Please make plans to attend some of these events to remember those who served our country so that we may enjoy the freedom we have today. This is a good time to teach your grandchildren of the sacrifices that were made by so many. Perhaps you or a member of your family were among them. April has been a very busy month but a lot has been accomplished.

Seniors month in June is getting close. The slogan this year is Active Living - it's for Life. Use this theme for your clubs activities and please, we would like to hear about your events, so that we can post the information on our newly-designed web site. It will also be posted on the web site of the Ontario Senior Secretariat.

If your club would like to consider hosting a senior's seminar on healthy aging and healthy lifestyles, please contact the Senior's Infoline at 1.888.910.1999.

During a recent Ontario Senior Secretariat liaison meeting, pensions were again explained in great detail. It seems that many seniors don't have or don't understand what exactly is available or how to access it. If you are in any doubt or wish you had more information, please call 1-800-277-9914 for federal pensions and 1-800-263-7965 for provincial pensions. You will need to have your Social Insurance number ready.

A reminder: The next call for the New Horizons grant goes out in June - you can download this application from the federal government's web site at www.sdc.gc.ca under "New Horizons."

I was very happy to see that physiotherapy for seniors was reinstated on April 1st - we'll keep working towards full audiology and dental coverage. The Drug Benefits program is again being discussed pre-budget.

I have written to Premier McGuinty regarding the Reference Based Pricing idea, where, if your doctor prescribes brand-name drug "A" but the drug benefit plan only covers brand name "B" you will pay the difference. Once again, this is unacceptable. We have all had experiences where one drug works for us but the other doesn't. I doubt if the government knows better than your doctor what prescription works best. The U.S.C.O. remains unalterably opposed to any detrimental changes to the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan.

As of April 1, I hope you read your hydro bill enclosure. We have reprinted this enclosure in The Voice and suggest that you read it.

The Ontario government announced on April 15, 2005 that 52 new Family Health Teams and three new networks of Family Health Teams have been formed to offer better access to better medical care. The shortage of family doctors has led to some creative thinking by the government to give you better access to better care. Hopefully, this will lead to an improvement in primary health care in your community.

The Ontario government has also announced a new Affordable Housing agreement, which all housing providers hope leads to the development of more housing. It seems the government is listening and trying to improve the affordable housing options to assist low-income seniors.

Minister of State (Families and Caregivers), Tony Ianno, recently hosted a roundtable discussion focused on long-term priorities for a comprehensive caregivers strategy as well as actions that can be taken in the short-term to advance these priorities. Minister Ianno has previously expressed an interest in seniors concerns and the U.S.C.O. was pleased to present its views on unpaid caregiving and the effect it has on the senior caregiver. I will share the outcomes of this round table with you when it becomes available.

Thanks for all the invitations to your clubs and rallies. It's a great pleasure for me to share U.S.C.O. news and up-dates with you. I find our clubs unfailingly courteous and friendly and the dinners are always great! Please feel free to invite the field representative, board member or me to speak in your area, we're happy to do it.

Remember that it's Mother's Day as well as VE Day on Sunday May 8th! The USCO annual convention will be held in Kingston, at the Days Inn on August 8th through 10th, I look forward to seeing you all there.