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Joe Santone
Committees
Political Advocacy
Larry Rendall
The year 2009 saw this committee continue to monitor LHIN activities with respect to its effectiveness in delivering health services to the Niagara area, especially with regard to the impact to seniors.
We are concerned with the impact centralizing specific health treatment will have on the ability of our members to access needed care if they happen to live some distance from the facility which delivers this care. The matter of effective transportation initiatives plays a big part in how effective health care delivery will be.
Additionally, we see the slow process of building new hospitals and other facilities as a major detriment to our members and other citizens of Niagara. The impact on local individual taxes still needs to be addressed.
The proposed Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is not, in our view, revenue neutral and we have, and continue to lobby for reconsideration of a measure which will have a negative impact on, not only retirees, but on attempts to revive the economy as well.
This committee welcomes viewpoints and concerns from all of our members. We will be reviewing our activities and setting priorities soon; now is your chance to make your voice heard.
Health Services
Joe Santone
In June, 2009, the Provincial Office provided a Seminar for District Health Service Representatives. District 14 was represented by Fred Sullivan. A revised manual was provided for all Districts.
A number of changes to our Health Plan were introduced in January of this year. Members may avail themselves of a new method of filing health claims via email with direct deposit. These changes have been presented to the membership in previous Newsletters.
Changes to the Health Plan that were brought forth at the Provincial Annual Meeting in November are discussed in the current issue of the Grapevine.Pension Issues
Ellen McIntee
There is no currentPension Issues report.
June 23rd Communiqué
Talks between the O.T.F. (Ontario Teachers Federation) and the Ontario Government resulted in agreement for the long term funding for the O.T.T.P. (Ontario Teachers Pension Plan).
CONTACTING YOUR MP or MPP
When writing to a Member of Parliament or a Member of Provincial Parliament, it is important to remember to write ONLY to the member who represents your riding. Letters from outside that area are not considered.
Constituency office addresses and phone numbers can be found in the “Blue Pages” of your local telephone book.
WHO REPRESENTS YOU
Members of Parliament
ROB NICHOLSON.....................................Niagara Falls
DEAN ALLISON.........................................Niagara West-Glanbrook
RICK DYKSTRA.........................................St. Catharines
JOHN MALONEY........................................Welland
Members of Provincial Parliament
TIM HUDAK.................................................Erie-Lincoln
PETER KORMOS..........................................Niagara Center
KIM CRAITOR..............................................Niagara Falls
JIM BRADLEY...............................................St. Catharines
Suggestion: Keep your letter short and to the point.
RTO/ERO Travel
Travel Guild: www.travelguild.com, will continue to offer their travel options to RTO/ERO members until the spring of 2007.
Good Will
There is no current Good Will report.
Membership
Fred Sullivan, John Shaw
There is a Retirement and Recruitment Workshop on February 4th.
Communications
Chereen Osborne
The purpose of the Communications Committee is as follows:
(i) To recommend a District 14 RTO/ERO member to the Executive for approval as Newsletter Editor
(ii) To prepare and distribute a Newsletter
(iii) To establish and maintain a District 14 RTO/ERO Website
(iv) To recommend a District 14 RTO/ERO member to the Executive for approval as webmaster
(v) To maintain local membership lists to assist the Membership and Good will committee
(vi) Shall publish and adhere to the RTO/ERO Provincial Privacy Code
The members presently on the Committee are:
(i) Chair – Chereen Osborne
(ii) Newsletter Editor – Michael Britto
(iii) Webmaster – John Carruthers
(iv) Data Base – John Halfyard
(v) Editorial Staff and Regular Contributors
Wayne Scott – Past President
John Shaw – New and Deceased Members
Mike Keenan – Travel Writer
Events – Mary Hesser
It has been our goal this year to reformat the Grapevine into a more professional looking newsletter. We are also trying to get as many as possible of our members to receive their Grapevine via email. Each edition teaches us something new and we set up checks and balances to correct our errors for the next newsletter.
The website has had some changes made to it to make it easier to locate items and use links to other organizations.
Fred Sullivan
John Shaw
Chereen Osborne