Union Retiree

Volume 17 / Issue 1 / WINTeR 2016

Slowing the onset of dementia– page 3

CURC endorses push for a national seniors’ health strategy– page 16

Tribute to Betty Ann Bushell marks CURC’s 2015 Convention

2

— FRom T H e PR esIDeN T —

A year of challenge and change

by Pat Kerwin CURC President

It has been a very busy and eventful year for CURC. In February, we lost a great person and friend in

Betty Ann Bushell, who served as our Treasurer. You can read Malcolm Buchanan’s tribute to her at our convention in this issue.

Our 12th Constitutional Convention once again saw nearly 100 delegates from across Canada discuss action plans for responding to critical issues affecting retirees and seniors. This year, we put a focus on dementia, a huge issue whose significance we are only beginning to realize.

Lucienne Bahuaud agreed to assume the role of Treasurer only months before the convention and has done a great job. Bob McGarry stepped down at the convention as our Secretary. Maureen King now fills that role.

Delegates voted to hold future conventions every three years, with the next one in 2018.

CURC collaborated with over 50 other seniors’ groups to hold events across the country on October 1, the UN International Day of Older Persons. We agreed on four issue areas to push in the federal election and met with representatives of four parties at federal budget time to urge them to take action. These issues are: pensions, health care, housing and inequality. We are committed to continue this collaboration in 2016. It is hoped to mark the day in more cities in 2016.

The federal election ushered in a new Liberal government. We look forward to meeting with them on issues important to seniors. It was disappointing that there was no Minister for Seniors in the cabinet. We will closely monitor what the government does to improve the lot of today’s poor seniors through GIS and tomorrow seniors through an enhanced CPP.

Our convention approved a policy paper on pharmacare which is an issue we pursue in cooperation with the Canadian Health Coalition. CURC has endorsed the Canadian Medical Association’s push for a federal seniors’ strategy.

We also remain active in the Coalition for Retirement Security, which the National Association of Federal Retirees organized to take on the issue of converting defined benefit pensions to target benefit plans. In addition to our major focus on pharmacare, we will also remain active in other health issues including home care and palliative care. The right to die with dignity is an issue that the courts have recognized. Governments must deal with the necessary legislative changes this year. CURC will be active on this issue.

Over the year, CURC members were active on union picket lines, protesting the decision to end home mail delivery and in delivering pre-retirement courses. We participated in the Truth and Reconciliation March.

This issue will be the final magazine that CURC will produce. We will send out regular updates via an enewsletter. If you have not already done so, please go to our web site (unionretiree.ca) and sign up to receive your copy.

2

Union Retiree2841 Riverside Dr.Ottawa, ON K1V 8X7(613) 526-7422http://unionretiree.ca

Published by the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC). CURC is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of CURC, its affiliates, or the CLC.

President: Pat Kerwin First Vice-President: Len Hope Second Vice-President: Doug MacPherson Secretary: Maureen King Treasurer: Lucienne Bahuaud Member-at-Large: Louisette Hinton Member-at-Large: Janice Gairey

Editor: Angus RickerDesign: Union Communications (CEP 591-G)

33

— cuRc’s 12T H coNsTIT uTIoNa l coN V eN TIoN —

Dementia: What it is and what you can do

Delegates to CURC’s 12th Constitutional Convention in Port Elgin heard a thoughtful and comprehensive examination of dementia by Dr. Nicole Anderson, a Baycrest psychologist and associate with Rotman Research Institute and the University of Toronto.

Dr. Anderson said dementia was a broad category of related conditions. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common, followed by vascular dementia. Dementia affects women more often than men.

Early signs of dementia include memory problems (such as repeating questions), difficulty finding words, getting lost in a familiar place and social withdrawal after the problem is discovered.

Dr. Anderson contrasted milder cognitive impairment with incurable

dementia conditions that affect some 500,000 Canadians today.

It is normal to forget a name but not your spouse’s name. It is normal to forget something when we shop but

not that we went shopping. It is okay that we can’t immediately remember today’s date but problematic if we think it is 1963.

While dementia is not curable, Dr. Anderson said several “reserve factors” can slow its advance.

An active lifestyle is very important. Studies have shown that getting sedentary men to take regular walks has a positive effect.

Other important reserve factors include a diet low in saturated fats, learning a new language or skill, volunteering and networking to stay socially active, undertaking occupationally complex tasks like multi-tasking, lowering stress levels and stopping smoking.

