The federal election campaign has begun and there is a lot at stake.

Our Association has clearly stated positions on the most significant issues facing seniors in Canada today.  We want to ensure that candidates from all parties know and understand our positions and we seek their commitment that, if elected, they will deal effectively with our concerns.

The principal objective is to ensure:
1.  That candidates are made aware of FSNA, it’s mandate and objectives;
2.  That seniors’ issues important to FSNA are addressed during the election campaign; and
3.  That the candidates and the political parties positions are known on each one of these issues, both at the national level and at the local level.

Your Branch Executive has sent letters to the candidates in all of the ridings within our district and enclosed a copy of the four-page FSNA policy statement entitled, “Issues of importance to Pensioners of the Federal Public Sector and to Older Canadians”. (Available for viewing on Branch or National Web site)

We urge you to get out and vote on Election Day and to bring a friend who wasn’t intending to vote along with you.    And watch our branch Web site for posted responses from the candidates.

Look for us at  kingstonfsna.ca  Make sure you bookmark us at this New Address
Lots of great info, links to other sites and a discussion group page click here  where you can air your views on topics of interest, comment on entries by others and have them comment on yours.


if you have received this
Newsletter by regular mail, it means we don’t have
your e-mail address – yet!   If you have access to the Internet and would like to receive periodic information via e-mail (saves us postage and paper) please send your membership number, name and phone number to fsnavpop@gmail.com  and we’ll add you to our e-mail listing.
However, if you don’t wish to be bothered with notices, either by regular mail or e-mail, let us know that as well, and we’ll block you off the mailing list. 
But, we would still like to have your e-mail address; in case something urgent or important comes up… we just won’t bother you with trivial stuff.  O K?

Our next Branch Luncheon will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 14
        CJ’s Banquet Hall, 803 Chelsea Court, Brockville.
Take Stewart Blvd north of 401 – Chelsea is 3rd and 4th left off Stewart – CJ’s is at the northern end of Chelsea… the 4th left north of the 401.  Phone: 544-0663 or 353-7067 if you’d like to come.
Delicious lunch – only $7.00 per person at the door.        Bring your sweetie!!



December 7th, 1982 Kingston and District Branch received its charter.  In 2007, our branch will be celebrating its 25th anniversary of the awarding of that charter.  We hope to make it a yearlong celebration with special events and activities.  But we need your help!!  We are looking for a few good people to help out on the Anniversary Committee.  We are also looking for your ideas click here and input as to what types of activities you might like.  Please don’t sit back and hope someone else will do it.  We want to make this a great  year but it can only be as good as the effort that’s put into it.

to the 2006 Federal Election candidates

Issues of Importance
to Pensioners of the Federal Public Sector
and to Older Canadians

The Federal Superannuates National Association (FSNA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing retirees from the federal Public Service, the Canadian Forces, the RCMP as well as retired federally appointed judges. It counts some 140,000 members in 84 branches across the country and its main objectives are to protect and enhance benefits to pensioners. Except for the paid staff of its national office in Ottawa, FSNA is entirely volunteerbased and governed.

FSNA is also a leader in the Congress of National Seniors’ Organizations (CNSO), a coalition of  ten major national seniors’ organizations with a total membership of more than 2 million older Canadians. The position of FSNA on issues affecting older Canadians is very consistent with the positions of other CNSO group members.

Court Challenge to Bill C-78
The trial challenging the provision of Bill C-78 that allowed the government to “retire” more than $30 billion from the public sector pension plans began on November 15, 2005. It has always been FSNA’s position, even before the government’s decision to retire the surplus, that the surplus was to be shared equitably amongst the stakeholders: the pensioners, the employees, and the employer. It is evident that the government does not intend to share any part of the surplus, a position that cannot be accepted by pensioners.

Improvements to the Pension Plan
Over the years, FSNA has recommended a number of improvements to the plan, improvements that we believe could have been accommodated without difficulty given the huge surplus that existed in the plan. These improvements include:

• permitting full survivors’ benefits for those retirees who marry after retirement or after age 60 in the case of pensioners from the Canadian Forces and the RCMP. A private Member’s Bill (C-362) on this matter was submitted to Parliament and FSNA supports this Bill;
• increasing the amounts of survivors’ benefits;
• resolving the inequity that resulted from the enactment in 1982 of the Public Sector Restraint Act and that generated significantly lesser pension entitlements for those who retired prior to that date.

   Coordination of CPP/QPP with Superannuation
In 1966, when CPP/QPP was introduced and when a decision was taken to coordinate the superannuation plans with the CPP/QPP, a promise was made by Ministers and senior officials that, at the time of the benefits coordination (at age 65), the payments received from both the CPP/QPP and one’s superannuation fund would not be less than the single superannuation payment one was entitled to receive before the coordination.

