Federal Retirees representatives recently connected with Canada’s seniors minister on Association priorities. (From left: Federal Retirees CEO Anthony Pizzino, president Roy Goodall, vice-president Hélène Nadeau and Seniors Minister Seamus O’Regan).
The National Association of Federal Retirees met recently with Seniors Minister Seamus O’Regan. Association president Roy Goodall, vice-president Hélène Nadeau, CEO Anthony Pizzino and advocacy director Sayward Montague focused on Association priorities including long-term care, as well as member concerns on pensions, the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and dental care.
Minister O’Regan was clear that this government remains committed to moving forward with long-term care standards that are driven by data and collaboration across jurisdictions. “We are serious about long-term care,” said the Minister. “It is a provincial jurisdiction, and yet we feel what we saw in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic is simply not acceptable.”
Goodall noted the importance of including retiree representation on the Public Service Pension Investment Board. In a previous federal budget, the government introduced two new seats on the board for employee representatives.
“Retirees contributed to their pension funds,” noted Goodall. “They have a vested interest in how their pension fund performs and deserve representation when decisions are being made that may affect their retirement security.”
The minister was supportive when the team shared impactful member feedback on the service challenges members have faced during the transition of the PSHCP, and on the need to ensure federal retirees’ dental care needs continue to be met by the Pensioners Dental Services Plan.
The Association congratulated O’Regan and the government on recent announcements on pharmacare and the rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which will soon provide dental coverage to older adults who meet eligibility criteria. The Association recently worked with Health Canada officials to clarify that people who opted out of a private plan prior to the announcement of the CDCP in December 2023 may still be eligible for the national dental care plan if they meet other eligibility criteria.
The meeting set the table for a positive relationship between Federal Retirees and Minister O’Regan, who is looking forward to connecting with older persons across Canada.