ACER-CART Report 36 RTAM Annual General Meeting November 19th, 2025 th
2025 ACER-CART Western Regional Meeting – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan RTAM was proud to support our members by attending the ACER-CART Western Regional Meeting in Saskatchewan this past June. Every two years ACER-CART has an in-person AGM meeting. And in the other years, ACER-CART holds a virtual AGM meeting along with in-person regional meetings. The Western Regional Meeting was an informative meeting and allowed the RTAM President, Vice-President, and Executive Director to continue work towards sharing amongst western provinces as well as collaborate with some common projects. It was good to meet counterparts and leaders from other western provinces. One of the biggest problems all western provinces face is the continuous and ongoing threat of the Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTOERO). In Manitoba, legislation has confirmed that RTAM is the official organization representing retired teachers in Manitoba. With regards to ACER-CART, the 2026 ACER-CART AGM will be held in Vancouver. A bid process has begun for RTAM to host the in-person ACERCART AGM in Winnipeg in 2028 as well as the in-person Western Regional Meeting in 2027. RTAM supported ACER-CART in sending an open letter to RTOERO Retired educators from all the other provinces and territories are concerned, because RTOERO’s current corporate strategic focus is to supplant our provincial organizations which will cost each province their members, their funding and eventually their existence if left unchecked. ACER-CART views this as a threat to their organization and all provincial organizations, which is why they are promoting a campaign of awareness. RTAM shared this open letter on our social media platforms, our website and our newsletter. As a side, RTOERO is changing their name to Entente Education Canada. Interestingly, their new title does not even contain the word ‘Ontario’. ACER-CART Advocacy RTAM supported ACER-CART in submissions to the Federal Government to make changes to the national Pharmacare and Dental care programs so they are more inclusive of retired teachers across the nation. RTAM also supports ACER-CART’s communication to the federal government to reinstate a dedicated full-time Minister of Seniors to give a strong and committed voice in the cabinet to address critical issues unique to retirees, such as health care, financial security, long-term care, and the fight against ageism. ACER-CART has ended their relationship with the software, New Mode, as it was an ineffective tool to communicate with elected officials.