You’ve probably heard the saying, “There are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.”
At the PNA, we’re committed to being in that first group — the ones who make things happen. That’s why we’ve launched an ambitious advocacy strategy. After all, speaking up for our members is at the heart of what we do.
Since our beginnings more than 25 years ago, the PNA has worked hard to ensure our voice is heard — especially when it comes to protecting our pensions, securing access to supplementary health care benefits, and ensuring a fair share of pension surpluses.
Taking Action on the Hill
With that in mind, the PNA has taken its first steps toward influencing those important choices. Recently, a small team from the PNA travelled to Ottawa for two busy days of meetings on Parliament Hill. Over the course of 13 meetings with politicians, chiefs of staff, and policy-makers, we focused on two key areas:
- The future of the CBC
- The need for a comprehensive seniors’ strategy
Click here to read the document we shared with parliamentarians to see how we represented you on Parliament Hill.
Supporting a Strong, Independent CBC
Those who built their careers at CBC already know how vital a strong, well-funded, and independent public broadcaster is to Canadian democracy. In an age of concentrated media ownership and rampant misinformation on social media, Canadians need a trusted source for reliable, balanced journalism — and a space that continues to celebrate and promote Canadian arts and culture.
We called on the federal government to act on the priorities outlined in last year’s St. Onge green paper, including:
- Establishing clear, legally defined funding
- Amending the Broadcasting Act to remove the CBC from the annual federal budget approval process
We’re optimistic that these changes will move forward in the coming months, and we’ve been invited to share our input when the legislation becomes public.
Calling for a National Seniors’ Strategy
The second major focus of our visit was the pressing need for a national seniors’ strategy. While the most recent federal budget included some positive measures, much of it felt piecemeal — a set of short-term steps rather than a long-term plan.
Canada is growing and evolving. Our population has now topped 41 million, and this year, one in five Canadians is over the age of 65.
This makes us what experts call a “super-aged” nation — a country facing new challenges and opportunities that come with longer lifespans. A recent report from the National Institute on Ageing summed it up well: Canada’s aging population will touch every part of our society — from health care and housing to pensions, digital access, and social inclusion.
The report also offered a warning and an opportunity: the decisions we make today will shape whether older Canadians enjoy healthy, active, and inclusive lives — or face greater inequality and isolation.
We believe Canada needs a comprehensive framework that brings key issues together — affordability, health care, housing, retirement security, and social well-being — all under one roof.
We’ve offered to be part of the solution, and the response so far has been encouraging. Policymakers welcomed our perspective and signaled a willingness to continue the conversation.
Looking Ahead
The work doesn’t stop here. We’re now seeking allies to help us push this agenda forward. More meetings are planned, more ideas will be exchanged, and we’ll continue to push to ensure the PNA — and by extension, our members — have a seat at the table when decisions are made.
Because that’s how we make things happen.
Dan Oldfield, President
CBC Pensioners National Association