“Sixty percent of dementia risk is attributable to modifiable lifestyle factors,” said Dr. Anderson.

Dementia is “a crisis demanding action,” London Fanshawe MP and NDP Seniors Critic Irene Mathyssen told CURC delegates.

Dementia ties up as many as 15% of hospital beds. Family members who must become full-time caregivers will have lower pensions. While dementia is thought of as an old person’s affliction, 15% of dementia patients are under 60 years of age.

Mathyssen supported the work of MP Claude Gravelle and his private member’s bill to authorize Canada to create a national dementia strategy. The bill failed by one vote when Joe Preston,

a Conservative MP, switched his vote and Yvonne Jones, a Liberal present in the House, failed to vote.

She also reviewed the work done by NDP MP Charlie Angus on palliative care. His motion, to establish a Pan-Canadian Palliative and End-of-life Care Strategy, passed. The motion would promise more support to caregivers and improve the quality and consistency of end-of-life care.

This strategy would benefit both the dying and their families. She noted that only four provinces have a palliative strategy while others, including Ontario, have a patchwork system.

Dementia: A political issue

Dr. Nicole Anderson explained how we can lower the risk of dementia.

NDP Seniors Critic Irene Mathyssen: dementia is “a crisis demanding action.”

444

— W e mouR N —

Following is an excerpt from a tribute delivered at the CURC Convention by Malcolm Buchanan, former provincial president and general secretary of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and president of the Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville CURC Area Council.

Betty Ann was a passionate supporter of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada and the trade union movement. She was a well-known member of the New Democratic Party and participated in numerous social justice causes.

She was both a friend and comrade. Betty Ann was a proud member of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation [OSSTF] and the OSSTF Active Retiree Members organization.

Betty Ann’s vision was that CURC would become the preeminent retiree organization in Canada; one that would advocate for quality health care for all, retirement security for all, improved pensions for all, and for civil rights and freedoms for all.

On December 13, 2014 Betty Ann, along with other Hamilton CURC members, stood outside a Beer Store on Mohawk Rd. on Hamilton Mountain handing out leaflets urging customers not to purchase cans of beer made by scab labour. It was a cold and windy day but that only motivated Betty Ann even more as she approached customers explaining why they should buy beer in bottles, not cans. She was both fearless and passionate in her approach. The result was that most customers she

approached were seen carrying beer in bottles after they left the beer store.

Betty Ann made a lasting impression on many friends and colleagues, especially those she both worked and socialized with.

What is not so well known was that Betty Ann was a huge supporter of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre in Hamilton. She served on the Board of Directors for many years. Her enormous contribution to the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre and the community will be remembered.

In January, Betty Ann informed

me that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer and that she had between three months and a year to live. We spoke several times and planned to get together to discuss CURC business. She wanted to ensure that all her commitments to CURC would be met. As a result she diligently filed all of the membership and financial records on several computer chips which have been forwarded to CURC to be used for the Convention. She never quit.

As a friend and colleague for nearly 30 years she will be sorely missed, but fondly remembered. A life well lived.

A tribute to Betty Ann Bushell, 1942 – 2015

Betty Ann Bushell speaks at the 2013 CURC convention in Ottawa. Her vision was that CURC would become the prominent retirees’ organization in Canada, promoting quality health care, retirement security, civil rights and freedom for all.

5

“Which three countries in the OECD do not have a national drug plan?” That’s the quiz Julie White, CURC’s representative on the Canadian Health Coalition, had for delegates to CURC’s 12th Constitutional Convention in June, 2015. The answer is Canada, the USA and Mexico.

White spoke to delegates about a universal public pharmacare plan set out in the policy paper, Time for a New Prescription, adopted by the Convention and published on CURC website, unionretiree.ca.

White summarized three “inter-re-lated and necessary changes to achieve a fair, cost efficient and safe approach to drugs:”1. A national public pharmacare pro-

gram established by the federal

government with funding to the provinces for implementation;

2. Cost controls on drug prices in-cluding both bulk buying and price negotiations with drug manufactur-ers

3. A better independent drug approval process with sharing of information and access to drug company research.Canada’s existing drug plans are “70

years out of date, … unfair, unequal and dangerous,” she said. After review-ing for delegates the ineffectiveness of public and private plans in Canada, White issued a challenge to CURC delegates to help establish a national plan. She urged delegates to write their MP with the question: “What is your position and the position of your party on a national drug plan for Canada?”

