Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia

CONFERENCE 
October 1 & 2, 2012
Vancouver (Richmond) BC

LONGEVITY-
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Bringing together seniors and a phenomenal variety of local, national and in-ternational speakers/panelists of researchers and practioners. Together we
will examine emerging trends and  best practices.

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Canada Wide Day of Action

 

The Canadian Federation of Students is calling for union members and activists of all ages to join them for their February 1st Day of Action.

There are rallies, sit-ins, teach-ins and events going on in cities around British Columbia.

To find out more about the day of action or to sign up for events in your area
visit http://act.bcfed.ca/student-day-of-action or email chairperson@cfs.bc.ca

FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE

IMPORTANT EVENT
MONDAY, JANUARY 16TH 2012 - 6:30-8:30PM
PUBLIC TOWNHALL MEETING IN VICTORIA, BC

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians, and Diana Gibson of the Parkland Institute

Monday, January 16 6:30-8:30PM
The Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay Street,
Victoria, BC

The Federal government has already revealed plans to cut federal health transfers. On January 16-17, 2012 Premier Christy Clark will host premiers from across the country to discuss health care and fiscal arrangements with the federal government related to the 2014 Health Accord. Now is the time to have our say.

Join us on January 16 for a town-hall meeting to learn more about the 2014 Health Accord and opportunities to strengthen our health care system through public innovation, and discuss ways to move forward toward a health accord that ensures that everyone has access to care when they need it, regardless of their ability to pay. 

Co-hosted by the Council of Canadians and the BC Health Coalition 

For more information, contact:
The BC Health Coalition at mailto:info@bchealthcoalition.ca  or 604-681-7945
The Council of Canadians BC/Yukon office at awaxman@canadians.org or 604-688-8846

Join and share the event on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/rE6IXQ

COSCO 4th Quarter Newsletter

The latest COSCO Newsletter is now available in PDF format.
Newsletter

Seniors Demographic

A population shift is happening: In British Columbia, about 44 out of 100 people are now either boomers or their parents are.

The oldest baby boomers turn 65 this year. In Metro Vancouver, if the trend continues, by  2036 one in four people will be over 65 years old.

From November 16th:

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To read a report by The Province on The Seniors Forum please click here

 Resources & presentations from the Seniors Forum: click here

 2011 United Way Seniors Vulnerability Community Profiles and Discussion Papers, Click here

 United Way Seniors Vulnerability Report, Click here

Dr. Beverley Pitman - "United Way’s Seniors Priority Area - An Overview," Click here

Scott Graham - "Seniors Demographic Overview and Low-Income Seniors," Click here

Denise Cloutier-Fisher - "Seniors' Isolation," Click here

Lorraine Copas - "Seniors' Housing," Click here

Dr. Jean-François Kozak - "Seniors' Health," Click here

Dr. Maureen Ashe - "Seniors' Mobility," Click here

Andrea Procyk - "Seniors' Transportation," Click here

Ros Guggi, Deputy Editor, The Province "Boomerangst" - Click here

Marcy Cohen, "Aging with Dignity," - Click here

 http://www.uwlm.ca/seniorsforum

Debunking the Myth of Unsustainable Medicare

Some contend our public health care system is unsustainable and propose for-profit health care as the ‘solution’. It is a myth that Medicare is unsustainable, but there are critical changes needed to improve Canada’s health care system

'Debunking the Myth of Unsustainable Medicare' will explore the myth and needed changes with Dr. Robert Woollard – Canadian Doctors for Medicare, Adam Lynes-Ford – BC Health Coalition and Michael Goldberg – Past Research Director SPARC-BC , Sunday, November 27, 2011 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the Sechelt Seniors Centre, 5604 Trail Ave. This public meeting is co-sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Labour Council, Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens (COSCO-BC) and Sunshine Coast Teachers' Association.

Read full article

BC energy policies help wealthier homeowners, hurt low-income households

Study recommends new approach

| News Release http://tinyurl.com/64yuzhr
BC energy policies help wealthier homeowners, hurt low-income households

Study recommends new approach

BC Office | News Release

Issue(s): Energy policy, Inequality and poverty

Projects & Initiatives: Climate Justice Project

September 28, 2011

(Vancouver) A new study calls for a more fair and effective approach to residential energy efficiency in BC as part of an aggressive climate action framework. The study recommends protecting low-income households from rising electricity costs and investing in retrofits for multi-unit buildings and rental housing.

