for the Corporation that they Need to sort out survivor the PNA, it is another intend to take the dispute benefits and estate major element of the MOA. to binding arbitration and settlements? At last report there is the process of selecting an Get in touch around $40-million held in arbitrator has begun. We www.pensionadmin-cbc- trust. are confident the deal will src.ca survive the challenge. 1-888-604-9258 2 CHANGES COMING TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FUND By Dan Oldfield, PNA Representative to the CCSB Reprinted from Durham Buzz Last May, the CBC advised the Consultative Committee on Staff Benefits (the CCSB) that it would no longer handle the administration of the Special Assistance Fund. This unilateral decision has caused some havoc in ensuring that those seeking assistance are actually getting it.

The difficulties became obvious around the time of the scheduled September CCSB meeting. People who had applied, and ultimately been deemed eligible for payment from the fund, did not receive their cheques until December.

The PNA was facing a similar scenario this month but forced an ad-hoc special sub-committee meeting. Thanks to the efforts of Dianne St. Germain and Suzie Bougie in the PNA National office, most of the requests submitted for approval were ratified at the March meeting of the CCSB. The PNA will be watching to ensure cheques are sent in a timely fashion.

The main reason for the delays is the CBC’s decision to stop handling SAF claims. The CBC wanted to hand the entire process over to Life where it would be treated more as an insurance fund. But that was never the intent when the fund was created.

The PNA has offered to take over the administration of the fund and in December, the CCSB instructed the CBC and PNA to begin discussions on how that would work. A meeting involving the PNA, CBC and a co-chair of the CCSB was held on March 1st and the PNA committed to providing a detailed proposal for the take-over of the administration. A follow up meeting is scheduled for April 7th. It is hoped that a transfer of administrative duties will take place in time to deal with SAF requests at the June CCSB meeting. Dialogue to end

CBC PNA Website A one year pilot project allowing CBC retirees and employees to have access to virtual health services is coming to an end. Dialogue’s aim was to provide virtual health care services to its users. Among the services it offered, were the filling and renewal of prescriptions, getting blood work done and or referral to a specialist.

With 75% of its funding coming from a special fund managed by the the Consultative Committee on Staff Benefits (CCSB) and only one percent of retirees signing up to use Dialogue, it was deemed not to be cost effective to continue running it. 3 President’s Report Killing time By Raj Narain By Gerry Head that objective”. A year later, spiders are now an endangered The National Board met on What the last part of that species in our house. Our April 17th and spent two motion is saying is that we big adventure is going to and a half hours wish to have more women the grocery store (we live in discussing the issues raised and minorities participate ), once a week. And by the article in the in leadership roles at the we have graduated to Golden Horseshoe Chapter, Regional and minimalist living from Chapter’s Newsletter. The National level. A decluttering. end result was a motion committee is currently In the midst of stating that “The Board of working on a plan for decluttering last fall, we Directors is on record as gender equality and came across an unopened supporting the integrity and diversity. This report will be jigsaw puzzle. Not having a intentions of the presented to the triennial table to work on it, it took Nominating Committee convention in May. The over the dining table, after regarding the application of Ontario Board supports this all, no one was coming for Article 8.1 (Bylaws) to the initiative and encourages dinner. In one of those rear current election process. everyone to consider windows when you could Additionally, the Board of becoming involved. go to a store, we went to Directors will undertake Canadian Tire to get some to review and resolve any Covid has changed the way batteries and saw a folding ambiguity in Article 8.1 and we function and destroyed card table on sale. any other election related the social aspect of our articles. The Board of Association. Directors further This will pass. Social events acknowledges the will return giving us all a importance of the principle chance to interact with each of gender equality and other again. diversity within its governing structures and Until that day returns keep that it is the responsibility in touch and stay safe. of every member to achieve “Aha, the perfect table for the jigsaw!” OAS payments to increase “Where are we going to put By Raj Narain it?”