A timely prescription

— cuRc’s 12T H coNsTIT uTIoNa l coN V eN TIoN —

Marc Ranger, assistant director of CUPE in Quebec, outlined to the convention the effects of Quebec’s Bill 3 and the attack on workers’ pensions.

He described the “white/blue collar coalition” that was formed to defend free collective bargaining and the undertakings are made in good faith in collective agreements. He described the “hundreds of demos,” the joint meeting of 1,200 leaders and 50,000 demonstrators marching in Montreal to demand the protection of their pensions and collective agreements.

He said that it was “the battle of all generations” which included retirees in the fight back. He said that labour had been presented with new contract

restrictions in Bill 3 which required a sharing of pension deficits, both present and in the future, on a 50 – 50 basis. Indexing of pensions has been removed as of 2017.

Marc Ranger commented that a retroactive decision should not revise collective agreements “because this is the most important decision in your life.” Bill 3, he said, was a real debate about cuts and downward pressure from federal and provincial governments to worsen working conditions. He added an actuarial review of finances revealed “false excuses” by inaccurately reporting deficits. The situation was further complicated by debates were in public instead of in collective bargaining.

CUPE’s Marc Ranger described how unions are fighting back against pension cutbacks in Quebec.

Quebec unions fight pension cutbacks

Julie White: CURC rep advocates for national drug plan.

6

— cuRc’s 12T H coNsTIT uTIoNa l coN V eN TIoN —

The new CURC executive, elected at the convention. From left to right:

Janice Gairey Maureen King

Pat Kerwin Louisette Hinton

Doug MacPherson Lucienne Bahuaud

Len Hope

Above and right: Delegates from across

Canada debated urgent seniors’

issues at the CURC convention in June.

CURC’s convention in pictures

77

CURC’s 12th Constitutional Conven tion was held in Port Elgin, June 24–26. Almost a hundred delegates debated issues of concern to seniors and retirees. Here are some of the highlights of the gathering in pictures, with thanks to photographers Brian Ginty and Arnie DeVaan.

— cuRc’s 12T H coNsTIT uTIoNa l coN V eN TIoN —

Above: CURC Vice-President Len Hope (left) thanks Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff for his remarks to the convention.

Left: Erin Harrison, CLC Ontario Region Director, conducting the elections.

Right: Metis elder Roland Saint Germain gave

the opening blessing

Right: Unifor economist Jim Stanford discussed the myths and realities

for former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s regime.

Left: Juliene Dionne of SOAR (the Steelworkers’ retirees) in Sudbury leads the convention in singing the national anthem.

CLC’s National Representative of Young Workers, Amy Huziak, works with young people across the coun-try and from all walks of life. She used her personal experience to bring to the CURC Convention her perspective on inter-generational solidarity in the la-bour movement. She noted that young workers face difficult times because of downward pressure on wages, inac-cessibility of education and feelings of personal blame for job loss.

She said that workers must counter thinking such as “all workers for them-selves” and “young versus old” etc. She said the response should be: “It will get better when we as workers exercise our collective power to push back against the negative forces we encounter daily.”

Among the immense challenges for the young is the one-third of young Canadians who are unemployed or significantly un-deremployed. Jobs held by young people tend to be in low-paid or non-unionized retail and service sectors which she de-scribed as “precarious and vulnerable to exploitation.” Not only do young work-ers face job issues but their situation also holds back the ability of unions to identify and train union activists.

Huziak identified a second challenge for young workers – imagining an al-ternative vision to the present. This is a political challenge – brought on by ten years of the Harper government – that is pro-corporate, anti-worker and right wing. It opposes public services and a progressive vision. Young people have no experience of governments which help people so they assume that the system is broken. One result is voter ap-athy as only one-third of youth voted in

the 2011 federal election and in general there is a huge disengagement from the political process.

She pointed to societal change brought about by past generations of young people including civil rights, sec-ond-wave feminism and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Now such posi-tive social changes are largely unseen and today’s youth face dismantled pub-lic services, crumbling health care and a loss of privacy along with the militariza-tion of the state (especially after 9/11).

Huziak said intergenerational solidar-ity can work together across generations and class experiences. With such coop-eration, young workers would not face a mountain of student debt and a lack of public services and seniors an inad-equate CPP/QPP. Future generations

would not be held back by two-tier la-bour contracts and suffer problems with the environment and climate change.

