BCRTA plays an important role in the formation of public policy in the areas of seniors issues and education through our work at the provincial and federal levels. Here are just a few of the activities recently undertaken by BCRTA to make a difference in these arenas.
At the request of the board, BCRTA President Caroline Malm has sent a letter to Provincial Minister of housing Christine Boyle in support of continued funding to the BC Rent Bank, an important means of providing stability to marginalized people in our province, including many seniors. Housing precarity is a growing issue for people of all ages in BC. The board also passed a motion to encourage BCRTA members to sign a petition in this regard – see the item in the current issue of Connections.
It was with great concern that BCRTA noted the recent decision of the Government of Alberta to invoke the Notwithstanding Clause to close down bargaining with Alberta’s public school teachers and order them back to work, without adequately addressing their concerns about the public education system. Our president has sent a letter to Prime Minister Carney expressing concern that this is a misuse of the clause and that it undermines the rights of teachers and the cause of public education in Canada.
Another letter to Prime Minister Carney expressed the desire of BCRTA (along with many other seniors’ organizations) to re-instate a full cabinet position for a Minister of Seniors, rather than the junior appointment of a Parliamentary Secretary for this important role.
Additionally, correspondence was sent to the Federal Minister of Health encouraging the implementation nationally of the new Pharmacare program, as a number of provinces have not yet agreed with the federal government to provide this program.
Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations (COSCO) 2025 Conference (L-R): BC Seniors’ Advocate Dan Levitt, NPF President Trish McAuliffe; COSCO 2nd VP Terry van Steinburg; BCRTA President Caroline Malm
BCRTA was well-represented at the recent National Pensioners’ Federation conference, with President Caroline Malm, Stephanie Koropatnick and Tom Haste attending as delegates, our own Barb Mikulec serving as a NPF VP, and BCRTA’s new Executive Director Lisa Hansen also taking in the sessions.
