Linda MacDonald (right), Algoma Branch president and Ontario advocacy program officer, met with Carol Hughes, MP for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, to discuss member priorities, including safe long-term care.
Algoma Branch realizes the value of repeat meetings to ensure members of Parliament (MPs) continue to work on Federal Retirees’ priorities.
That’s why Linda MacDonald, Algoma Branch president and Ontario advocacy program officer (APO), met with both local MPs again this spring, even though volunteers had met with them previously.
First, MacDonald met Terry Sheehan, MP for Sault Ste. Marie and parliamentary secretary to the minister of labour and seniors, at his constituency office. MacDonald’s previous meeting with Sheehan was last January, so she took this opportunity to talk about Federal Retirees’ 2024 federal budget recommendations, the Safe Long Term-Care Act, pharmacare and a national seniors strategy.
MacDonald then met with Carol Hughes, MP for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, at the Bruce Mines municipal office, where Hughes was holding a constituency clinic.
Federal Retirees’ volunteer team had previously met with Hughes in 2021, over Zoom. That meeting was hosted by the Huron North Branch, with then Algoma president Chuck Davies also in attendance.
MacDonald was pleased to see Hughes remembered that meeting, as well as a meeting with MacDonald and Davis during Federal Retirees’ Bill C-27 campaign, in 2017.
“I took the opportunity to outline Reach 338, to talk about our 2024 federal budget recommendations, the need for a national seniors strategy and pharmacare,” reports MacDonald.
“We had a brief discussion on the long-term care situation in Canada and the pressing need to recognize the contributions that volunteers make in caring for family and friends.”
MacDonald left copies of the 2024 federal budget recommendations, national seniors strategy, long-term care and pharmacare information kits as well as a copy of the Federal Retirees submission on the Safe Long-term Care Act with both MP Sheehan and MP Hughes.
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Advocacy Spotlight showcases successful initiatives and projects put forward by our dedicated volunteers and supporters.
The National Association of Federal Retirees has a proud history of advocacy on behalf of our members and all retirees. In collaboration with our volunteers and supporters from coast-to-coast, we continue this tradition of strong, smart advocacy campaigns focused on improvements to the financial security, health and well-being of our members and all Canadians. Our success is not only measured in policy changes and legislation. It grows with every meaningful discussion with parliamentarians, and with every email and letter written. Together, we are achieving and surpassing our strategic advocacy goals and targets every day.