Huziak described these positive de-velopments as a “hard project” but contrasted her advocacy with the set-backs that could occur as the baby boom generation retires. She concluded with three “asks” to the delegates:• Find young workers who are already

making changes and help and sup-port them inside your union and elsewhere

• Help young workers imagine the pos-sible by passing on storied of strategy and tactics for change from your la-bour experience

• Localize the issues by asking them what they care about. Then meet them where they are.

9

Working with the next generation

— cuRc’s 12T H coNsTIT uTIoNa l coN V eN TIoN —

CLC National Representative of Young Workers Amy Huziak told convention delegates that young Canadians are faced with a set of unique and serious challenges.

Benefits for Retirees!

Dear cuRc member:

one of the many benefits of cuRc membership gives you the option of building your own

Benefit Plan after retirement, when your former group insurance coverage has terminated or

been severely cut back.

Thanks to the cuRc member Retiree Benefit Plan you, your brothers and sisters can continue

coverage, after employer/union sponsored plans terminate. The cuRc Retiree Benefit Plan

allows you to fill the gaps in your insurance coverage, select the coverage you need and want at

an affordable cost, from any or all of the following benefits:

•LIFEINSURANCE

•EXTENDEDHEALTHANDDENTALCARE

(personal health insurance premiums are a tax deductible expense)

•EMERGENCYMEDICALTRAVELINSURANCE

CanadianBenefitsConsultingGroupisthePlanAdministratorfortheCURCMemberRetiree

Benefit Plan. We are in the business of providing employee Benefits and consulting services

to members of the union movement across canada, and we are honoured to be able to assist

cuRc members in obtaining the insurance coverage they need.

Please contact us at the numbers noted below to find out more, order your information package

and arrange for a presentation about the benefit plan.

It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to serve you.

anne spencer

cuRc Benefit Plan consultant

416-488-7755, ext. 252

Toll-free: 1-800-268-0285, ext. 252

e-mail: curc@canben.com

11

CURC joins in celebration of UN Day of Older Persons

In 1990, the UN declared October 1 to be the International Day of Older Persons. The following year the UN ad-opted the Principles for Older Persons.

In collaboration with over 50 na-tional and regional senior organizations, CURC made a special effort to mark the 25th anniversary of this day. Events took place from Cape Breton to Vancouver and many places in between. Because October 1 fell in the middle of a federal election campaign, the organizations agreed to raise four basic issue areas that were of concern for seniors: pensions, health care, housing and economic in-equality.

The Convention of the National Pensioners Federations (NPF) was held in Ottawa to coincide with the date. Delegates from this convention joined local Ottawa seniors on Parliament

Hill. Herb John, President of NPF, gave the opening remarks in English and Lucienne Bahuaud, Treasurer of CURC, gave them in French. Pat Kerwin, President of CURC, addressed the concerns around pensions includ-ing improving the CPP. Melissa Newitt of the Canadian Health Coalition spoke to the concerns around health and a national pharmacare program. John Anderson, President of the Canadian Alliance of United Seniors, addressed the need for the federal government to again play a role in meeting the hous-ing needs of all Canadians. Angella MacEwan, CLC senior economist, outlined concerns around the growing inequality in Canada and the negative impact that this has.

The group developed a common flag to raise at city hall. In Prince Albert,

Saskatchewan, after they raised the flag they took cake to several long-term care homes to celebrate the day with resi-dents. About 200 people filled Hamilton City’s Council Chambers to celebrate the day. In Vancouver, the Council of Senior Citizens Organization of BC ar-ranged for a proclamation of the day.

In Manitoba, over 1,000 people turned out for a Manitoba Seniors and Elders Day on October 2. There were several entertainers who had the seniors danc-ing and having fun. Two exercise breaks featured ALCO-MB members leading exercises tailored to all seniors, whether mobile or not. More events can be found on the CURC website.

CURC has decided to continue its col-laboration with other seniors groups to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons in future years.

— acRoss ca Na Da —

Coast-to-coast action on October 1CURC members participated in activities from coast to coast to mark the UN’s Day of Older Persons. Clockwise from top, members in Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, Windsor, Regina and Vancouver were among those who participated.

