January 23, 2008
January 24, 2008
Military/RCMP Veterans
Against Annuity
Benefit Reduction at age 65
January 23, 2008
To: Our Supporters
Subject: Mission up dates.
The following e-mail/letter was sent to Mr. Ken Alley and Mr. Jack Layton, MP, NDP Leader. Our message is clear in that the NDP Leader has allowed Bill C-221 to fail and soon it will. He has not responded to our request to keep his promise to Veterans and move Bill C-221 forward.
Veterans must stand shoulder to shoulder and not vote and/or financially support Politicians who do not support our Veterans Mission of terminating the claw back to our Pension at age 65.
The Veterans Petition numbers continue to grow. We have accumulated over 21,500 signatures with the support of 69 Former Military/RCMP Senior Officers. Votes that can make a majority!
"Veterans who dare to dream that the Government of Canada will restored their Financial Dignity when they attain age 65"
Sincerely,
John Labelle
Campaign Coordinator
florencejohn@ns.sympatico.ca
www.petitiononline.com./vets8
Ps. Review the Gagetown Veterans Web Site URL: www.agentorangealert.com
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:26 AM
Subject: Re: The NDP supports Canada's Veterans
Military/RCMP Veterans
Against Annuity
Benefit Reduction at Age 65
To: Mr. Ken Alley
Info: Our Supporters
Cc: Mr jack Layton, MP Mr. Peter Stoffer, MP
January 15, 2008
Reference: your e-mail dated
Ken,
Thank you for writing us. First let me advise you that Mr. Jack Layton, MP as Leader of the NDP does not keep his promises to Veterans.
On August 17, 2007 his reply to us stated: Please be assured that the NDP will use all available Parliamentary procedures to bring this key matter (Bill C-221) to a vote. Further more, we continue to wait for an answer to our e-mail dated Oct 12, 2007 that we followed up on Oct 23, 2007.
Now he blames the Conservative Government for back-pedaling important issues, when it was his responsibility to move Bill C-221 for its second reading in the House of Commons.
The NDP can only blame themselves for attempting to resolve too many Veterans issues by clustering them, therefore not achieving any favourable results on any issues.
We can give full credit to Mr. Peter Stoffer, MP who has initiated Bill C-441, Bill C-221 and tirelessly promoted these Bills.
Rest assured that we are disappointed with the lack of determination we have received from Mr. Jack Layton, MP Leader of the NDP party. He should not expect donation and support from Veterans, their Families and Friends.
Sincerely,
John Labelle
Campaign Coordinator
Subject: The NDP supports Canada's Veterans
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 15:41:51 -0500
From: "Layton, Jack - M.P." <LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca>
Thank you for your previous email regarding Canada's veterans. The NDP feels that the Conservative government has been failing veterans and widows for far too long.
In November, NDP Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer joined with veterans to outline how the government has back-pedalled on important issues such as compensation for Agent Orange victims, extending the home care (VIP) program for widows and veterans, and fixing the clawback of SISIP pensions for disabled veterans.
Peter's press conference is part of our ongoing efforts to press the federal government to live up to it's obligations and implement the NDP's Veterans First Motion passed by a majority vote in Parliament last fall.
For more details on the Veterans First Motion, I encourage you to visit: http://www.ndp.ca/veterans.
Looking forward, whether it's on child care, prescription drugs, corporate crime, the high cost of gas and ATM fees, takeovers by foreign companies, or climate change the federal NDP is working on the issues that everyday Canadians care about.
You can find out more about our work at http://www.ndp.ca or by subscribing to our e-mail bulletin at subscribe@ndp.ca.
Again, I appreciate your desire for justice for our proud vets. Feel free to share this email with anyone who may be interested. All the best.
Sincerely,
Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canad
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January 17, 2008
Military/RCMP Veterans
Against Annuity
Benefit Reduction at age 65
The Objective
Aim:
The purpose of this initiative is to have the Prime Minister of Canada terminate the Benefit Reduction formula that is being applied to our Military Annuity when we attain age 65. The Government of Canada must right a wrong and amend the CFSA Act and the RCMPSA Act of a miscalculation in justice to our Retired Veterans. Our Annuity contributions were always separated on our pay guide therefore benefits should have been stacked rather than merged!
