MPRA History 

History of the Municipal Pension Retirees’ Association

2000

The Municipal Employees Pension Committee (MEPC) directed, by resolution, that Steven Polak and Cliff Ivers 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 healthcare 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, both 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.

2001

The Joint Trust agreement is signed and implemented.

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: 

• 1.    To provide a forum for retirees to have a voice for their concerns and a means to direct these concerns to the pension committee
• 2.    To satisfy the Joint Trust Agreement there is 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

Founding members met on May 22 to review the process so far and plan the objectives for the next four months. This includes identifying the constitution and bylaws, proposing annual dues of $15.00, and preparing the application for the Association under the Society Act as a non-profit organization.

Those persons within districts who previously offered their support to organize a district meeting were contacted to act as coordinators to schedule meetings, contact district members to attend and elect a district executive.

There are no paid expenses, with money from dues helping pay for mailing costs and meeting rooms where needed.

Thirty-nine thousand retirees in BC are receiving a municipal pension.

There are 1775 MPRA members, with a bank balance of $12,422.17 in September.

The first AGM is held at the Executive Inn, Conference Centre in Penticton on Wednesday, September 17^th, 2003. The founding members of the coordinating committee, including Steve and Mary Polak, Cliff Ivers, Keith and Gail Wilson, Gay Burdison, and Wally Gollub attended as voting delegates.

The decision was made for the continuity and development of the MPRA as it had taken the founding committee a year to initiate communication with members, record interest, and establish a provincial base.

The purpose of the association is:

•          To promote the interest and welfare of its members.
•          To communicate to its members the activities of the association and issues of common interest.
•          To provide information to members on programs and benefits.
•          To provide an opportunity for members to meet regularly.
•          Any other purposes as established by the membership.

With 39 districts in the province and 1 for out-of-province members, 42 delegates attend the 2003 AGM to elect a provincial executive, and explore, understand, make corrections, and hear suggestions and comments pertaining to the Constitution and Bylaws. 

Steve Polak is elected the MPRA’s first president. 

Form 3—Society Act Constitution of the MPRA was adopted.

Bylaws of the MPRA, parts 1 through 14 are each adopted.

Motion on Executive Decisions to accept By-Law amendments. Carried.

District Regulations, Articles I through VII are each adopted.

Motion that the “Executive investigate the best travel insurance and home insurance package that could be made available to our membership. Carried.

Motion that directors shall not receive any remuneration of their services to the Association, but a director may be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the director while engaged in the affairs of the Association.      Carried

District memberships range from 11 to 94, consisting of all retirees, union and non-union, receiving a Municipal Pension.

The MPRA Society Act Constitution is Adopted on September 17.

2004

AGM is held at the Ramada INN, Abbotsford, on May 27 with 54 delegates and 9 guests present. A Constitutional amendment to increase the size of the Provincial Directors was approved.

A resolution is passed at the convention to have a membership drive contest. Prizes include a $100 gift certificate to Safeway or Save-On to the member who enrolled the most new members, a catered luncheon to the district with the largest percentage increase in members, and for every five (5) new members enrolled by a member, their name is entered into a draw for a two day stay at a B&B in Sechelt.

A communication committee is established.

2005

The first issue of the Advisor was sent to members in the spring.

A Group Health Benefits Committee was established at the AGM.

A large number of MPRA members attended the October Board of Trustees meeting, filling the auditorium and requiring a second room to be opened. The trustees, realizing that the retirees were upset, committed to consult with all stakeholders.

A meeting was struck, and optimism flowed, but a subsequent letter indicated that most of the 1% was currently being used up. With expenses forecasted to rise, if a group benefits account were initiated, the impact this small account would have on group benefits funding would be negligible.

Terry Erskine is appointed to the MEPAC as a representative of the MPRA.

Terry Erskine conducts a growth seminar.  Planning Strategically for Growth, a seven-question questionnaire is sent to districts.

