Official news magazine of the B.C. Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) Vol. 21 No. 1 Spring 2018 Hundreds gathered in Vancouver and Victoria to remember Dave Barrett – a tireless champion for ordinary people. See our story on page 6. CAMPAIGN FOR PHARMACARE Are the Liberals giving us the runaround – again? ELL THAT was quick. Usually as minister Morneau proposes, won’t health system that does not have a they wait until after an change that,” said Wood. national public drug plan. Welection to break their “We’ll need to keep up the pressure Research published in the promises. It took the Trudeau govern- for a national program that ensures Canadian Medical Association ment only 24 hours to shatter their everyone can get their prescriptions. Journal found that such a plan promise of action on a long overdue Too many are forced to do without, could save Canadians up to $7.3 national prescription drug plan. and end up in hospitals much sicker billion a year. It was a big announcement in the than they were before.” The federal Liberals last promised federal budget speech. A lot of people BC FORUM has long campaigned a pharmacare program in their 1997 were both thrilled and surprised. The for pharmacare, noting that Canada platform. They didn’t deliver then, very next day the finance minister is the only country with a public and are already backtracking now. said he didn’t really mean it. It’s just “a strategy” not a plan, said Bill Morneau. It would never replace private plans like those provided Official notice of 2018 by his former company, Morneau Shepell, the largest benefit consult- Annual General Meeting ing firm in the country, he explained. • You are cordially invited to attend BC FORUM’s annual general meeting Wed. June 27 in the UFCW auditorium, 350 Columbia, New Westminster. “It’s deeply disturbing that the man who controls the purse strings • In addition to resolutions, reports, and informative speakers, members has already made it clear he wants will vote on a special resolution to amend our constitution and bylaws to maintain the patchwork system and ensure they are in full compliance with the new BC Societies Act that forces Canadians to pay some adopted in 2016. of the highest prices in the world • Further details of the meeting are on page 11. for prescription drugs,” says Diane • Please mark your calendar today. We look forward to seeing you. And Wood, President of BC FORUM. feel free to bring a friend! “Papering over some of the gaps, 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 President Suzanne Bennett We have lost two extraordinary advo- Bill Silvester, USW Lynda Reid cates for ordinary people. Dave Barrett and Lorraine Logan both earned our Sam Wiese, PSAC East Kootenay & District Chris Johns love and admiration. We thank them Secretary for their inspiring and selfless efforts to Gary Werk Miriam Olney, UFCW make life better for the rest of us. Fraser Valley Treasurer In this edition: Pamela Willingshofer Dan Bradford, BCGEU • Fighting for the right to a vote that Kamloops & District Directors really counts ....................................5 Mogens Jorgensen Donisa Bernardo, HEU • Remembering Dave Barrett ............6 Kitimat, Terrace & District Tony Brown, ILWU • Strengthening public health care ...8 Fred Girling, USW Raymond Raj • A budget for people .....................10 Gord Larkin, CLC Nanaimo, Duncan & District • Remembering Lorraine Logan ......14 Barb Mikulec, BCTF Iris Taylor Marion Pollack, CUPW New Westminster & District • Due for renewal? Renew your John Radosevic, UNIFOR Gerry Townsend BC FORUM membership today .....15 Andy Ross, MoveUp North Central Copyright 2018 John Savage, UNIFOR Victor Johnson Articles may be re-printed if they include: Gord Savard, CUPE Heather Sapergia “Reprinted with permission from The Advocate, official newsmagazine of the Maureen Shaw, FPSE Ron Williams Russ St. Eloi, BCTC B.C. Federation of Retired Union Members, North Okanagan www.bcforum.ca.” Staff Doug Gibson Theresa Couture, USW Greg McGowan Visit the BC FORUM website: Port Alberni & District Mike Lang www.bcforum.ca South Okanagan Boundary John Colbourne The Advocate is published by the Join us on Facebook: B.C. Federation of Retired Union Terry Green Members. BC FORUM – supported by Squamish Labour Committee facebook.com/ WE Consulting and Benefits and affiliated Marie Worth BCRetiredUnion with the B.C. Federation of Labour – is Sunshine Coast dedicated to representing the interests MembersForum of members and their families, continu- Ray Haynes ing into retirement the relationship they Vancouver & District enjoyed with the