Official news magazine of the B.C. Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) Vol. 19 No. 3 Winter 2016 We need government that puts people first John Horgan and the NDP are charting a course towards an economy that works for ordinary families, not just mega-corporations and billionaires OR FIVE years, a smiling Christy Clark has topped up her F$200,000 salary with $50,000 a year from wealthy donors to the BC Liberal Party. While personally prof- iting from catering to the elite, Clark has taken away bus passes for people with disabilities and skewed the tax system to ensure the super-rich pay a lower rate of taxes than all other British Columbians. In a dramatic contrast, NDP Lead- John Horgan, Leader of the BC NDP, visits a child care centre just prior to announcing er John Horgan has outlined initia- his plan for $10 a day child care – a key step towards an economy that works for people. tives to create good jobs, make taxes more fair, and build a strong econ- omy that works for ordinary people. Action on child care His proposals include: C FORUM has strongly welcomed the BC NDP’s plan to bring affordable • Power BC, a vision for clean sus- Bchild care to B.C. “This is an issue that urgently needs to be addressed,” tainable energy and new jobs. said Diane Wood, President of BC FORUM. “We’ve been fighting for quality, • Elimination of MSP premiums, a affordable child care for decades. We fought for it as members of our unions. massively regressive tax. Today, many years later, the need is even more acute.” • Increasing the minimum wage to Wood said the lack of affordable child care steals opportunities from $15 an hour. working families, and prevents many parents from contributing their skills • $10 a day child care to give kids a to our economy. good start and allow more parents “We had a very emotional debate on child care at this year’s Annual Gen- to contribute to our economy. eral Meeting. Grandparents who are looking after their children’s children You will find more details on the are wondering how many more years they can continue,” she said. NDP’s proposals to put people first Please see “NDP will...” on page 4 in this edition of The Advocate. THE ADVOCATE Board of Directors Labour Council President Delegates and Regional In this Diane Wood, BCGEU Representatives Chair Campbell River, Irene Lanzinger, BCFED Courtenay & District edition Vice Presidents Suzanne Bennett With the next BC election only months John Savage, UNIFOR Lynda Reid away, this edition includes expanded coverage of provincial issues and pro- Bill Silvester, USW East Kootenay & District posals to improve the lives of ordinary Secretary Chris Johns people. But fear not – we’re still keep- Miriam Olney, UFCW Fraser Valley ing an eye on Ottawa! Treasurer Pamela Willingshofer In this edition: Dan Bradford, BCGEU Kamloops & District • The crisis in seniors’ care Directors Mogens Jorgensen in British Columbia ..................... 6-7 Donisa Bernardo, HEU Kitimat, Terrace & District • CPP expansion moves Millie Canessa, BCGEU Raymond Raj a step closer as BC opts in ..............9 Fred Girling, USW • BC FED calls for action on Nanaimo, Duncan & District Gord Larkin, CLC good jobs, good wages .................10 Barb Mikulec, BCTF Iris Taylor • Libby Davies: Marion Pollack, CUPW New Westminster & District Why I joined BC FORUM ..............16 John Radosevic, UNIFOR Ken Isomura Andy Ross, MoveUp Gerry Townsend Copyright 2016 Gord Savard, CUPE North Central Articles may be re-printed if they include: Maureen Shaw, FPSE “Reprinted with permission from Victor Johnson Russ St. Eloi, BCTC The Advocate, official newsmagazine of the Heather Sapergia Gordon Westrand, ILWU B.C. Federation of Retired Union Members, Ron Williams Sam Wiese, PSAC www.bcforum.ca.” North Okanagan Staff Theresa Couture, USW Doug Gibson Visit the BC FORUM website: Greg McGowan Port Alberni & District www.bcforum.ca Mike Lang The Advocate is published by the South Okanagan Boundary Join us on Facebook: B.C. Federation of Retired Union Mem- John Colbourne facebook.com/ bers. BC FORUM – supported by WE Terry Green Consulting and Benefits and affiliated BCRetiredUnion with the B.C. Federation of Labour – is Squamish Labour Committee dedicated to representing the interests Marie Worth MembersForum of members and their families, continu- ing into retirement the relationship they Sunshine Coast enjoyed with the union movement. Ray Haynes #200-5118 Joyce Street Vancouver & District Printing of the Vancouver, BC V5R 4H1 Sandy Bauer Toll-free 1.800.896.5678 Agnes Jackman Advocate courtesy Tel. 604.688.4565 [email protected] Victoria of UFCW Local 1518 Editor: Soren Bech