In this year’s Budget, is proposing a one-time It ended up in the payment of $500 this August to OAS pensioners who will living room, after all, no be 75 or older as of June, 2022. It will also introduce one is coming to visit, but legislation to boost regular OAS payments for those 75 or the lighting there, was not older by 10 per cent beginning in 2022. very good for doing jigsaws. Out came an old table lamp The Government figures the second measure would raise whose broken shade we had benefits for about 3.3 million seniors, with an added $766 vowed to fix years ago. In annually, going to full pensioners in the first year. Killing Time contd. on pg. 8 4 Talking to Plants By Greg Carducci (re-printed with permission from “The Billboard”) horticulturist, Luther Some people even believe Burbank (1849-1926), that plants may talk to us! Do you talk to your plants? believed in talking to plants. They claim they can hear He bred a spineless cactus trees screaming as they Well, you’re not alone if by continually are felled, or plants crying you do. People have always reassuring his plants that as they are uprooted. If a talked to plants, both to they did not require their person is sensitive to the curse them and to defensive thorns because frequency at which a plant encourage them. It was he would protect them from vibrates, it may be possible once commonly believed harm. for them to hear plants in that every plant had a spirit The sensitive plant some way. This would which had to be praised if (Mimosa pudica), responds certainly bring new meaning the plants were to be put to by closing its leaves when to the age-old philosophical good use. The old English confronted by touch or very question: If a tree falls in custom of wassailing fruit loud noise. The effect of the forest and no one hears orchards (offering songs vibration on most plants is it, does it make a sound? and libations to ensure a usually less obvious, but if good harvest) continues you believe that everything today. is made up of vibrations or electrical signals, then it makes sense that plants will respond in some way to the human voice. Do plants talk to each other? Some plants have developed a way of alerting other plants to potential disease. For Some people believe that example, a virus-infected talking to plants helps them tobacco plant can release a grow because you exhale chemical signal to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) as you its neighbours’ resistance. I personally became aware speak. This provides the The warning system of plants at the age of 26. plant with an extra boost involves transmitting Ever since I began caring of something they require ‘methyl salicylate’ or oil of for them, I’ve and they return the favour wintergreen, a signalling believed that they are living by giving back oxygen. If chemical produced naturally organisms with the you talk regularly to your in the plants’ leaves. The extraordinary ability to plants, you are far more warning chemical travels communicate their needs likely to notice changes in through the air in the form and respond to ours. their condition, for example of a gas to the healthy leaf whether they are growing of a neighbouring plant. Here it is converted back to Greg is the former owner of Bill’s well or poorly, or whether Garden Centre. His wife, Gail, has they need water or food. salicylic acid which, in turn, been a PNA member since 2017 and The American encourages the plant to is currently one of the Toronto area build up anti-viral defenses. Directors. 5 When is it time to ditch the big house? By Leone Earls the move. No more three storey trips The year I was turning 70, to the basement to do I had an epiphany…I was laundry (see above). done. I lived in a three storey house and I had just No more folks at my door spent pots of money on a trying to sell me a new new roof and a furnace, water heater or chocolate replacements done 3 times bars or just being weird (I over the last 41 years. do miss the Girl Guide cookies though). I didn’t want to spend another penny on replacing No more hours of one more thing and, as I vacuuming and cleaning. was living alone now, did not want to have my cats And, on and on. staring at me as I lay with a basket of dirty laundry And, here is what I had to around me, having missed get used to: a step as I went down from Here’s the top ten: the third floor to the base- Renovations between 9-5 ment. No more running out to the Monday to Friday only. street in my pjs hauling I was fortunate in garbage because I forgot to Major ensuite deliveries knowing where I wanted put it out the night before. between 9-5 Mondays to Fridays only to go. My sister lives in a No more raking. condo, built in 1973, situated right around the No more shovelling. No loud parties after 11:00 corner from me. In other pm (not difficult to observe No more ice cold or words, I knew what the if you are 71). steaming hot car. building was about, that it Waiting for an elevator, was well managed and had No more fumbling for keys especially in this time of large suites. I also knew (concierge pushes a magic Covid, when only three can that what