Created  with
 db QwikSite Personal
Not for Commercial Use     

News More Info.

News More Info.
Ser205
Article Date01-09-2009
Record TYPENews
Article TOPICAnnuity Reduction
Article TitleEnd injustice to our veterans
Article ContentEnd injustice to our veterans
By JOHN LABELLE
Are military/RCMP veterans worthy of having their CPP benefits exempted from the reduction applied to their pension when they attain age 65, or sooner if they become disabled, when senators, MPs and judge advocates are exempted?
While veterans appreciate the recession situation, passing Bill C-201 would not be an additional expense to taxpayers in Canada. It would, in fact, be a boost to the Canadian economy. The federal government would receive 60 per cent back in the form of taxes.
Bill C-201 would amend the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act (deletion of deduction from annuity).
Military/RCMP veterans maintain that in 1965-66 the government of Canada deliberately or otherwise imposed on military/RCMP personnel a gross injustice by merging rather than stacking their pension benefits.
Veterans were dealt with in a negligent fashion. At that time, senior military officers did not hold assistant deputy minister appointments to represent them. They were not properly briefed on the pitfalls associated with the merging of their contributions. In short, democracy did not occur, they were not given any options, yet they always made the required maximum contributions. And $20 billion in surplus has been removed from their pensions to pay down the national debt ? an amount that would have been more than sufficient to pay for the removal of the CPP pension reduction formula!
The government of Canada must take into consideration that military/RCMP personnel are a different government provider. Our veterans served abroad on numerous 24 / 7 missions. They often faced dangerous situations, health hazards, and extended family separation with elevated levels of stress. Veterans were prepared to give the ultimate sacrifice. These factors often resulted in a shorter career.
Consideration must also be given to our military/RCMP spouses, for they experienced a loss of CPP benefits and many of them lost their career aspirations while following us around the world. Their dedication to the Canadian Forces resulted in their loss of employment opportunities, thus resulting in a loss of their CPP benefits.
This misguided policy violates the principle of democracy, fairness and justice, as it affects the welfare of military/RCMP veterans and their families in their golden years. More than 40 years have passed. Now is the time for the government of Canada to take action to terminate this injustice of clawing back our veterans? pension. It would be a great opportunity to honour our veterans by voting yes to Bill C-201.
Military/RCMP personnel must not be forgotten once they take off their uniforms. They have gallantly served their country of Canada. They, in their golden years, deserve to be treated fairly and justly.
On March 25, MP Peter Stoffer will introduce, in the House of Commons, Bill C-201 for its second reading, debate and subsequent vote. Our veterans deserve nothing less than to spend their golden years with the financial dignity they and their families have paid for.
John Labelle, Lower Sackville, is campaign co-ordinator, Veterans Pension Justice.
Supplement 
Eval SOURCE RELIABILITY 
Eval INFO CREDIBILITY 
COMPONENTVAC
Source 
Source URL 
Related External Link 
Additional Link 
Periodical Issue
Periodical No 
VVi Contributor 
ACTION GENERAL