"To reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions in BC we must shift away from natural gas and increase our reliance on clean electricity," says Marc Lee, lead author of the study and co-director of the Climate Justice Project. "That means a big push for conservation and energy efficiency, with an emphasis on the needs of low- to middle-income households."

Raising electricity prices can increase energy poverty. When people live in energy poverty, it means that they struggle to meet basic energy needs, especially necessities like heat and hot water. Between 17 and 18% of British Columbians are estimated to live in energy poverty already.

The study's key findings include:

Low-income households spend a much greater percentage of their income on electricity: The poorest 20% spent 3% of their income on electricity in 2009, while the top 20% spent less than 1%. BC Hydro's shift to two-tier pricing had a small beneficial impact on low-income households and increased costs for high-income households. However, planned across-the-board rate increases will make energy poverty worse. BC's household energy retrofit program, LiveSmartBC, primarily benefits owners of single-family homes. Low- and moderate-income households, who tend to live in rental housing and in multi-unit buildings, have little access to retrofit dollars.

The study's recommendations include:

Ensure that fighting energy poverty is part of a long-term clean energy transition strategy: concentrate price increases in the second tier of electricity pricing, and provide income transfers to low-income households if their electricity costs rise. Target older housing, rental stock and multi-unit buildings with retrofit programs as a core element of a next generation LiveSmart program.Invest in training for the green jobs required to carry out these retrofits.Eliminate the upfront costs of making retrofits through innovative financing arrangements, using hydro bills or the property tax system.Guard against perverse incentives to switch to natural gas for space and water heating: use carbon pricing and require that new housing developments use clean energy. (Gas prices are currently about half the cost of electricity in the first tier.)

The authors estimate that $220 million per year invested in retrofitting BC's housing stock over the next decade would lead to substantial reductions in GHG emissions and energy poverty, and create 12,000 direct green jobs per year.

"A move towards zero-carbon homes should not increase energy poverty," says Lee. "BC can be a leader in developing a new approach that creates jobs and reduces energy poverty while doing our share of climate action."

For more information or interviews, contact Sarah Leavitt, 604-801-5121, x233 or sarah @ policyalternatives.ca

34 Page CCPA-BC Report (pdf)

Fighting Energy Poverty in the Transition to Zero-Emission Housing: A Framework for BC, by Marc Lee, Eugene Kung and Jason Owen is available at policyalternatives.ca/energypoverty. This study is part of the Climate Justice Project, a partnership between the CCPA-BC and UBC, funded by SSHRC.

COSCO lobbies for action to scrap Medical Services Plan premiums for all seniors

MSP premiums – like all user fees and consumption taxes – have no relationship to ability to pay
By Sylvia MacLeay President, COSCO BC

However, to date, no B.C. provincial government has taken action.
COSCO decided that with pensions not indexed enough to cover inflation, increases in the cost of living, and losses in savings due to the recent recession that removing MSP Premiums would help seniors.

Read Full Article in our Newsletter

HST

In the wake of the referendum decision to eliminate the Harmonized Sales Tax, seniors can breathe only a short sigh of relief. British Columbians now must engage in a new debate. We need a tax system that is fair, respects the ability of individuals to pay, and recognizes our shared responsibilities to each other.

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Video: Citizens Rally in Vancouver to Stop Smart Meters

A number of citizens and organizations - including the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre (Jim Quail) and the Clean Energy Foundation - gathered recently in Vancouver at the headquarters of BC Hydro to speak out against BC Liberal government's Billion-dollar smart meter program. Criticism of smart meters ranges from concerns over expense to taxpayers and ratepayers to serious health threats from electromagnetic radiation. Here are some highlights from the event (2 min). To learn more about what you can do, see Citizens for Safe Technology's Smart Meter Action Kit.

