MEMBERSHIP POLICY
SSAI members are from throughout the province and represent specific seniors’ interests.
A member organization is defined as: “An association of seniors which is non-discriminatory in relation to race, religion, sex, physical or mental abilities and which has been incorporated for at least two (2) years for the purpose of supporting and advancing the common interests of seniors.”
Member clubs must subscribe to the terms of: membership, goals and objectives, and providing a network of programs or services.
Any club that meets the definition of a member criteria, may apply for membership in the SSAI.
Member clubs are entitled to name voting delegates to the AGM, nominate board members, bring resolutions forward to SSAI and apply for support from SSAI.
Business Continuity
“Working with Seniors for Seniors”
The Business Continuity Plan for SSAI is one that addresses the basic management functions of the organization when an emergent event requires attention.
While the constitution addresses the sequence of succession in the event a vacancy occurs for a single member of the executive committee, it does not address the process the remaining board can follow regarding the loss of two or more executive members at the same time. For example, if the two Vice President’s positions became vacant, there is no outlined process to follow. In addition, the executive cannot function at all if some event(s) occurred whereby three executive positions became vacant at the same time.
As a result, this BCM (Business Continuity Management) Policy states that when this type of event occurs, the SSAI board is empowered to appoint members from the board to fill the vacant executive positions.
Further, that these appointments are for the completion of the term until the next AGM. These positions would be open for nomination and election at the AGM.
In addition, the policy would also empower the executive committee to have meetings to address immediate, interim issues. If the decisions are more permanent, long-term, then they would have to be ratified at the next meeting of the whole board.
Health Care
SSAI 2020 Policy – Health Care – OCT. 2020
The Saskatchewan Seniors Association Incorporated hereby establishes the
following policy on health care in Saskatchewan:
1. The five historic principles of the Canada Health Act (1984) (universality, access,
comprehensiveness, portability and public administration) shall define any vision,
current or
renewed, for publicly funded health care in Saskatchewan.
2. The Federal Government is an essential partner with the provinces in the provision
of health care. Among other things, it has the responsibility to define national standards
for health care and to provide funding, supplementary to provincial funding, adequate to
ensure the implementation of such national standards.
3. Timely access to health care and required services and treatment, provided by
qualified medical personnel, shall be the right of all residents of Saskatchewan,
irrespective of their place of residence, financial circumstances, or state of health.
4. Health care shall be deemed to include education, prevention, diagnosis and
counselling, and shall be the core element of the Saskatchewan Seniors’ Association
Incorporated
upon which all health care revolves in a Saskatchewan comprehensive health care
system.
5. Seniors constitute an increasing proportion of Saskatchewan society. Seniors have
special needs and SSAI, on their behalf, urges health care policy makers to take an
integrated approach to health care, one that will ensure seniors a measure of
independence commensurate with their history; will ensure a quality of life and death
with dignity through care at home, in long-term care facilities, and in hospital settings.
6. Many Saskatchewan residents rely on medications for their very lives. Given the
proportion of seniors making up the Saskatchewan population and their special needs,
a review of costs in providing necessary drugs is mandatory. This review should include
the way pharmaceuticals are prescribed to an aging population and the benefits to be
derived from more holistic approaches to medical treatment. SSAI believes that
adequate provision of medication should form an essential component in the provincial
health care program.
7. All citizens of Saskatchewan have a right to health care. System efficiencies,
streamlining operations, and restructuring health care facilities should not be accepted
as sufficient reason to deny citizens this right, regardless of location or wealth. It is
conceded, however, that such services need to be provided as efficiently as possible.
8. Health care shall be provided out of revenues gleaned by governments from public
taxation.
9. Possible expansion of publicly funded health services should not compromise the
availability and quality of those medical services currently insured, except for those
services no longer deemed basic or required.
10. SSAI will continue to be involved with the development of health care strategies
intended to benefit Saskatchewan residents of all generations, in a meaningful and
continuing way.
11. SSAI urges all levels of government to determine, in concert, their share of the
costs of health care and make a commitment to paying such shares each year for
several years and that information concerning such agreements be made public.
12. SSAI believes that home care should constitute an essential element of the
provincial health care system.