President's Report

Rosalie Bornn

RTAM President 2017-2018

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Preparation for AGM 2018 is an opportunity for RTAM to look back over the past year and to assess the progress that has been made. Our membership has increased to over 9,700. Our board of directors of 17 members and our part time Executive Director and Membership Services Coordinator worked hard to fulfill the Mission Statement of our organization which is “to serve and advocate for retired teachers.” Here is a snapshot of the past year:

• Our first year of Strategic Plan implementation, with the five pillar goal alignment and success indicators, has provided the structure to link committee project budgets and expenditures to the short and long term direction of the plan. • RTAM’s change in governance direction from a working board to the incorporation of the Executive

Director position has moved forward with increased office staffing added through the member services coordinator position. For the first time, there is consistent coverage for six hours a day, Monday to Friday.

RTAM continues to monitor and assess the alignment of staffing needs to its services provision. • The RTAM Policy Manual underwent a complete review and re-affirmation by the RTAM board, with a concerted attempt to address the change in the governance structure, as well as to clarify the language in the document. • RTAM continues to be a member of the Manitoba Seniors' Coalition which has broadened our advocacy efforts for all seniors in Manitoba. • Our affiliation with the national

ACER-CART organization helps keep us apprised of advocacy efforts for both retired teachers and seniors in general on a national level. • On June 28, 2017, the TRAF Board submitted a proposed regulation to government which upheld the joint

RTAM/MTS agreement to the disbursal of the $27 million that was accumulated over the term of Bill 45 in the Restricted Surplus Fund of the Pension Adjustment Account.

The TRAF proposal provides for the

Restricted Surplus to be distributed over a five-year period commencing

July 1, 2018. We have been informed that the proposal currently rests in the hands of the Treasury Board for final decision and enactment. RTAM continues to monitor progress. • RTAM has been informed by TRAF that the Consumer Price Index for

Canada increased 1.87% during 2017. Accordingly, the July 1, 2018, cost of living adjustment (COLA) is 1.15% to TRAF Pensions. • In January 2018, after a three-month interim trial period, the board passed a motion to restore increased executive function to the officers committee. • By invitation, two RTAM sanctioned representatives continue to serve on the MTS 100th Anniversary

Committee. It is suggested that the

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2018-19 Chapter Initiative Grants could be aligned to focus on the 100th Anniversary of

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. • RTAM sponsored Pre-Retirement Seminars were organized and scheduled for Winnipeg,

Brandon and Thompson. • Board and staff of RTAM participated in a January 16, 2018, Meeting Effectiveness

Workshop facilitated by Volunteer MB. • MTS and RTAM worked collaboratively to develop a joint response to the preliminary recommendations of The Pension Benefits

Act Review prior to the February 21, 2018, submission deadline. • Additional staffing hours were approved for allocation to improve the operation of the

RTAM website. • RTAM requested and received observer status authorization from MTS for RTAM Directors to attend MTS Regional Meetings in Brandon,

Portage la Prairie, Winnipeg and Thompson for the purpose of information sharing on critical matters currently affecting the members of MTS. • As a non-profit organization, RTAM is examining its compliance responsibilities under

The Accessibility for Manitobans Act. • As part of its 2018-19 budget deliberations for the 2018 AGM, RTAM has for consideration at

AGM 2018 an intensive proposal to modernize the RTAM membership list with the added potential to support all aspects of membership data, to renew the RTAM website and to support modern communication strategies. • In February, 2018, RTAM representatives met with the Honourable Ian Wishart, Minister of

Education and Training with a set agenda. At that meeting it was affirmed that: 1. Disbursement of the restricted surplus funds in the Teachers’ Retirement Allowances Fund (TRAF) Pension Adjustment Account. • We were informed that the recommendation submitted by TRAF is currently under review by Treasury Board. Government is working to address a resolution. 2. End of Bill 45: What does Government plan for retired teachers going forward? • Confirmation was received that, at this time, there are no plans to extend the provision for restricting the TRAF Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) implemented in 2008 which has now expired. The calculation of COLA reverts to the provisions in place prior to 2008 as per subsection 10(7) of The Teachers’ Pensions Act. 3. Appointment of an RTAM representative to the TRAF Board. • Minister Wishart indicated that he was open to receiving recommendations regarding future appointments to the TRAF Board from RTAM. RTAM also agreed to undertake an inter-provincial research study regarding teacher pension board composition and share those results with government. 4. The Pension Benefits Act Review: • Minister Wishart was informed that RTAM had collaborated with The Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) in developing a joint RTAM-MTS “Response to the Consultation Paper The Pension Benefits Act Review.” • Discussion regarding the impact of the recommendations of The Pension Benefits Act Review confirmed that the changes would not impact the defined benefits provisions of The Teachers’ Pensions Act. • Furthermore, we were informed that legislative changes to The Teachers’ Pensions Act would be required to change the defined benefits provisions of that Act and that at this time, there is no plan in place to do so. • In March 2018, RTAM met with the leader of the NDP Official Opposition party and the leader of the Liberal party to discuss a similar agenda of concerns. • By invitation of MTS, the RTAM March 21, 2018 board meeting was held