Total Assets as of December 31 is $28,278.29.

2006

We have nearly 4,000 members, including two new districts—District 26 Powell River and District 34 Sunshine Coast.

District rebates are withheld.

There was much correspondence between the Benefits Committee and Kenneth Baynes, including letters, detailed costs, projections, questions, and answers, which resulted in a refusal to contribute additional funds to save the Post Retirement Group Health Benefits.

•  The MPRA AGM is held at the Days Inn in Surrey on May 17 & 18.
•  Dues increase from $15.00 to $20.00.  Dues for a couple are established at $35.00.
•  Rebates to districts is $5.00 for a couple.

Considerable discussion from the floor over the issue of the loss of our Group Health Benefits, and the Facts and Challenge report of the trustees.

Terry Erskine is elected as the first VP at Large.

Ed Pakos is elected as Region 1, Regional Director.

Kenneth Baynes, Chair of the Board of Trustees, is the guest speaker.

Sixteen resolutions, one of which is a constitutional amendment, are presented.

There is a pilot project with two districts to introduce Johnsons Insurance as an MPRA affiliate.

Total Assets as of December 31 is $35,989.10.

2007

Total membership now reaches 4200 Members.

The annual AGM in Kamloops is held May 16/17.

Four Constitutional/Bylaw amendment resolutions and nine regular resolutions are considered at the AGM.

Addie Derby is elected as the first MPRA Communications Director.

Persons receiving LTD and who will not be returning to their workplace and would qualify for a pension under the MPP, are eligible to apply for membership in the MPRA.  They shall be considered as regular members.

District rebates shall be a minimum rebate of $2.00 per paid member per year. No district shall receive less than $100.00 per year. The rebates shall be for members paying $20.00 per year.

New Members shall only have the dues deduction option for annual dues.

Powell River District #26 becomes aligned with and becomes part of the Vancouver Island Region 01.

The MPRA continues to lobby the various levels of government, city mayors and councils, for an increase of funding of half of one percent of payroll for an account specifically designated for group health benefits. Districts throughout the province are to address their local mayors with this resolution. Members are encouraged to write to their MLA.

No Group Health Benefit coverage for spouses, dependents or survivors. Coverage now costs a retiree and spouse $155.00 per year.

First meeting with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees in December.

MPRA supports the MEPC in their efforts to bargain group health protection for retirees.

A “Duties of Staff Person” and “MPRA Projected Payroll Expenses is drawn by Mary Polak. Four (4) hours a day, three (3) times a week at $15 per hour.

Total assets as of December 31 is $62,681.53

2008

MPRA directors met with the MPP Board of Trustees in Burnaby on April 21 and October 17.

Seventy delegates attended the 6^th AGM in Abbotsford on May 14^th & 15^th. Fourteen resolutions were presented and discussed.

•  One regional director at large is elected this year and every two years hereafter.
• All regional directors now receive copies of the minutes of district meetings for their region.

Members without means are exempt from paying dues.

Delegates completed an 11-part questionnaire, testing their knowledge of the MPP.

Moved to the office on Dobbin Road. Open house on June 10.

Purchased office furniture and two computers with Vista and Microsoft 2007.

Recruited and hired two part-time staff members, providing training to them.

A change to the data base on the web:  Memberclicks.

The Advisor is e-mailed only to members who agree to receive it that way.

The MPRA has 4138 regular members and 1061 spouses, for a total of 5199.

The Pension Corporation deducted annual dues from 2443 members.

The group health benefits committee continues to try and slow down the cuts or stop the continued erosion of benefits. A plan was developed to contact all Mayors and all MLAs to ask for additional funding.

Twelve individual delegates reported on these lobbying efforts at the AGM.

Total assets as of December 31 is $57,889.45.

2009

AGM held May 5 & 6 at the Ramada Inn Abbotsford.

Twenty-four resolutions presented.

Membership campaign goal of a district increase of one-third over the next year.

