Municipal Pension Retirees' Association

Office of the Seniors Advocate February Newsletter

New Seniors Advocate

Click the link to see the latest edition.   2024_01_OSAUpdate.pdf

New Report from the Office of the Seniors Advocate: Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory - Information and Reports 

Monitoring Senior Services 

Click on the link below to learn more about the Canadian Dental Care Plan:

*New* Canadian Dental Care Plan

Office of the Seniors Advocate - December 2023  

Scams and fraud attempts are particularly common over the holiday season as fraudsters take advantage of increased activity, stress, distraction and generosity. Take extra care when shopping online, making travel arrangements and donating to charities. Find a comprehensive list of the most common holiday scams compiled by Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Click the link    Have a cyber-safe holiday

After an exhaustive nationwide search, it is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Chelsea Kittleson as executive director of the Municipal Pension Plan effective November 15, 2023. She succeeds Judy Payne, who is retiring after serving as executive director since 2014.

Chelsea emerged as the outstanding candidate following a comprehensive selection process led by Boyden Global Executive Search. We are impressed by her qualifications and track record.

She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, and we are confident that her expertise and dedication will greatly contribute to the success of our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, positioning the Municipal Pension Plan for continued growth and stability.

About Chelsea Kittleson

With 25 years of finance, capital markets and public sector pension industry experience, Chelsea has a deep understanding of the complexities of managing a defined benefit, multi-employer pension plan.

Her most recent role was director, client relations, with British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI). Prior to joining BCI, she worked in the capital markets, including as director at CIBC World Markets, and led financing and investor relations at British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.

Chelsea has a Bachelor of Commerce and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. She recently completed her MBA at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Thank you to Judy Payne

We thank our outgoing executive director, Judy Payne, for her invaluable contributions over the years. Most notably, Judy supported the board with progressive initiatives such as plan redesign, orchestrated a stronger support network for the board and facilitated the implementation of a robust strategic planning and risk management framework. Judy has dedicated much energy to ensure the board is focused and aligned to our vision. She is a passionate, thoughtful, respectful, ambitious and dedicated leader, and we cannot thank her enough for her service.

2022/23 Annual Report

Welcome to our latest Annual Report

We gained momentum in 2022/23, the second year of our strategic plan, Plan 20|30. We experienced tangible benefits from our focus on operational excellence to deliver more services than ever before. We deepened our culture of connection and collaboration, and sharpened our focus on the future. Delve into our report to learn how we’re pursuing our aspirations and creating peace of mind for all those we serve.

BIENNIAL CONVENTION

The 2021 Biennial Convention, this year via Zoom, was convened May 12&13. There are many to thank for the success of this event, but none more than the 84 delegates themselves. With most attending at least one group training session, and many requiring one on one instruction from Bob Emery or Lawrence Eddy, delegates arrived practiced in how to utilize their mute/unmute, electronic hand, and chat features on whichever device they were using. Voting with polling procedures, and entering breakout rooms was easily done. Thanks to all for your patience, diligence and participation. Business of the convention was routine in nature with the President's Report, Financial Report, Vice Presidents and Committee Reports being presented and accepted. Twenty-five (25) Special Resolutions and Three (3) Resolutions were presented to the delegates and voted upon, and elections for all executive positions were held.

Special Resolutions of Note:

1. Effective January 1, 2022 annual dues shall be $22.00 per member and $40.00 per couple.
2. New members who receive a MPP Pension will be offered a free membership for the calendar year in which they apply effective May 14. These members must provide their PID number for automatic Dues Deduction in the following year. (this is not retroactive).
3. Quorum for district meetings will now be 8 members or 4% of the district membership, whichever is greater and have member representation in addition to the District Executive.

Two resolutions were adopted 

1.     Resolution #1 – Long Term Care and Assisted Living Homes: standard of care

Therefore, be it resolved that the MPRA campaign 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-term care facilities.

Be it further resolved to ensure that this standard of care is consistent throughout all for profit, not for profit, union, non-union, assisted living and long-term care facilities.

2.     Resolution #2 – Long Term Care and Assisted Living Homes – standard of staffing

Therefore, be it resolved that the MPRA campaign the Government of the Province of British Columbia to enact legislation to ensure that single-site staffing continues for evermore in all profit and not for profit, union and non-union long-term care and assisted living facilities within the Province of British Columbia.

Be it further resolved that all employees of long-term care and assisted living facilities earn a livable wage with full benefit packages.

The Board will be voicing your concerns to the Provincial Government, and we encourage districts and individual members to do the same.