Meeting materials

  • Next steps & actions:

    ·        Brian, Tom, and Stefa will attend the CARP AGM on October 15 – and if they get the chance, ask a question about OAS reform and seniors’ poverty. Thank you for your courage in taking this on!

    ·        Kay is working to get a meeting with MP Anna Gainey, Secretary of State for Children and Youth.

    ·        Stefa is meeting with her grandmother’s advocacy group to explore interest.

    ·        Lisa is reaching out to Victoria Raging Grannies (as soon as we get her the info!)

    ·        Peter K continues to present to seniors housing communities and is exploring service clubs as another audience. GS will share some slides to assist.

    ·        GS will adapt/design graphics as suggested by the group: the difference between CPP & OAS; the full range of seniors benefits/credits available; and more generally  ‘punching up’ language (ie Tom’s suggestion: Your kids are paying for your OAS).

    ·        GS will share graphics on the declining ratio of workers to retirees.

    ·        GS will update polling language per Ken’s suggestions to make clear that it was carried out by a professional and independent firm.

    ·        Further to Mary’s suggestion, GS has followed up with UK colleagues about recent changes to their Triple Lock pension regulations and are thinking about writing something on this.

    In addition to the above, we discussed the upcoming federal budget (best guess is early November). This is an important opportunity for media so we should be ready with responses, op eds, letters to the editor, etc. We also mused about direct media engagement featuring some of your voices. We’ll discuss budget-related activities more next time.

    Oct 1 meeting slides

  •  Next steps & actions:

    ·        Finance Canada budget consultations are now open. With apologies for the short notice, the deadline is September 8. For anyone who prepared a submission to the all-party Finance committee earlier, you could reuse this material. You could also use text from the cheat sheet (attached).

    ·        We’re close to the next threshold of 3000 OAS sign-ups – so please keep recruiting others to the cause. Inspired by Richard’s first video, we discussed the power of using your own voice/story on the need for reforms or worries about your peers and younger generations.

    ·        Led by Mary and Stefa, we discussed the value of telling the stories of seniors who will benefit from OAS reforms, especially those living below the poverty line. If anyone has ideas on how we might reach these folks, or contacts who may be willing to share a quote/story/video, please reach out.

    ·        Gen Squeeze is creating a table like this one for younger supporters of OAS reform, consistent with our approach of framing OAS reform as a victory for young and old alike. Other next steps for outreach include: (i) seniors’ groups – Stefa can assist with Single Seniors for Tax Fairness, Len with Seniors for Climate Action Now; (ii) women’s groups and Food Banks as potential ways to reach financially vulnerable seniors and young people.

    ·        We’ll reflect more on Brian’s idea of convening people in a conference style event to support coalition building – and if there are funding opportunities for this.

     Sept 3 meeting slides