District 22 (Peachland) had a name change to West Kelowna/Peachland (from Westbank).

A second regional director at large is elected this year, and every two years hereafter.

Member discount committee (rewards program) established.

Communication Committee established. First meeting, chaired by Marie Allen, is held on November 24 in Chilliwack.

Designation “Directors” is changed to “Provincial Executive”.

An Editorial Policy for the Advisor is drafted.

Four members manned a table at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver re support for the elimination of MSP Premiums.

MPRA members reaching 90+ years of age shall be exempt from annual dues.

The MPRA has 4267 regular members and 1103 spouses for a total of 5370.

2010

AGM held on May 4 & 5 in Kelowna.

Fifty-nine resolutions are tabled.  12 are tabled until the next convention.

An eight-point report detailing the activities undertaken by the committee in the past year was received from the Group Health Benefits Committee.

Application to be made to the Society’s Act to hold the Convention every second year.

The MPRA has 4753 regular members,1448 spouses, and 13 associates, for a total of 617 new members after a Johnson Inc sponsorship membership drive.

The provincial government introduced a 35% drop in generic drug prices over the next three years.

Began a plan to advocate for the Provincial Government for the elimination of the MSP premiums for all seniors.

2011

AGM held on May 4 & 5, Tsawwassen.

Thirty-seven resolutions tabled including the 11 brought forward from 2010.

MPRA changed from an annual AGM to an AGM in every odd-numbered year and a general meeting in even-numbered years.

A cap on cost-of-living increases begins in January.

Executive members meet with the Municipal Employees Pension Committee (MEPC), and interest is expressed that they should meet on a regular basis. Other suggestions from this meeting include the MPRA be given a voice at the MEPC with the ability to appoint the retiree trustee and alternate, and pursue contribution increases for group health benefits and the inflation account.

The MPRA has an exhibit at the UBCM Convention in September.

The MPRA continues to advocate for the CPP death benefit from the Federal Government to be raised from $2,500 to $4,000.

District 28 Ridge Meadows, win the Addie Derby Silver Membership Cup.

Gavel Sets, hand crafted by Henry Tomm, were presented to each district.

Lobbying efforts to 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 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.

After a training session, Provincial Executive Advocates visited a variety of Mayors and Councils within UBCM regions, and some MLA’s.

The MPRA has 4906 regular members, 1517 spouses and 17 associates, for a total of 6440.

Steven M. Polak is re-appointed as the Primary Retiree Trustee, and Barbara Sinclair as the Alternate Retiree Trustee, for a three-year term, commencing January 1, 2012.

2012

The first Biennial Reporting meeting is held in Burnaby, May 2.

Implemented “Table Officers’ Workshops”.

Consideration is given to advising districts to use the free online community announcement section of Black Press newspapers as a tool for advertising their meetings, getting it in print for free in their local papers.

Correspondence sent to Prime Minister Harper advocating for a change in the CPP death benefit from $2,500 taxable to $5,000 non-taxable. No response from Government.

District 30, Richmond, wins the Addie Derby Silver Membership Cup, narrowly beating District 13, Langley, by 0.01 of 1 percent.

In correspondence to Premier Christie Clark, the MPRA advocates for Exudative (Wet) Macular Degeneration Aviatan Drug Treatment by an ophthalmologist, and/or retinal subspecialist to be covered by the BC Medical Plan.

Directors will attend MEPAC meetings four (4) times a year.

A COLA cap of 2.1 percent is implemented.

MEPC agrees to two meetings a year with MPRA. One date in the spring (April) and one date in the fall (October), but not with either conventions or meetings.

Resolution from Provincial Directors “that the MPRA be given a seat and voice on the MEPC.”

2013

The Board of Trustees approves a cost-of-living adjustment of 1.2 percent.

The first Biennial Convention and 10^th anniversary celebrations are held in Abbotsford, May 8 & 9, with a meet and greet on the 7^th.