— acRoss ca Na Da —

CURC shows solidarity at Truth and Reconciliation march

Hamilton retirees honoured

CURC was there to support Canada’s first nations when thousands walked in Ottawa last March to mark the imminent release of the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s report on residential schools. Above left: Kevin Hayes, President of Ottawa Area Council of CURC; Cathy Matthews, CLC Executive Vice-President Donald Lafleur, CURC President Pat Kerwin and CLC Acting National Director (Anti-Racism and Human Rights Department) David Onyalo.

At its conventions, the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada recognizes one retiree who has made an outstanding contribution to the labour movement and retirees in particular. This year in Port Elgin, Malcolm Buchanan received the CURC Award for his outstanding contributions to retirees, including in his role as President of the Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville Area Council of CURC. He has championed the in-terests of working people from the picket lines at US Steel to the Council Chambers of Hamilton. He has been an active member of the trade union move-ment for over 40 years and is a former provincial president and general secre-tary of the Ontario Secondary Teachers’ Federation. Malcolm has been an active member of the New Democratic Party, federal and provincial, since 1972.

The loss of home delivery for seniors

was an issue that raised many concerns. Henry Evans-Tenbrinke put both his body and soul in front of Canada’s plans to eliminate this service. In recogni-tion of his efforts, the Hamilton and District Labour Council made him the Retiree of the Year. The Award was given in recognition of Henry’s endeavours in opposing the installation of Community Mailboxes by camping out on a com-munity mailbox (CMB) pad, along with his dog Albert, during the summer of 2015, thereby denying the installation of CMBs along Brucedale Avenue in Hamilton.

The one-man (and dog) protest served as a model for other activists across Ontario and Canada highlighting citi-zen anger about the termination of home mail delivery. Henry’s protest led to local, provincial, national and international media coverage.

Above: Malcolm Buchanan receives the CURC Award from CURC VP Doug MacPherson.

Below: Henry Evans-Tenbrinke and Buchanan.

12

— acRoss ca Na Da —

Longtime CURC activist Art Kube receives Order of Canada

Solidarity with teachers

McGarry honoured for years of service to CURC

Art Kube received the order of Canada in recognition of his many years of advocating for working people and seniors. Art was first a Steelworker, worked for CLC in a variety of capacities and then became president of BC Federation of Labour. In his retirement, Art has been president of both the BC Council of Senior Citizens Organization and the National Pensioners Federation.

Bob McGarry, who had assisted CURC since its founding days when he was an assistant to Dick Martin and then as CURC Secretary in his retirement, has stepped down to spend more time with his wife. At its December meeting, the CURC executive held a reception to thank Bob for his contribution to building CURC. Above: members of the executive toast McGarry.

Right: McGarry with CURC VP Doug MacPherson.

On April 29, members of the Executive of the South Central Area Council of CURC and National President Pat Kerwin walked the picket line with OSSTF District 13 members who were on strike for a decent agreement that improves the education of students.

13

Retirees take on target benefit plans

—T HEFIGH TFORPENSIONS—

Before the federal election, the federal government was planning to present legislation that could allow Crown corporations and federally regulated em-ployers to reduce benefits and eliminate indexation for pensioners after they have retired. These plans, called Target Benefit Pension or Shared Risk Pension plans, are often seen as a middle ground between defined benefit plans, which offer a guar-anteed pension, and defined contribution plans, which provide a lump sum amount based on investments.

Target Benefit Plans provide targets; their pensions depend on plan per-formance. Unfortunately, this means benefits may be reduced and indexation can be limited. These moves are part of a larger trend. Governments and private sector employers are seeking to open up pre-existing pension agreements in an effort to reduce the pensions for current (and future) retirees.

These plans have been introduced in some provinces, such as New Brunswick, where they were applied to current work-ers and retirees. In Quebec, Bill 3 all but eliminated automatic indexation for

municipal workers (removed for current employees and suspended for retirees).

That’s not what was promised to retirees. A deal is a deal. Pensions are deferred com-pensation, and it isn’t fair to change the rules – especially after someone has retired.

In response, the National Association of Federal Retirees brought together in the Canadian Coalition for Retirement Security, a collaboration of more than 23 organizations working together to make sure Canada’s employers honour the pension promises made to retirees and current employees.

During the 2015 federal election, the Coalition came together, took part in 26 all-candidates debates across the country and invited Canadians to sign a petition on their website (www.honouryour-promise.com), among other advocacy activities. The response was strong, with thousands participating in the debates and over 20,000 signatures on the Coalition’s petition.

