OCRA members who receive their health benefits through Sun Life should note that Sun Life has published an updated list of delisted providers as of June 10, 2021. In the document, Sun Life states that it will not provide reimbursement for healthcare services or supplies from these providers. Sun Life goes on to recommend reviewing the list before making an appointment with a provider just to be sure. This private and confidential PDF document is available to Sun Life members by signing in to their “My Sun Life” portal https://www.sunlife.ca/en/ and clicking on “Coverage information”.
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Opportunity to Serve on the 2021 OCRA Board
OCRA (Ontario Colleges Retirees’ Association) is currently looking for two retirees to serve two-year appointments on its Board. OCRA is an organization that advocates for its members on issues of concern to community college retirees and to retirees of associations served by the CAAT Pension Plan. Visit the website www.ocraretirees.ca for more information.
As a member of the Board, there will be opportunities to work on projects to provide information and assistance to OCRA members.
To serve on the Board, the retiree must be a paid-up member of OCRA and be interested in learning about the CAAT Pension Plan and college system benefits. A candidate should be able to communicate by email and have basic computer skills. The typical time commitment for a Board member without a portfolio is a few hours most months of the year.
Board meetings are held online via Zoom with an option to phone in to the meeting. General Meetings are open to all OCRA members and usually held once a year at an Ontario community college.
For more information, please contact Linda Choptiany, OCRA President, at .
Have You Submitted Your 2021 Pension Confirmation?
The due date for submitting your 2021 pension payment confirmation form is Monday May 31, 2021. According to the CAAT Annual Statement, this process “is one of the ways we keep your pension safe, ensuring we are paying the right pension to the right person.” If you haven’t yet submitted your confirmation, there are additional ways to do so aside from mailing it. Your Annual Statement provides detailed instructions on how to submit your confirmation by:
- CAAT’s secure online upload
- phone
Details on these submission methods are also on the CAAT Pension Plan website’s Retired Member Statements page.
May 2021 CAAT Webinar Recording is Available
Did you miss attending the May 4, 2021 CAAT Webinar “Resilient and Ready: Annual Report Webinar for Members and Participating Employers”? A recording of the presentation portion of the webinar (20 minutes) is available on YouTube. In their presentations, CEO Derek Dobson and newly appointed Chief Investment Officer Asif Haque discuss:
- How CAAT is keeping your pension secure
- How CAAT expanded service to members and employers
- Improving access to sustainable pensions for more Canadians
According to Asif Haque, “the Plan’s investment performance was strong in 2020 despite market volatility and our long-term returns have also been strong relative to our policy benchmark and to our discount rate”. Derek Dobson, in summarizing his presentation, offered this reassurance: “Your pension is secure and the Plan is performing well. It is stronger today than it was a year ago”.
Welcome to OCRA’s New Website
Welcome to OCRA’s new website! Created by Black Cap Design, the website features a new logo, simple navigation, and a flexible design that makes it easy to view on many types of devices and browsers.
Along with the new design, the website features new content, including:
- Expanded information about OCRA’s mission and priorities.
- A new “About” section that describes OCRA’s history and structure.
- An online membership application process to quickly and easily join OCRA.
- Information for members about the CAAT Pension Plan and the College Employer Council.
- Contact information for Ontario College (CAAT) retirees’ associations and clubs.
Moving forward, OCRA volunteers will continue to update the website with announcements, reminders, and resources relevant to OCRA members.
On behalf of the OCRA Executive, we hope that you find the new OCRA website a valuable resource.