In his update to members, Association CEO Anthony Pizzino talks advocacy priorities and shares an exciting train ride story.
In this issue of Sage, we have an interview with Seamus O’Regan, the new seniors minister, who only took over the portfolio on July 26, 2023. Sage spoke to him just seven weeks later. He granted the interview because he knows the Association from his time as minister of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and he knows we represent an important constituency for his new portfolio.
By coincidence, I also met Minister O’Regan early in his tenure when we were on the same train. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say hello and he welcomed my doing so. I told him who we are, that I’ve been in the job for two years now and that I’d like to formally meet with him along with Association president Roy Goodall to talk about his portfolio. When we do meet, we will be asking him to make the long-term care standards the federal government struck last year mandatory across the country. We’ll also be looking for more funding for home care and continued support for defined benefit federal pensions, the OAS and the guaranteed income supplement. As well, we will be looking for a commitment from the federal government to safeguard the CPP against Alberta’s efforts to remove itself from the program and go it alone with an Alberta Pension Plan.
I admit that I initially saw O’Regan’s appointment to the seniors file as a part-time portfolio given that he’s also the minister of labour, but having met him, I now consider it a smart strategic move on the part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As a capable minister, and one in the government’s inner circle, we could argue this means the prime minister considers seniors and older Canadians a priority. As such, I’m encouraged and I’ll be following up on my proposed meeting to look at ways we can help Minister O’Regan in our joint mission to make life better for Canadian retirees.
And speaking of that mission, we are also working to make life better for our members on the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) transition from Sun Life to Canada Life. It’s been a rocky road and many of our members are worried because of Canada Life’s ill-preparedness for the transition. Though not a problem of our making, we are working hard to help the thousands of members who’ve called and emailed us since July 1 because they felt they had nowhere else to turn. As such, we have hired additional staff members on a contract basis to deal with the backlog of calls and emails and to escalate urgent issues where required. Rest assured we are championing your cause with government and those in the C-suite at Canada Life. As you’ll see in the story on O’Regan, he will be, too.
On a lighter note, this issue of Sage also has a story on the growing need to be tech-savvy and use evolving technology when travelling. The story gives some good advice on learning to navigate technology for the uninitiated. These things take patience and sometimes a helping hand, but in the end, they can make life a whole lot easier.
Finally, since this is our last issue of 2023, I want to wish you a happy holiday season in whatever way you choose to celebrate.