FSNA participates in the pre-budget consultations
FSNA participates in the national consultations on budget actions to protect Canada’s economy, which will lead to the federal budget to be tabled on January 27.
In a brief submitted earlier this month to the Department of Finance, FSNA urged the Government of Canada to provide the leadership and to take the necessary initiatives to help Canadian seniors age well and achieve financial security, now and into the future.
To that effect, FSNA submitted three recommendations regarding the Canada Health Infoway, required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds, and occupational pension coverage. Click here to access FSNA’s brief.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Although the services we consume are varied all over the country the common denomitors are: HOUSING,ENERGY, HEALTHCARE,UTIITIES,TRANSPORTATION,FOOD,CLOTHING,TAXES- FEDERAL,PROVINCIAL, MUNICIPAL, PST,GST AND INCOME. These charges consume 80% of Candian income leaving us 20% for the so called luxuries of life. When do you suppose the annual inflation rates will reflect these real COST values and depart from the insulting 2.4-3.4% increases the Pension Administrators seem to justify utilizing whatever numbers that best suite their objectives to minimize the pension increases year over year. The biggest insult is when you compare Fed. Pension increases to Prov. pension increases. In 2008 the Fed increase was 3.4% and the BC increase was 0.7%. This was justified by BC by averaging the last 3 years of increases which were then identified as yieldng an average of 2.05% over that period. I guess you can good back to 1946 when there was a one time increase of 17% to catch up and use that figure to make the small increases of 0.7% more paletable. Canadians are not stupid just apathetic.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:40 am
When you stack up pension income against the welfare immigrants receive to restablish themselves, while we who have contributed to our Country’s economy for years are more often than not overlooked by government. Not just the current government but systemically by all governments.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I read the FSNA’s brief with interest. The FSNA continues to communicate our concerns to the government in ways that get the attention of highly placed government officials. The FSNA approach to advocacy has proved to be the best way to go to protect the interests of its members. As Branch President of the Medicine Hat & District Branch, I have communicated to our local MP the FSNA’s recommendations to the current government regarding the upcoming budget.
In these times of economical uncertainty, clear and non-adversarial communications with government is essential to protect our benefits. I intend to keep our MP informed of the needs of our members and seniors in general and believe that to be the best way to garner his support and believe all branches should do the same.