Campaign Presentation
History:
Encouraged by many Veterans, on the 21 February 2005, I wrote a letter to Mr. Peter Stoffer, MP Sackville-Eastern Shore seeking his support towards a private member’s bill. After meeting with him, I received a letter of support on the 28 April 2005. Very soon after a committee was formed with John Labelle-Campaign Coordinator, Roger Boutin, Pr/Member, and Mel Pittman, Web Master/Member. The Web site has since been closed. Bill C-441 and Bill C-221 were introduced to the House of Commons. Mr. Peter Stoffer, MP (NDP) introduce to the House of commons, on November 2, 2006, a Veterans First Motion. A Veterans Petition was launched on October 17, 2007. A private member motion M-362 was presented to the House of Commons on November 8, 2007 by Mr Bill Casey, MP.
Back Ground:
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) was enacted in 1965 and came into force on January 1, 1966. Its intention was to provide another source for an “Income security” program supplementing old age security.
The Crux of the issue:
The principal facts regarding the issue are that, in 1965/1966, the Government of the day created a gross injustice, deliberate or otherwise, by merging our pension benefits rather than stacking them. We were dealt with, in a negligent fashion. Today’s Government must terminate the misguided policy. Surplus billions of dollars are available in our Military Annuity plan to correct the injustice.
This simple transaction would benefit disabled and retired Veterans, be a boost to the economy and the Government would receive 60% of it back in the form of taxes.
CFSA Facts:
On January 1, 1966 the employee’s contribution rate was reduced from 9.3% to 7.5%. Hence, a “so called” reduced Annuity contribution to our CFSA has accumulated a Military Annuity surplus of over 20 Billion dollars. Recently the Government of Canada released their annual 2003-2005 reports of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Annuity plan. Take note that the depletion of our retirement surplus Military Annuity funds continues. In the 2003-2004 report, it is noted that $630 million was retired from the CFSA surplus Annuity account. In 2004-2005, no funds were “withdrawn” from the account and there was a surplus of $1,099,013,000 recorded that year.
It clearly indicates that our contributions to the CFSA account continue to be too high.
CPP Facts:
With regards to the CPP, the employee and the employer each paid half of the required contributions. In 1966, the Government levied rate of contribution for Military personnel was 1.8% of Annuity earnings. Over the years, the rates substantially increased to 4.95%. Military personnel have always made the required maximum contributions to the Plan. Recently the President and CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board advised that the CPP fund is fiscally healthy. Today the CPP plan has a reserve fund of over $120 Billion dollars and is expected to grow to $250 Billion in the next decade. “ Again clearly indicating that contributions to the CPP continue to be too high.”
Old Age security facts:
The Old Age Security plan is a separate plan that should not be confused with the Military Annuity and/or the CPP plan. Contributions are not made to the Old Age Security plan. It is simply absorbed into your income tax rates. Be advised, that the Canada General Income Tax Guide for 2006 states: “You may have to repay all or part of your OAS pension if your net income is “More” than $62,144”. In the next ten years retirees at age 65 may be receiving more than one retirement income (IE. CFSA, RRSP, CPP, OAS) therefore they may be subject to repay all or part of the OAS benefit
Why did the Government of Canada allowed Veterans Benefits to deteriorate to an unfair level!
A. Why did the Government of Canada fail to properly explain to serving members that it was merging the CPP benefits at age 65, while we continued to make separate maximum contributions as listed on our pay guide.
B. Why are Military/RCMP pensioners indexing revenues clawed back at age 65?
C. Why are Member’s of Parliament exempted from the claw back to their pension at age 65 and Military/RCMP pensioners are not?
D. Why are Member’s of Parliament exempted to pay employment insurance premiums and Military/RCMP personnel continue to pay premiums into the plan with no possibility of collecting benefits?
E. Upon death, why does the widow of a Member of Parliament receive 65% of the member’s Annuity while a Military/RCMP widower receives less than 50% of the member’s reduced Annuity?
F. Why does the Public servant receive a $10,000 paid up Supplementary Death Benefit and Military/RCMP Veterans only receives a $5,000 policy; and
G. Why is the Military personnel not considered a Different Government provider available 24/7 with out overtime pay, serving in numerous isolated posting.
Why is it that the Government of Canada does not take action to terminate the Claw Back to Veterans Pension at age 65 and give Veterans the Financial Dignity they so richly deserve?
florencejohn@ns.sympatico.ca
http://www.petitiononline.com/vets8
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