I would be button to let you in). spending on condo fees was get on at a time; this not out of line with what I No more trying to keep up excludes dogs which my had been spending on sep- with the “Jones” as I tended building is chock-a-block full arate bills for gas, my garden and weeds. of. electricity, water, sewers No more fighting with the Living a little closer to and garbage + much Post Office to deliver my neighbours (less so now reduced property taxes. mail, because my boy cat during the scourge); there’s liked to play pawsies with always the question… will What I lost in being the the mailman (who was master of my own 30 x 110 terrified of cats). foot lot, I gained much by The big house contd on pg. 7 6 The big house from pg. 6 they be offended if they see RIP me trotting down the AYRE, Bonnie – born in and his wonderfully hallway in my pjs to dispose 1938, died on April 15, successful career there. of a bag of kitty poop? 2020. Bonnie was an actor GAUTHIER, Roger – died and a member of the cast of on December 6, 2020 at the And so, here is my advice. “Nightcap”. Don’t leave thinking about age of 77. Roger’s CBC Toronto career started all of this until it is too late TRACEY, Weldon – died shooting and editing News and others have to think for on April 23, 2020 at the and Public Affairs Programs. you. If you want to stay in age of 88. He worked in He eventually moved to the home you have always Sales in CBC Montreal and radio where he ended his lived in, think about what Toronto. help you think you might career as Executive need, how you will find it Director of Network Radio PAUL, Erin – died on Nov- Operations. and can you afford it. ember 8, 2020 at the age of 49. Erin hosted WHYTE, Robert (Bob) “Marketplace” and “The – died on December 21, Health Show” and was 2020. Bob was a news involved in the Olympic cameraman and Games since 2008. videographer. WALTON, Robert (Bob) – MORGAN, William (Bill) – died on December 31, 2020 died on November 16, 2020 If you are considering at the age of 74. Bob was a at the age of 80. Bill held moving to a condo or a technical producer, using his many senior positions at the senior’s residence or an skills to launch the CBC including TV Network apartment or a smaller “Journal”, followed by Program Director, Director house, start looking now technical planning for TBC of News and Current Affairs for what might work for and ending his career with a and at the conclusion of his you. With a condo or small series of planning and career Director of CBC house, you can still come management roles. London. and go as you please GIBBONS, Robert (Bob) – despite Covid. If you live in WILCOX, Victoria (Vickie) died on January 3, 2021 at a Senior’s Residence, not so – died on November 24, the age of 83. Bob much. 2020 at the age of 68. produced and directed in Victoria started in Audience the Schools and Youth For me, continuing to own Services and also worked Department in CBC Toronto, my own abode was on “Morningside” and retiring as a important. Being on one “Ontario Morning”. producer/director in the floor is perfect and the Variety Department. heavy lifting of looking after KELLUM, John (Jack) – a property is no longer my died on December 4, 2020 JANITCH, Pauline – died responsibility. If I am lucky, at the age of 77. Jack on January 10, 2021 at the I will be carried out feet started at CBC TV in age of 74. Pauline worked first and I take comfort in Toronto, scoring music, as a producer on “As It knowing it won’t be because followed by a position at Happens” for 10 years. I broke my neck on a flight “This Country” before he of stairs! left for CBC Newfoundland Obituaries contd. on pg. 8 7 RIP Obituaries from pg. 7 a switchboard operator at Earl Cox Gardening Show” OSAK, Karen – died on CBC Toronto. from 1967 to 1970 . January 21, 20121 at the MURPHY, Sylvia – died on age of 57. Karen worked in BRASSARD, Jean-Guy - February 24, 2021 at the Media Sales for almost 20 died April 5, 2021 at the age of 89. Syliva was a years. age of 84. Jean-Guy worked talented singer who as a technician in CBC performed on shows such HUSSEY, Barrie – died on Windsor, as “Cross-Canada Hit February 7, 2021 at the age Parade”, “The Jack Kane of 81. Barrie worked in CBC HINCH, Gordon – died Show” and “The Wayne and Regina, Ottawa and Toronto on April 8, 2021 at the age Shuster Show”. and was a producer on “As of 90. Gordon joined the It Happens” for the last part CBC in 1957, working first FERGUSON, Phyllis – died of his career. as a unit manager, then in on March 21, 2021 at the network programming and age of 70. Phyllis was, for a KAVANAGH, Thomas finally as a drama producer. short time, a Toronto (Tom) – died on February 8, Assistant Manager on “The 2021 at the age of 82. Tom FINDLAY, John – died on Fifth Estate”. was a long-time Toronto April 12, 2021 at the age of television news producer. 64. John was a “National ST. MARIE, James (Jim) News” Toronto cameraman – died on March 24, 2021 GRANT, Violet – died and retired as a CBC News at the age of 91. Jim was a February 2021. Violet Videographer. CBC Toronto floor worked for her full career as producer and produced “The

