Municipal Pension Retirees' Association

2000

The Municipal Employees Pension Committee (MEPC) directed by resolution that Steven Polak and Cliff Evers organize the Municipal Pensioners into a retiree’s group, and thus the MPRA is formed.

Our members come from the following sectors – local and regional governments, hospital and health care facilities, colleges and school districts, police and fire departments, and several others.  The impetus and funding for establishing an Association comes from the MEPC. 

Without an Association there would not be an opportunity for retirees (union and exempt) to have input to the municipal Pension Board of Trustees regarding their pension.  The MPRA advocates on behalf of the Municipal Pension Plan retirees regarding their pension, benefits, and other concerns.

2002

In the fall of 2002, the Municipal Employees Pension Committee (MEPC) mandates the creation of a retirees’ association.

The reason for the creation of a retirees’ association is twofold:  The first is to provide a forum for retirees to have a voice for their concerns and a means to direct these concerns to the pension committee; and secondly to satisfy the Joint Trust Agreement that there be a mechanism to nominate and appoint a retiree trustee and alternate trustee to the Board.

The Municipal Pension Retirees’ Association (MPRA) starts with six (6) founding members:

            Gay Burdison

            Wally Gollub

            Cliff Ivers

            Mary Polak

            Steven Polak

            Keith Wilson

2003

The first AGM is held at the Executive Inn, Conference Centre in Penticton on Wednesday September 17^th, 2003.  The MPRA is registered under the Societies Act.

The purpose of the association is:

• 1)    To promote the interest and welfare of its members
• 2)    To communicate to its members on the activities of the association and issues of common interest
• 3)    To provide an opportunity for members to meet regularly
• 4)    And such other purposes as established by the membership

The purpose of the first AGM is to explore, understand, make corrections, hear suggestions and comments pertaining to the Constitution and Bylaws, and elect a Provincial Executive.  The MPRA has approximately 1300 members with 42 delegates at this meeting.   There are 39 districts in the province and another district for out of province members.  District membership range from 11 to 94, consisting of all retirees, union and non-union, receiving a Municipal Pension.  Membership dues are $15.00 per year.  There are no paid expenses with money from dues helping to pay for mailing and some meeting rooms where needed.

2011

Through lobbying efforts with the Provincial Government, the MPRA is acknowledged as one of the parties that influenced the Government to make the agreement on generic drugs.  We are also successful in submitting and passing a resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to lobby the Provincial Government to eliminate MSP premiums for all seniors in the province.

2018

The membership has grown to just over 10,00 members and the number of Municipal Pension members has grown to approximately 375,000 active, inactive, and retired members, and their employers.  The goal of the MPRA is to achieve a membership of 20,000, numbers that would fairly represent retirees.

Our province is divided into six (6) regions with a total of 34 Districts that hold four meetings per year.  The provincial office is in West Kelowna and employs two part-time staff.  The provincial executive consists of sixteen (16) volunteer members including our President.  Volunteer members also fill the executive positions at the district level.

2019

Our strength is our membership.  To succeed in meeting our goals we must all work together.  We must get involved.  It is important to attend meetings, there are only four (4) each year.  On many occasions districts have guest speakers on a range of topics that we enjoy.  This is also a time to speak with others, share ideas and participate in discussions and decisions.

We are all volunteers who continue to work to strengthen our organization by introducing potential members to the MPRA, signing up new members, greeting members as they arrive at the meeting, giving someone a ride, being on a phoning or membership committee and letting our name stand for an executive position.  We must support our executives, district and provincial.  We must grow our membership.

Membership dues have only increased by $5.00 to $20.00 annually since inception.  We have to date over ten thousand (10,000) members.  Our purpose has not changed.  All retirees who are collecting a BC municipal pension are urged to consider a membership.

Four resolutions passed at the 2019 Biennial Convention:

Resolution 13:  Work with other organizations to encourage federal election candidates to commit to passing a national Pharmacare Program.

            (Actioned and completed)

Resolution 15:  Regular Eye Examinations – Advocate for full coverage of regular eye examinations

            (Actioned and completed)

Resolution 20:  Drivers’ Medical Examination Report – Consult and co-ordinate with fellow stakeholders that this indiscriminate cost be regulated and covered by Provincial Health Care.

            (Actioned and completed)

Resolution 26:  Hearing Aids – Pursue with the Provincial and Federal Governments to create laws to reduce the cost of hearing aids and maintenance.

2020

There are many changes within the Provincial Executive this year with the retirement of Mary and Steve Polak.  Terry Erskine (previously 1^st vice-president) steps up to the President position on September 16, 2020.

Covid puts a stop to in person meetings making membership growth a challenge.  Zoom is introduced and we persevere during these difficult times.

2021

Heather Holmes is hired as Operation Manager.  Heather has a strong background in technology, business, and marketing.  Previously employed at the local Chamber of Commerce, she has many years of experience as a business owner herself.  The website is updated with a new look and online application is now available.  Social Media is introduced, and the automation of business processes begin.

The MPRA campaigned to the Government of the Province of British Columbia to enact legislation to ensure that there is an improved level of standard of care within all assisted living homes and long-erm care facilities.  To ensure that this standard of care is consistent throughout all for profit, not for profit, union, and non-union, assisted living a long-term care facility.

2022

Dues are now free for the calendar year in which you apply.  Annual dues are $22.00 per member and $40.00 per couple, increasing $7.00 since inception.  To date we have over 11,000 members.  Our purpose has not changed, and it remains a worthwhile organization with looks of value for our members.

The cost of living rose significantly, having an impact on all retirees.  The last pension increase was limited to the set 2.1% cap, well below the cost-of-living increase.  This highlights the catastrophic difference between the established cap and the Consumer Price Index.  President Terry Erskine spends a great deal of time talking with the Trustees in the plan.  Chair Hilary Brown and Vice Chair Gary Yee of the Municipal Pension Plan Board of Trustees met us on May 9^th and go over in detail the short fall that is affecting all of us.  We asked that they discuss the problem with the actuary who is in the process of completing a three-year actuarial review, and request that the Board of Trustees give this matter paramount consideration.

A membership survey is completed in February, and a Strategic Planning session is held in May.  QR codes are introduce for ease of signing up new members and accessing the MPRA website.  A new online app is also introduced for online membership cares and access to the events calendar.

The membership drive starts using digital marketing, and the winter advisor comes out with a new refreshed look.  The MPRA logo is revitalized as well.

We look forward to the 2023 MPRA 20^th anniversary to be held at the 2023 Biennial Convention in May.