Cliff Boldt, first vice-president of the BC Retired Teachers Association board, has requested Cumberland council's support for a City of Vancouver motion to eliminate the Medical Services Plan premiums for insurance in B.C. 'to conform with the situation for seniors in all other provinces.'
The resolution will be forwarded to the Union of BC Municipalities this month in Vancouver.
Boldt — accompanied by Amy Yakimyshyn, chair of the Comox Valley branch of the association — is calling for equity and fairness, noting B.C. is the only province charging such a premium.
The association considers the premium to be a "regressive tax" as opposed to "progressive," as based on income, said Boldt, who has also met with Courtenay and Comox councils.
He notes the province collects more from MSP premiums than it does corporate income tax.
"David Hahn and I pay the same premium," Boldt said, noting the CEO of BC Ferries would reap a pension of about $300,000 a year.
In the long term, the association would like the MSP premium removed altogether.