ACER-CART Report
36th RTAM Annual General Meeting
November 19th , 2025
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.
ACER-CART membership fee of $0.25 for each RTAM member
In accordance with Article 12.02, “Members shall pay an annual fee as established by the Annual General Meeting based on the member organization’s total membership as of September 30 of each year.”
The ACER-CART fee has been established according to the following formulae:
• $0.25 per member (Associations with more than 20,000 members)
• $0.35 per member (Associations with fewer than 20,000 members)
Since ACER-CART fees have not increased for many years, the Executive of ACER-CART is examining the need to increase these fees to better meet their goals and objectives.
ACER-CART Priorities: 2025-26
ACER-CART will, in collaboration with like-minded organizations develop and advocate for strategies for aging at home.
Strategies
1. Advocate for the development and implementation of a National Seniors' Strategy which includes aging in the right place strategies, a universal national Pharmacare program and policies to combat the move towards privatization of health services.
2. Advocate for initiatives that will ensure all seniors are properly supported in their efforts to achieve financial stability to enable aging in the right place.
3. Advocate for a public health care system that prioritizes appropriately supported care in seniors' own homes and in their own community for as long as possible.
4. Advocate for a standalone Federal Minister of Seniors.
RTAM values our members’ representation at the national level by being a part of ACER-CART
ACER-CART is truly a cross-Canada voice representing retired teachers. RTAM takes an active role in providing input and feedback on advocacy and projects of ACER-CART, providing two representatives to participate in ACER-CART activities.
Respectfully submitted,
Jayesh Maniar President