Research done by FSNA and brought to the government’s attention through the pensioners’ representatives on the pensions advisory committees showed that, in many cases, this would not occur. Although the Government took steps to correct the situation in its announcement in July 2005, there will still be a significant number of cases where the pension reduction at age 65 will result in smaller total payments. FSNA’s position is that there is still time to deal with this matter to ensure that all pensioners do not receive a lesser pension after coordination. FSNA also maintains that this whole matter is far too complex for employees and pensioners to understand, and that for years, incorrect or incomplete information was provided on this matter.

Consequently, there is an urgent need to simplify the process. Many pensioners were told and advised that their total pension at age 65 would not be reduced and they planned their retirement accordingly. Many are receiving a reduced pension, a reduction for which they had not planned. This must be addressed.

Support for the Public Service
FSNA has noted that over the years politicians of many stripes have too often attempted to avoid public criticism by blaming problems on the public service. It is clear that little or no effort has been made to support the public service of Canada by reminding Canadians of the quality of service rendered by those who serve the people of Canada honourably. The Gomery inquiry and its report have encouraged this negative image of the public servant. Political parties, including the governing party, have done little to recognize the important contributions of the very great
majority of current and past employees. FSNA would like all political parties to officially and publicly demonstrate their support and faith in the public servants who serve Canada and Canadians in all elements of the public service.

FSNA is a very active participant in the Congress of National Seniors’ Organizations (CNSO). The CNSO consists of ten seniors’ organizations with a total membership of more than two million older Canadians. FSNA shares CNSO’s major concerns and positions.

Medicare
FSNA is very much concerned about the erosion of the health care system universality in Canada and the lack of progress in achieving the objectives of the 2004 Health Accord that was signed by the federal and provincial governments. It disapproves of the excessive wait times and the difficulties encountered by Canadians in getting the services they require. The specific position of FSNA in this matter is as follows:

• FSNA lobbies for a more rapid improvement in wait times, including shortening the timetable for results, to show Canadians tangible improvements and relieve the pressure for creating alternatives that may prove more costly.

• FSNA supports funding to allow Canadians who currently face unreasonable wait times for treatment within Medicare to receive treatment outside the system but at Medicare's expense. This is intended to shift the burden of the current shortcomings of Medicare from Canadians to the governments who are responsible for providing Medicare. It is hoped that the resulting financial pressures on governments and Medicare managers may help generate fresh ideas for faster implementation of the improvements Canadians have been demanding and that governments have promised through the federal-provincial Health Accord reached in the fall of 2004.

Comprehensive Policy for an Aging Society
FSNA has, for a number of years now, criticized the federal government for not developing a comprehensive policy to deal with an aging population. Policies, programs and activities are done in an uncoordinated way and the seniors' file does not appear to be on the government’s radar. Although the 2005 federal budget announced the  establishment of a Seniors’ Secretariat, there have not yet been any tangible results. Like its partners of the Congress of National Seniors’ Organizations, FSNA advocates that seniors’ groups be engaged with the government in establishing this Secretariat and in developing the necessary policies in a comprehensive manner.
Engagement means more than consultation: it means actually being involved in policy formulation. FSNA also deplores the federal government’s inactivity in honouring the commitments it made in 2001 in Madrid, Spain, during the World Assembly on Ageing.

Old Age Security
From time to time, there are rumours or politically motivated trial balloons that want to change the Old Age Security Program. FSNA continues to support this program. The only change that it recommends is to end the clawback that results in some Canadians not receiving the full benefits. This attack on universality is worrisome as it is now being considered for our most cherished social program, Medicare. FSNA reminds all politicians to remember what happened when major seniors’ organizations fought the introduction of the Seniors Benefit that would have
replaced OAS.

Pension Income Splitting
FSNA supports the recommendation that is being made by a number of organizations that, for income tax purposes, income splitting amongst spouses be allowed.

Other issues of importance to Older Canadians
Many other issues are preventing older Canadians to age with dignity and in security. Ageism in such areas as driving and transportation is rampant.

Long-term care at home and in institutions is available to only a relatively few older Canadians. Programs must be established to improve this immediately as more and more Canadians need the assistance.

Chronic care is an area that also needs immediate attention. All these health care matters were raised in the Romanow report, which FSNA continues to endorse.

Affordable and safe housing for older Canadians must be improved.

Conclusion

As a seniors’ organization, FSNA wants to continue working collaboratively with the government (whatever colour it is), and with its officials to ensure that benefits to its members and other pensioners are protected and enhanced and that the necessary steps are taken to ensure that Canada is the best country in the world for all segments of society, including older Canadians. Canada has the potential but it needs the political will of its government.