news&views Autumn 2018 | Page 5

President’s Message Marilyn Bossert | President, ARTA ACER-CART: The 2018 AGM In my first column as your president, I equated my future to a journey, and it continues to be just that, both figuratively and literally. jeopardize defi ned benefi t In early June, I travelled to plans. More explanation Ottawa for the 2018 Annual can be found on the BCRTA General Meeting of ACER-CART,* website bcrta.ca/category/ the Canadian Association for Retired Teachers. ARTA was also pensions. represented by Gordon Cumming, • ACER-CART will continue its ARTA director to ACER-CART, support for a comprehensive and Daniel Mulloy, ARTA CEO national Canadian and executive director. pharm acare plan. Such a plan would support aff ordable ACER-CART is an prescription drug coverage for organization of retired teachers’ all Canadians. associations from every • ACER-CART opposes Canadian province and the privatization of medical Yukon Territory that represents services in Canada as an their members when conversing expressed threat to public with the federal government and medicare in Canada. Medicare other national organizations. is on trial in British Columbia Those in attendance at this with the Dr. Brian Day case. annual meeting support the concept of working together with • ACER-CART will be a participant, in any symposium other like-minded groups on of like-minded organizations, behalf of retirees. The following to work toward a national exemplify some areas of concern: advocacy plan with a seniors’ • ACER-CART will continue to focus for the 2019 election. advocate for pension security You may recall how helpful by opposing any legislation the information gathered by such as Bill C-27 that would this group was before the last federal election. ACER-CART executive members include Bill Berryman of Nova Scotia, President; Gerry Tiede of British Columbia, Vice President; Brian Kenney of Ontario, Past President; Margaret Urquhart of New Brunswick, Regional Representative East; Martin Higgs, Regional Representative Ontario; and Gordon Cumming of Alberta, Regional Representative West. This was my fi rst experience with ACER-CART, and I returned home with the belief that all Canadian retirees can be well served by the eff orts of the organization. ● * Association Canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants retraités – Canadian Association of Retired Teachers. Important Announcement After August 30, the email addresses you are used to using to communicate with news&views will no longer work. From September 1 and on, please use these new email addresses for communication. Contributions may be sent to nvsubmit@arta.net To contact the editor, write to nveditor@arta.net news&views AUTUMN 2018 | 5