Watch Video: http://thecanadian.org/k2/item/880-smart-meter-rally-video-damien-gillis

We need a change in attitude towards Canada's seniors

For many years, the Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of British Columbia (COSCO) has been a leading voice fighting for seniors' rights

and the protection of social programs. This fight has been very challenging. At the same time, it has helped us to strengthen COSCO, and to make common cause with a good number of kindred organizations.

In the struggle for seniors' rights and a civil society we have gained a lot of knowledge which shows us the direction we should be going. We recognize that, "letting the young folks do it," is no longer appropriate, nor is the attitude towards seniors of, "Dearie, don't worry, we'll do it for you." This is not an endearment but a patronizing form of ageism.

The other thing we face in the development of public policy is the perception that seniors are an undue burden on the state and therefore a threat to universal social programs. We are determined to bring about a paradigm shift. We must celebrate our increased longevity and recognize seniors as the greatest under-utilized resource in society.

In COSCO we have exercised and applied this underutilized resource by developing programs of "seniors helping seniors" and by insisting "don't plan for seniors – plan with seniors." There are well-meaning people who think they know what's good for seniors. When we tell them that seniors know what's good for seniors, we are sometimes looked upon as uppity and ungrateful.

We need a change in attitude towards seniors. We have made progress on many counts, but there is still a long way to go.

Safe shelter ought to be a human right!

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Cardero @ Alberni (today's focus)--we say "Five" because MPA on 4th Ave is already closed, three RainCity shelters will close starting tomorrow (Cardero Wednesday, Howe Thursday, Fraser Friday-- and New Fountain got only a 2-month reprieve.

I'm here this morning as a director of an umbrella organization of 78 affiliate BC seniors' groups ..COSCO... We are 10's of thousands of caring, over 55 year old BCers,.. retired teachers, public service workers, pension organizations members, multicultural seniors, faith communities to name just a few . I want to emphasize that we are especially sensitive to 'homelessness'. Seniors are the most rapidly growing group in the homeless population in Vancouver. As of the count last spring, our numbers had doubled in the 2 years between 08 and 10!

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Gail Harmer of Cosco (Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of British Columbia)

Inside this building is one of the most special, highly successful and efficient use of my tax dollars that I have witnessed in social service in many years! Its services are truly unique amongst the styles often used inside regular shelters in the City and believe me, I should know! My name is Gail Harmer, a retired welfare worker who lives and worked in this community. I can attest to the success experienced by both the community at large and the users of this special shelter since January!

The people safely inside will tomorrow be thrown back to the streets, parks, public transit, and into old coping styles, hopelessness and cynicism. In spite of the very rudimentary physical space, there exists a level of respect, and care and community that is unusual to see. The workers are a very special breed! The occupants are building community!

For many of our homeless brothers and sisters, this very special shelter style has been the first step in a 'hands up' towards stabilization in chaotic lives. To many others, it is just a safe, warm place to come and go almost anytime in a long 24 hour day where your few remaining possessions will be safe or where your beloved 4 legged companion is also welcome and someone will take action when you are sick or have no shoes or otherwise reach out for help to make changes in your life!

We urge the Christy Clark and Gregor Robertson governments to reverse tomorrow's closure immediately. In return, as Chair of COSCO's Housing Committee, I pledge to work tirelessly to continue to educate BC voters about our housing crises, along with the multitude of political/economic choices our governments have so far failed to consider or implement in their shortsightedness of immediate 'fiscal responsibility'. COSCO will pressure for political commitments to housing in all its various forms for every BC resident as a basic human right!

Finally, COSCO joins the commitment made by the community here today to take further action tomorrow should Christy Clark and Gregor Robertson fail in the next 24 hours to maintain, these special shelters while we work for safe, appropriate, affordable housing for all.

All photographs from this article

"Heads they win, Tails we lose"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 26 2011

BC HYDRO SMART METER NUMBER-PLAY EXPOSED

A lawyer representing BC Hydro customers has accused BC Hydro of talking out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to the billion-dollar “Smart Meter” program.

“Last year, BC Hydro claimed that smart meters would stop $20 to $30 million a year of electricity thefts by marijuana grow-ops,” said Jim Quail, Executive Director of the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre.  “They did not offer any evidence that these numbers were correct.”

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Heads they win, tails we lose


 
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