BC FORUM News

June, 2015

Federal election preparations dominate annual meeting

Download and read the 2015 Annual Report here.

Click here to read the Resolutions passed at the AGM.

Video highlights of speeches can be found on the BC FORUM Youtube channel.

Read the Summer 2015 issue of The Advocate for all the details of the AGM and more!

Vancouver, BC - Preparations for the next federal election – scheduled for October 19 – dominated the BC FORUM Annual General Meeting, held June 17 in Vancouver. Issues affecting older and retired workers and their families were at the forefront in keynote speeches, and in resolutions adopted by delegates.

Diane Wood, BC FORUM President, underlined the need to focus on the federal election as she presented the volunteer Board of Directors’ annual report to the meeting.

She noted that the Harper Conservatives have repeatedly made decisions that hurt ordinary families. Their actions include voting against a sorely needed national strategy to help individuals and families affected by dementia, undermining retirement security by raising to 67 the qualifying age for old age security and the guaranteed income supplement while refusing to improve the CPP, and unilaterally cutting the federal contribution to public health care.

Jenny Kwan, the NDP’s candidate in the federal riding of Vancouver East and currently MLA for Vancouver - Mount Pleasant, said the health of some seniors is being compromised by both federal and provincial cuts.

For example, service to seniors who have been receiving home support for up to 10 years, and whose conditions have worsened in that period, has suddenly been cut to only one hour a week for a bath.

Kwan said action is needed to improve Canadians’ access to public health care, appropriate and affordable housing, transportation, and health care.

Aaron Ekman, Secretary - Treasurer of the BC Federation of Labour, said the Liberals and Conservatives are fundamentally only red and blue factions of the same party, representing the same narrow segment of society.

The NDP, he said, is made up of and represents people like us.

Ekman dismissed the suggestion that people should vote for the candidate who is most likely to be able to defeat the local Conservative. How do you determine who that is, he asked. Polls are frequently inaccurate. The best option is to vote for the change you want to build our country and make it a better place for Canadians.

You’ll find full coverage of the AGM in the soon to be published summer edition of The Advocate.

Video highlights of speeches can be found on the BC FORUM Youtube channel.

Resolutions Passed at the AGM:

Resolution Number 1 - 2015: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada

WHEREAS the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) published a March 2015 report on missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada; and

WHEREAS CEDAW report found that the Government of Canada has committed a grave violation on the rights of Indigenous women and recommended a national inquiry and national action plan to address this; and

WHEREAS the Harper Government has rejected both a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women; and

WHEREAS many organizations including but not limited to the Canadian Labour Congress and the BC Federation of Labour have joined the call for a national inquiry and a national action plan.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the British Columbian Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) join the call for a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada and the need for a national action plan to prevent more missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Resolution Number 2 - 2015: Attacks on Pensions and Post Retiree Benefits

WHEREAS increasingly employers and governments are attacking workplace pensions and post retirement benefits; and

WHEREAS attacks on workplace pension and post retirement benefits negatively impact on current and future retirees; and

WHEREAS we are committed to retirement security for all;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the British Columbia Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) will support unions who are working to protect and defend workplace pensions and post retirement benefits.

Resolution Number 3 - 2015: Canada Post’s 5 Point Plan

WHEREAS Canada Post continues in its drive to end door to door mail delivery and replace it with community mail boxes; and

WHEREAS the end of door to door delivery will particularly hurt seniors; and

WHEREAS there is increasing evidence of vandalism to and theft from community mail boxes: and

WHEREAS the British Columbia Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) has opposed the end of door to door mail delivery; and

WHEREAS the Federal Conservative Government is strongly supporting Canada Post’s plan to end door to door mail delivery,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the British Columbia Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) will continue to:

1. Oppose Canada Post’s plan to end door to door mail delivery and replace it with community mail boxes

2. Support the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and other organizations opposing the end of door to door mail delivery

3. Work for the defeat of the Federal Conservatives in the upcoming election.

4. Join British Columbians for a public postal service.

Resolution Number 4 - 2015: Universal Public Drug Coverage (Universal Pharmacare)

WHEREAS Universal Pharmacare has been recommended for Canada since 1960’s, but has never been implemented; and

WHEREAS Canada is the only developed country with a universal health care system that does not include prescription drug coverage; and

WHEREAS a Universal Pharmacare system would improve the quality and accessibility of health care thereby saving the Canadian economy billions of dollars every year; and

WHEREAS studies have shown that Universal Pharmacare would reduce prescription drug spending in every province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the British Columbian Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) continue to demand that the Federal Government pass legislation to provide a Universal Pharmacare program for Canada and that the promotion of such a plan be a key part of all parties’ priorities in the next Federal election

Resolution Number 5 - 2015: Federal Election - 2015

WHEREAS a Federal Election is scheduled for the Fall of this year; and

WHEREAS the present Federal Government has shown it’s true colours with regard to the rights of Canadians by the introduction of various government bills to restrict the rights of citizens, unions, working men and women and seniors; and

WHEREAS every citizen of Canada deserves a government that will work for their benefits and not the corporate interest;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the British Columbia Federation of Retired Union Members (BC FORUM) work with our affiliates to ensure that the next Federal Government represents the best interests of all Canadians .