A brief history of Bill 208

Sprint to the finish line: A brief history of Bill 208

Submitted by Bill Cann, RTAM Past President

Bill 208 Third Reading on November 1, 2022, at the Legislative Building.

The story starts during the first decade of this century. In 2010 and in every succeeding year, members of the RTAM Board of Directors met with the leaders of Manitoba’s three major political parties and The Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) to make a case for having one of the seven seats on the Teachers’ Retirement Allowances Fund Board (TRAF). Excepting promises from the Official Opposition parties, little progress was made until 2021. The major stumbling blocking was always the same. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the Government would be supportive if RTAM was not given one of their respective seats.

The evolution of Bill 208 is a complex story, bringing together a number of separate pieces, much like completing a jigsaw puzzle. Each spring, RTAM initiates meetings with the Minister of Education and the leaders of the other two provincial political parties to advocate for issues important to retired teachers. The first break occurred during an April 21, 2021, Zoom meeting of the RTAM Executive with Liberal MLAs Dougald Lamont, Cindy Lamoureux and John Gerrard. MLA Lamoureux suggested that RTAM’s desire for a seat on the TRAF Board could be addressed in a Private Member’s Bill which she would sponsor. This was the first time an MLA proposed an action plan to take this issue to the floor of the Manitoba Legislature. Thereafter, RTAM approached our national organization (ACER-CART) to research which provinces had retired teacher representation on their respective teacher pension boards.

By late August 2021, the RTAM Executive and Political Advocacy Committee developed a document outlining RTAM’s Five Critical Political Asks (Five Asks). During September and October communications continued with Cindy Lamoureux’s staff and the Legislative Legal Counsel. By recommending that two seats be added to the TRAF Board, one for RTAM and one for the Government, the balance problem of the past years was solved. This new concept became the essence of the draft for Bill 208.

In April, the RTAM Board hired a new Executive Director, Sean Seywright, and increased our two office staff members, Denise Bellesia and Dianne Casar, to full time employment. On May 04, the RTAM Annual General Meeting elected a new President, Linda Blair, a new Executive, and a new Board of Directors. These individuals would steer the RTAM ship throughout the rest of the journey.

Prior to the October 2021 Federal election, RTAM made a significant financial donation to assist ACER-CART’s advocacy for national pharma care and seniors’ programs. This donation was used to purchase the New Mode software program which facilitated an electronic letter writing campaign to the candidates in every federal riding across Canada.

On December 02,2021 Manitoba Liberal MLA for Tyndall Park, Cindy Lamoureux, introduced a bill in the Manitoba Legislature that would bring the voice of retired teachers to the Teachers Retirement Allowance Fund Board (TRAF). This was followed by RTAM issuing a press release to media outlets and to the leaders of all three political parties supporting Bill 208. Thereafter, the Five Asks document was sent by registered letter to the new premier, Heather Stefanson and RTAM successfully negotiated MTS support for Bill 208.

During the first three months of the new year, RTAM Directors worked tirelessly to mobilize our 10,000 members to participate in effective political advocacy. RTAM’s Social Media Chair, Paul Harland, teamed up with ACER-CART President Gerry Teide to modify the New Mode software to initiate an electronic letter writing campaign to local Manitoba MLAs. The RTAM Board approved a motion to engage a professional lobby firm, Prairie Sky Strategy, to develop more effective actions to achieve our political and pension goals. Michael Juce, Vice President of Prairie Sky Strategy began providing valuable guidance which dramatically changed RTAM’s political advocacy approach. The RTAM Executive arranged meetings with Wayne Ewasko, the newly appointed Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning and Nello Altomare, the New Democratic Party (NDP) Education Critic. Communications also continued with Cindy Lamoureux’s staff concerning RTAM advocacy plans and gallery support during the Second Reading of Bill 208. RTAM Treasurer, Pat Bowslaugh, deserves special mention for her personal lobbying behind the scenes with local Brandon MLAs and the Minister of Education. On March 03, 2022, RTAM launched its new political advocacy campaign. Emails were sent to over 7000 RTAM members encouraging them to use the New Mode software to send an electronic letter to their local MLA supporting Bill 208. A paper copy of the spring issue of KIT magazine along with a covering letter from the RTAM President was couriered to each MLA at the Legislature. These efforts were intended to educate MLAs, RTAM members and the media about our Five Requests for Action.

In April, the RTAM Board hired a new Executive Director, Sean Seywright, and increased our two office staff members, Denise Bellesia and Dianne Casar, to full time employment. On May 04, the RTAM Annual General Meeting elected a new President, Linda Blair, a new Executive, and a new Board of Directors. These individuals would steer the RTAM ship throughout the rest of the journey.

On May 10, the stars aligned in the Manitoba legislature! Despite most political pundits predicting that Private Members Bill 208 had little chance of succeeding, it passed Second Reading unanimously. Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux successfully negotiated non-partisan support with Progressive Conservative and New Democratic MLAs. RTAM Executive members were in the gallery to celebrate this joyful moment and to participate in the photo ops in the Legislature’s Rotunda.

The next steps seem like a blur. Preparations were made to register and make written or oral submissions at the Committee Hearings scheduled for October 5th. MTS President James Bedford and former RTAM Board Secretary John Sushelnitsky both made written submissions in support of Bill 208. RTAM President, Linda Blair, made an in person oral presentation. Past President, Bill Cann, and new Pension Committee Chair, David Harkness, made oral presentations by Zoom. The Legislative Hearing Committee approved Bill 208 to proceed for Third Reading without amendment.

On November 01, 2022, Bill 208 unanimously passed Third Reading. In the spirit of non-partisan cooperation, MLA Cindy Lamoureux, Minister of Education Wayne Ewasko and NDP Education Critic Nello Altomare each rose to speak in support of Bill 208. Again, many RTAM Executive members were in the gallery to celebrate this joyful moment and to participate in the photo ops in the Legislature’s Rotunda. RTAM wishes to thank Cindy Lamoureux’s staff and the Legislative staff for facilitating gallery attendance during this entire process. Bill 208 received Royal Assent two days later. All that remains is for the Government to proclaim Bill 208 into law.