FSNA reacts favourably to the 2007 federal budget
FSNA National President congratulates the Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty for following through on his commitment to include in the federal budget measures that are beneficial to older Canadians and pensioners, in particular the implementation of pension income splitting and the increases to the age amount and the pension income amount. Please see the letter below:
March 20, 2007
Our Ref: 10872
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
L’Esplanade Laurier, East Tower
140 O’Connor St., 21st Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5
Dear Minister:
The Federal Superannuates National Association (FSNA) congratulates you for following through on your commitment to include in the federal budget measures that are beneficial to older Canadians and pensioners, in particular the implementation of pension income splitting and the increases to the age amount and the pension income amount.
The increase in the spousal amount is another measure of your budget that could benefit older Canadians. We also welcome the increase of the age limit for maturing RPPs and RRSPs as a step in the right direction, as well as the phased retirement provisions that recognize the changes in the demographic make-up of the workforce.
As an organization representing pensioners, FSNA feels that the already announced increases for the Guaranteed Income Supplement program need to be further enhanced and was disappointed not to find such improvements in your budget. This is one area where improvements would have directly assisted the more vulnerable older Canadians, the majority of whom are women. We will continue making
representations on this.
The provisions of the budget providing more funding for health care will benefit all Canadians, especially seniors. Health care remains their most important concern and any measure to improve wait times and better services is welcomed. FSNA strongly urges the federal government to monitor the provinces to ensure that the additional federal funding will be effectively used by the provinces.
FSNA is pleased that the budget increased funding for the New Horizons program. As a member of the Congress of National Seniors’ Organizations, FSNA has commented favourably on the results of this program. In addition, the recent establishment by your government of the National Seniors Council is welcomed by FSNA and many national seniors’ organizations. We are of course very honoured
that the Chair of this Council is our retiring Executive Director.
FSNA’s focus and objectives are related to issues of importance to pensioners and older Canadians; our comments on your budget relate specifically to measures that impact on this sector of society. FSNA is nonetheless pleased about the budget measures aimed at assisting families and at improving the environment.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the members of the Congress of National Seniors’ Organizations, to the news media, and is being posted on our FSNA’s Web site (www.fsna.com).
Sincerely,
G. Dennis Jackson
National President