union movement. Sandy Bauer #200-5118 Joyce Street Agnes Jackman Printing of the Vancouver, BC V5R 4H1 Victoria Toll-free 1.800.896.5678 Advocate courtesy Tel. 604.688.4565 Nora Butz [email protected] Holly Page of UFCW Local 1518 Editor: Soren Bech West Kootenay & District [email protected] Mary Gay 2102 Porter Rd, Roberts Creek, B.C., V0N 2W5 2 – The Advocate, Spring 2018 FROM THE PRESIDENT Power to the people: make every vote count HROUGH OUR years in the union for ordinary people, the folks who movement, we’ve all seen how should be the primary concern of any Tdifficult it can be to negotiate government, but it’s not written in real gains. It’s a step-by-step process stone. Another government can undo that requires patience, determination, it with the stroke of a pen. and a willingness to walk the line. Governments, at their best, are the Then, before you know it, the next way we work together to do things contract is due and we’re negotiat- we can’t do on our own. They create ing again – perhaps with an employer the social and economic infrastruc- who wants to roll back our gains. ture that provides opportunities for If there’s one thing I’ve learned in everyone, not just the few. years of bargaining and campaigning, I am very impressed by the steps this is it: there are no absolute victor- the Horgan government has taken ies. Even as we celebrate our gains, to make life more affordable and to we can never rest. If we don’t keep improve social services, education pushing forward, special interests will and public health care (see our cover- try to push us back. age of the latter on page 8.) There are powerful people whose Unfortunately, everything that world-view is quite different from ordinary people have gained under ours. Their priorities are individual the current government is fragile. privilege and private wealth. Despite winning a combined They have little regard for the 57 percent of the votes, the New harm they cause to the public good, Democrats and Greens have a major- the climate, or all the less fortun- ity of just one single seat in the ate men, women and children who Legislature. There is no room for error Diane Wood or even a badly timed sick day. have been denied opportunities to lot of syllables. It’s a mouthful and it get ahead. For far too long, they To me, this illustrates the pervers- seems like an abstract concept. have been buying governments to ity of our current electoral system. But just like people had to strug- get their way. Political parties that win 57 percent gle over the years to win the right of the votes should end up with 57 Thankfully, the NDP government to vote, making every vote count acted quickly to ban big money percent of the seats. Any other result is a struggle we have to win – not from BC politics. That’s a big victory – like our present circumstances – just makes it painfully clear that many of to favour a particular party, but to our votes don’t count. give real power to voters in a true democracy. Just look at our federal govern- Join us today! ment. The Trudeau Liberals won a If we want governments that OU CAN join BC FORUM massive “majority” government with consistently put people first, and Yusing the form on page 15, the support of just 39.5 percent of actually do represent a majority of or online at www.bcforum.ca. voters. Yet first past the post gives voters, this is where it starts. Every If you’re already a member, them all the power. vote must count. please check the mailing label How can we claim to have repre- I strongly urge you to support elec- on page 16 to see if you’re due sentative governments when the toral reform when you vote in the for renewal. choices, hopes and dreams of so BC referendum that will be held this Thanks for all you do to many voters are not represented in fall. It’s a big step forward for ordin- support our work! Parliament? ary people. (You can read more about Proportional representation is a it on page 5 of this edition.) The Advocate, Spring 2018 – 3 FEDERAL POLITICS Is the halo slipping, or has he just lost a little off the top? Promises and peccadillos HE NUMBER of Canadians who delivering little or nothing, and at violated the rules by vacationing on disapprove of Prime Minister times acting plain silly. the Aga Khan’s private island. TJustin Trudeau has increased to The more people see for them- This spring, we saw Trudeau and 56 percent, according to an opinion selves that his commitments are his family embark on a scandal poll conducted by Angus Reid. meaningless, the more they doubt plagued and at times laughable trip That’s the worst rating at this whether he can be trusted.