Thirteen resolutions are tabled. Eight are adopted, three are referred back, two are defeated.

Two Emergency resolutions are adopted.

Districts with 200 or more members can now have three delegates to the convention.

Total assets as of December 31, $117,441.21.

5846 regular members and 1915 spouses on December 31.

2014

General Reporting Meeting, May 15 in Cranbrook.

8056 members in the MPRA, with 30 districts throughout the province.

2015

Biennial Convention, May 13 & 14, Abbotsford with 81 delegates attending.

Seven Constitution amendments are tabled. Five are adopted, and two are defeated.

Nine amendments to the MPRA regulations are tabled. One is adopted, six are defeated, and two are referred back to the provincial executive.

Ten resolutions are tabled. Four are adopted, six are defeated.

Regular members: 6634, Spouses: 2227. Total Membership is 8861 on December 31.

2016

Regular members: 7260, Spouses: 2458. Total Membership 9,718 as of December 31.

2017

The Biennial Convention is held May 3 & 4, Abbotsford.

Eighty-three Registered Delegates.

Fifteen Resolutions, two Constitutional Amendments.

Bonnie Pearson replaces Steve Polak as Primary Trustee.

Dental Benefits are no longer subsidized, effective January 1.

COLA of 1.3% effective January 1.

MPRA Executive Board finalized a strategic plan report.

2018

Biennial reporting meeting May 3 in Sidney.

MPRA advocating resulted in a 50 percent reduction in MPP premiums.

The membership has grown to just over 10,000 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 (4) 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.

MPRA conference held September 25^th in Nanaimo.

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

Biennial Reporting meeting scheduled for May in Penticton was cancelled due to Covid 19.

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.

MPRA lobbying results in MPP premiums now removed.

2021

Heather Holmes is hired as Operation Manager. 

The website is updated with a new look and online application is now available.

Social media is introduced, and the automation of business processes begins.

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

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 lots 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 percent 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 meet us on May 9^th and go over in detail the short fall that is affecting all of us.  We ask 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 introduced for ease of signing up new members and accessing the MPRA website. 

A new online app is 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.

2023
Board of Trustees remove the COLA cap effective January 1.

As a result of this MPRA advocacy, with the cap removed, MPP retirees receive a 6.9%COLA increase.

Biennial Convention, and MPRA 20^th anniversary are held at the Clarion Hotel in Abbotsford, BC. May 9 & 10.

31 Resolutions/Special Resolutions.  Four (4) are withdrawn on the floor.
 
A summary of the strategic plan is presented to the delegates.

The District Update is now named Executive Update.

To increase the awareness of the MPRA, letters are sent to many unions throughout the province for a distribution to their members.  CUPEBC sent a copy to all their 65,000 members.

Individual districts are creating their own surveys to their members.

District 07 was renamed from Duncan & District to Cowichan Valley.

Territorial Land Acknowledgements are now provided before each meeting.

2024
Cola Increase of 3.8%.

MPRA begins using Q/R codes.

Biennial Reporting Meeting via zoom on May 16.  104 members, 15 Provincial Executive, and 3 guests in attendance.

Addie Derby award presented to District 31 Saanich/Gulf Islands.  District 28, Ridge Meadows, was a close second.  ½ of 1% behind.

MPRA have information booths at the HEU, and BC Federation of Labour conventions in Vancouver, the +55 Seniors Games in Salmon Arm, and the C.A.R.E. Fair in Sidney.

Total Membership on September 30 is 12,318

2025
Cola increase of 1.6%.

In-person Biennial Convention brings 34 resolutions and all were presented, debated and voted on.

Several new Policies and Procedures were introduced.

A new MPRA President, Gordon Ditchburn, was voted in.

A Strategic Planning session took place, marking the beginning of efforts to advance the association.

2026

Reporting Meeting emphasis placed on the financial health and sustainability of the Strategic Planning and a planned meeting in October for delegates to review and vote on resolutions concerning annual dues.