Michael Ferguson [email protected] 2102 Porter Rd, Roberts Creek, West Kootenay & District B.C., V0N 2W5 Mary Gay 2 – The Advocate, Winter 2016 FROM THE PRESIDENT Courage, my friends, it’s not too late to build a better world By Diane Wood me a great deal. President, BC FORUM Will name-calling replace civil de- EMOCRACY IS the most power- bate on the critical issues that affect ful tool we have to build us and our families? civil societies – communities D Will respect for each other, in- where every person has the oppor- cluding those with whom we dis- tunity to fully participate and con- agree, be burned on the altar of win- tribute to our collective well-being. ning at all costs? It is based on a shared understand- ing that none of us stands alone and Will we be swamped in lies and that we are stronger together. fake news? Canadians have fought and died If ever there was a time when it to defend our right to elect our own was essential for us to stick together, governments, but as the US election this is it. demonstrated, democracy is fragile. As the US election vividly dem- Donald Trump’s campaign strat- onstrated, no candidate is perfect. egists said in the days before the Every one of them has strengths and election that the only way he could weaknesses. Some candidates and win was to drive down voter turn- parties will work for social justice, out. He succeeded. Millions stayed equality and respect. Others will not. home. Turnout was the lowest in 20 We must judge. We must partici- years. pate – ideally by helping to nomin- What’s particularly dangerous ate candidates we trust. is the way he did it. He denigrated In the end, we must vote. Staying democratic government as a swamp. home on election day is not an op- He called his Republican rivals tion. names: Little Marco, Lyin’ Ted, and Low Energy Jeb. In the campaign it- As Tommy Douglas said: self, with no basis in fact, he brand- “Courage, my friends, it’s not too ed his opponent Crooked Hillary. Diane Wood late to build a better world.” Implicitly or explicitly, he spread That’s our goal. By standing now taking steps to clamp down on hate and disrespect towards Lat- together – from issue to issue and fake news sites. inos, blacks, jews, women, gays and election to election – we will work in everyone who dared to oppose him. But the damage is done. Even solidarity to help achieve that vision I have never seen a political cam- before Trump takes office, America for ourselves, our children, grand- paign so rude, callous, self-centred is weaker, and the world is much children, nieces and nephews. and devoid of truth. more dangerous. Xenophobes, big- ots, misogynists, autocrats and hate- With the Trump campaign using Happy Holidays mongers are rushing to follow the the social network to send targeted N BEHALF of the volunteer board path blazed by the new leader of the messages to his supporters, even of directors of BC FORUM, I ex- free world. O Facebook is caught up in contro- tend to you and your loved ones our versy. A story from a fake news site It has already hit very close to very best wishes for the holidays. claimed Hillary Clinton was a de- home. Hate literature and racist in- This is a time of year when we votee of satanic rituals. Facebook cidents are on the rise in B.C. and come together to celebrate and users shared it more than 3,000 Canada. support each other. Let’s keep that times. As we prepare for our provincial spirit alive to carry us forward into a Both Google and Facebook are election in May, these trends worry happy and productive new year. The Advocate, Winter 2016 – 3 FROM PAGE 1 John Horgan, Leader of the BC NDP, met with the BC FORUM Horgan, Robinson and Simpson discussed a wide-range of issues board of directors in September. He was accompanied by Selina and participated in a lively question and answer session with Robinson, the party’s spokesperson on seniors, and Shane Simp- board members. The next provincial election will take place in son, caucus chair and spokesperson on economic development. just a few months on Tuesday May 9, 2017. NDP will address child care crisis Continued from page 1 The tax-transfer return to govern- try. Too many parents can’t find The burden of inadequate child ment significantly exceeds the cost child care and spend years on wait- care falls on all generations, said of subsidies. lists,” he said. Wood. The report concluded that uni- Roughly 20 percent of children While acknowledging that a prov- versal child care improves the lives have access to regulated childcare. incial child care program would have of children and families, and is “a Fees in the Lower Mainland can run to over $1200 per month.