Killing Time contd. from pg. 4 Share a Memory went the day light colour bulb and we were set. Oct. 10, 2002 Supplied with puzzles from a company in Montreal, we Mary DePoe made it through winter. shaking hands with the Duke of At Easter, with vaccines on Edinburgh on his their way and the weather visit to the getting warmer, we put Toronto away the the jigsaw table Broadcast Centre and started thinking about marking the 50th going outside. Nope, there anniversary of is another lockdown. Out CBC-TV. came the table and we started a new jigsaw. On her left is The jigsaw table is now a Michael Maclear permanent fixture in the and on her right, living room, just have to be Harry Rasky. careful not to trip on the extension cord for the lamp. 8 Your local Representatives

Durham Email: [email protected] President: Vice-President: Secretary: Barbara Saxberg Joe Solway Glenn Gray Email: Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph: 807 356-0802 Ph: 705 328-0240 Ph: 414 200-1625 Treasurer: Dan Oldfield Email: [email protected] Phone: 807 356 5027 Golden Horseshoe President: Vice-President: Secretary/Treasurer: Bob Waller Marie Clarke-Davies J o h n B a i n b r i d g e Email: Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph: 905-278-1267 Ph:416 529-8294 Ph:905 522-9873 North Central President: Vice-President: Secretary/Treasurer: David Hauraney Paul Hoffmann Rolf Rummeda Email: Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph:705 326-0693 Ph: 705 422-1167 Ph:705 429-1984 Toronto Director: Director: Director: Gail Carducci Mary DePoe Steve Athey Email: Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph: 416-333-8556 Ph: 416 924-6113 Ph: 647-228-5551 Trent President: Barrie Burhoe Email: [email protected] Ph:705 874-0480 Southwestern Ontario President: Vice-President: Secretary/Treasurer: Gino Piazza Sandy Tymczak Jackie Kervoelen-Chelsea Email Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph:226-260-4110 Ph:519-948-4436 Ph: 519-979-8147

9 Your Ontario Executive President: Gerald Head Immediate Past Pres.: VP/Chapter Liaison: Email: Leone Earls Raj Narain [email protected] Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] Ph: 519 250-8516 Ph: 416 463-0314 Ph: 647 926-2994 Treasurer: Ben Daube Secretary:Gino Piazza Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ph:416 481-1522 Ph:226 260-4110

Directors Durham: Golden Horseshoe: North Central Ontario: Barbara Saxberg Bob Waller David Hauraney Email: Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph:705 326-0693 Ph:905 404-1334 Ph:905 278-1267 Toronto: Toronto: Toronto: Gail Carducci Mary DePoe Steve Athey Email: Email: Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph:416 465-5184 Ph: 416 924-6113 Ph: 647-228-5551 Trent: Southwestern Ontario: Livewire Editor: Barrie Burhoe Gino Piazza Raj Narain Email: Email: Email:[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph: 647 926-2994 Ph:705 874-0480 Ph: 226 260-4110 20 Year Association Liaison: EAP Representative: Nancy Flynn (non-voting) Pat Kellogg (non-voting) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ph: 416 481-6504 Ph: 416 465-5727 SPECIAL CBC PNA EAP ASSISTANCE FUND National Office Did you know EAP is The Special Assistance Contact info: available to CBC Fund (SAF) helps CBC pensioners and their retirees with health care Post: spouses. You can have up expenses not covered by 290 Picton Avenue to 5 hours of OHIP or the SHCP. It also Ottawa, ON K1Z 8P8 counseling. They are offsets the cost of hearing available 24 hours a day, aids and mobility devices. Email: 7 days a week. For more information [email protected] contact the CBC PNA Office Contact info: Email: Phone: Phone: 1-866-838-2025 [email protected] 1-613-724-3003 Phone: Toll free (US/CAN): Using IO: Toll free (US/CAN): 1-877-361-9242 username:pension-iO 1-877-361-9242 password: services0 10