The Trudeau government has as yet not announced its plans for target benefit plans. On the campaign trail, Trudeau said that while he continues “to believe that while

(target benefit plans) may make sense in certain circumstances, any changes to ex-isting defined benefit pensions should be made on a going forward basis.” This gives us some indication as to his government’s plans, but we are watchful and only hope-fully optimistic: his new Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, has been a staunch advocate in support of target benefit plans.

The Coalition has penned a letter invit-ing the new prime minister to meet with its leaders to convince him of the impor-tance of protecting accrued pensions and benefits of both active and retired mem-bers of defined benefit pension plans.

The Canadian Coalition for Retirement includes 22 organizations representing pensioners, from RCMP and Armed Forces retirees to the Canadian Labour Congress.

The Congress of Union Retirees con-tinues its support of the Coalition, which is monitoring developments at both the federal and provincial level.

You can sign the pledge and opt in for updates online at www.honouryour-promise.ca – it only takes moments to add your voice to Honour Your Promise!

CURC members and their families can now take advantage of a 10% dis-count on funeral services through a network of 1,800 funeral, cremation and cemetery providers in Canada and the United States.

The service is offered thanks to an agreement between CURC and the Dignity Memorial® network.

Arrangements can be made in advance or at the time of death. If you arrange your service in advance, you are guaran-teed today’s price and you have the option of using a provider in different location should you move. This also applies to low-cost return-of-remains service if you spend time out of the country.

Free grief counselling is also available to family members for the year following a death.

There is no cost to use the service and no need to register. You may use the benefits in advance – to plan your own service or help a family member make their final arrangements -- or at the time of need, such as an unexpected death.

Benefits include:• 10% savings on all funeral or cre-

mation products and services (not available in all provinces).

• TransferabilityacrossCanadaandtheUS on prearranged services at no addi-tional charge at any Dignity Memorial provider.

•One year unlimited access to the24-Hour Compassion Helpline®, a telephone grief support program staffed with trained counselors.

• Access to the Dignity MemorialBereavement Travel Program. Travel experts will help your family and friends with their travel needs so they can attend the service.A local Dignity Memorial provider

can help you get started making arrange-ments for yourself or a loved one. You can get a Personal Planning Guide at a local Dignity Memorial location.

To find a Dignity Memorial provider near you, call 1-800-344-6489 or visit www.DignityMemorial.com.

Funeral Costs: CURC members now eligible for special discount

15

CURC endorses doctors’ stand on need for seniors’ health strategy

CURC endorsed the call for a National Seniors’ Strategy by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) at its December Executive meeting. Individual Canadians can sign on in support of this initiative by signing onto Demand A Plan (www.cma.ca/En/Pages/demand-a-plan.aspx).

Dr Frank Molnar, a specialist in Geriatric Medicine and Vice-President of the Canadian Geriatrics Society (www.canadiangeriatrics.ca), said we need to move from an illness model of health care to one that focuses on wellness.

He said health care system was built around acute care hospitals. We have a “universal hospital care system,” not a true health care system that would include universal pharmacare and enhanced universal homecare, he said.

We need to “dehospitalize” the

system by creating a community care system, he said. We do not currently have a community care system, he said, but separate islands of care that rarely communicate and coordinate their efforts. This is contributing to avoidable hospitalizations and hospital bed gridlock, wasting millions of dollars that could be better invested.

Four pillars are key to the shift from a hospital-hospital-based system to community care:

1. Health Literacy: resources to allow seniors to learn how to better manage their illnesses or their family members’ illnesses;

2. Primary care: family doctors, nurse practitioners and their teams;

3. Specialist care for complex medical issues and to avoid hospitalizations; and

4. Enhanced home care, linked to primary care and specialist care.

— seNIoRs’ H ea lT H —

Become a member of CURCYou can join CURC either through your union or as an individual. Please fill out this coupon and send it to:

Congress of Union Retirees of Canada2841 Riverside DriveOttawa, ON K1V 8X7

Your name: ______________________________________________________

Spouse’s name (if applicable): _________________________________________

Former/Present union membership: ____________________________________

Street: ________________________________________ Apt./Suite: _________

City: ________________________ Prov.: _____ Postal Code: _____________

Phone: ______________________ Email: _____________________________

New Renewal

Eligibility: Individual union retirees, spouses of union retirees and current union members over 50 years of age. Please don’t forget to include your cheque.

Postcards like this were part of the Canadian Medical Association’s effort to publicize the need for a national seniors’ health strategy.