Newfoundland and Labrador
Coalition of Seniors’, Pensioners’, & Retirees’ Associations and Groups
NL SENIORS’, PENSIONERS’ AND RETIREES’ COALITION CHARTER

The seniors’, pensioners’, and retirees’ associations and groups which comprise this Coalition have agreed to provide a unified voice in advocating for all actions that would have a positive impact on the quality of life of its members and their families.

Vision:
Seniors, pensioners, and retirees shall have a powerful and credible voice of influence and change on matters that affect retirement, social security income, health and wellness, and positive social benefits.

Mission:
To advocate on matters that challenge the well-being and quality of life of seniors, pensioners, and retirees in Newfoundland and Labrador, in particular, and to actively participate in, support, and advocate for new and improved actions that will enhance the quality of life for seniors, pensioners and retirees across Canada.

Mandate:
To provide a forum for seniors’, pensioners’, and retirees’ associations and groups to collaborate on issues that may affect financial well-being, health and wellness issues and benefits, and social considerations in retirement; to build a network for information exchange; to facilitate a collective voice of influence; and, to advocate on matters that are of importance to members and their families.

Objectives:
• To provide an opportunity for affiliated federal, provincial, municipal, private and other non-governmental organizations to express their concerns over any proposed changes to municipal, provincial and federal pension benefits and other social security benefits.
• To identify other social issues of mutual concern, i.e., health care, long term care, pharmacare, housing, electricity rates, etc. and to consolidate research and positions on these topics.
• To work cooperatively in advocating on these benefits and social issues on behalf of the respective memberships.
• To continue to build upon a network of information exchange;
• To develop a plan of action to continue this collective collaboration and advocacy.
• To seek public support on efforts to protect and improve these quality-of-life issues for all seniors, pensioners, and retirees.
• To follow-up with the responsible agents/officials to ensure accountability for any and all actions on the above issues is timely and appropriate; and,
• To maintain the individual purpose and activities of participating associations/groups.

Membership:
• Open to all associations and groups representing the interests of seniors, pensioners, and retirees in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• When appropriate, any participating association or group shall state a conflict of interest with any issue under discussion or being advanced.
• Each participating association/group has the option to participate fully, partly, or as an observer to any issue that might be advanced by the Coalition.
• In the interest of equity when decisions are taken, each participating association/group shall have one recorded voice/vote.

Infrastructure:
• The NLPSPA will provide infrastructure support services to the Coalition, through coverage of costs and other expenses, research services, preparation of position papers, meeting set-up, preparation and distribution of a variety of documents and documentation and other administrative services, as may be
deemed necessary from time to time;
• To best expedite infrastructure support, the NLPSPA shall assume the position of Chair of the Coalition.
• The Coalition shall appoint a Vice-Chair and Secretary from amongst its active participating member associations or groups who, together with the Chair, shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Coalition; and
• Appointment to the Executive Committee of the Coalition shall be reviewed on a biennial basis.

Finances:
At the discretion of NLPSPA, a request may be made, from time to time, for proportional cost sharing for certain expenses from amongst its participating associations and groups.

Amendment:
This Charter may be amended, from time to time, by majority agreement of the participating associations and groups.

Appendix A:
Signature Page(s)

Draft dated November 19, 2012
Revised November 25, 2012
Approved February 1, 2013
Revised March 13, 2018
Approved April 24, 2018
Revised Coalition February 8, 2021