Travel and Trip Cancellation Insurance

Community spread of COVID-19 continues to be a problem in many countries.

Some provinces and territories are beginning to issue and use the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccination. The proof of vaccination is a reliable way to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination history when you travel internationally. However, it does not guarantee your entry to another country.

Regardless of your vaccine status and whether or not you have the Canadian COVID-19 proof of vaccine, you must make sure you are properly informed about the COVID-19 situation at your destination, since it can change significantly and quickly over time and from one country to another, and even from one region to another in the same country. Access to medical care abroad, and the quality of that care, is not guaranteed, especially given the unpredictability of the global situation.

Most governments have introduced entry and exit restrictions and requirements because of COVID-19. The proof of vaccination issued by the Province of Québec may not be accepted by foreign authorities. Regardless of your destination, you should visit the Travel Advice and Advisories website at least twice: once when you plan your trip, and again just before you leave, because safety conditions may have changed between your reservation date and your departure date.

Make sure your travel insurance covers emergency medical costs, including those relating to COVID-19.  Under the terms of your insurance policy, your health must be good and stable before you leave for your trip.

Before booking a trip, make sure you will be reimbursed if you have to cancel it. Please note that the Canadian government still maintains its level-four warning to avoid all trips on cruise ships.  This means that any emergency medical expenses incurred during a cruise, including those relating to COVID-19 (travel assistance), will not be covered.

We recommend that you consult the frequently-asked questions about travel insurance on the SSQ Insurance website. 
See also the CanAssistance travel advice website:  Travel advice

Accommodation Rental Agreements Between Individuals

In July 2021, SSQ Insurance sent out a memorandum informing you that an accommodation rental agreement between individuals is not a “pre-paid travel expense” covered by trip cancellation insurance under your group insurance contract.

The group insurance guarantee only covers accommodation rental contracts entered into with businesses or booking platforms that are accredited or authorized by the appropriate authorities to operate this type of enterprise or provide this type of service. We recommend that you contact CanAssistance by calling 1 800 465-2928 before signing any rental contract.

It is important to note down all the information you are given during the call, including the name of the person giving it and the date and time of the call. This may be important if CanAssistance subsequently refuses to pay a claim and you wish to contest its decision.

Claim / Trip cancellation: CanAssistance.com/Cancellation

Claim / Emergency medical care: CanAssistance.com/Emergency medical care for canadians

Claim / Additional information: CanAssistance.com/Additional information about claims

Nomination of Retiree Representatives to the ACR - 2021/2023 Term

The Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor (SCT) issued a call for nominations to the associations of retired management personnel, asking them to propose candidates to sit on the Advisory Committee for Retirees (ACR).

The ACR is composed of eight retiree representatives. The list of nominations is as follows:

Education Sector

• Claude Ménard - Association de cadres retraités de l’éducation du Québec (ACREQ)

• Réjean Gauvin - Association québécoise du personnel retraité de direction des écoles (AQPRDE)

Civil Service Sector

• Daniel Dubé (spokesperson) - Association québécoise des retraité(e)s des secteurs public et parapublic (AQRP)

• Paul-René Roy (substitute spokesperson) - Association québécoise des retraité(e)s des secteurs public et parapublic (AQRP)

Health and Social Service Sector

• Christine Cloutier - Association des gestionnaires des établissements de santé et des services sociaux (AGESSS)

• Micheline Chamard - Association des gestionnaires des établissements de santé et des services sociaux (AGESSS)

• Daniel Poirier - Association du personnel d’encadrement retraité du Québec (APERQ)

• Robert Fortier - Association des cadres supérieurs de la santé et des services sociaux (ACSSSS)

During the 2021-2023 renewal process, Laurent Lamoureux gave up his seat after four years on the ACR.

We thank Mr. Lamoureux for his collaboration and his involvement in various issues during his two terms of office. He has been involved with the AQRP for nearly ten years, including five years as President of the Québec-West regional group, a position he left last June to become treasurer of the AQRP’s provincial board of directors. We wish him well for the future!

ACR Newsletters – Your Input is Important

The ACR Newsletter is published for retired management personnel from Québec’s public and parapublic sectors.

We believe the best way to increase the number of subscribers is to ask for your help in distributing it.

If you know someone who is not a subscriber, please send them the following link: Registration on the list of ACR subscribers.  Simply cut-and-paste the link and send it by e-mail.  

Thank you!

Daniel Dubé, Retirees’ Spokesperson, ACR

Line St-Cyr, ACR Coordinator