Moose Jaw Forum

Sledge wrote:Here is some insight into "Federal" compensation which mentions Federal pensions: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/report/orp/200 ... 12-eng.asp

Some retired CF Personnel "double-dip': http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009 ... 67991.html

Several MPs collect Pensions according to this article: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/201007 ... nt-100714/

What's the odds he "turned it down" - slim?
Rather disgusting overall the way public money is abused!!

Thanks for the links Sledge.
I read down and see Boughen is collecting a teacher's pension - double dipping grey haired bast++d...

One thing I can`t understand is that with the demographics of Moose Jaw, this will affect a lot of the local people. So why haven`t we heard anything about this or what the locals thing about this in the local media? Media outlets across the country are all talking about it, so what gives, the local media too buddy, buddy with Ray to say anything?

Worries in Saskatchewan over possible OAS changes
Saskatchewan seniors will take a stand against possible changes to Old Age Security, says the vice-president of a local senior’s organization. Federal government musings about reforming the country’s pension system are raising big concerns for people contemplating retirement, despite assurances that any potential changes won’t be immediate, said Betty Pickering, first vice-president of the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism. “I think that this government needs to know that seniors do not support this and that there will be opposition and that opposition will grow,” Pickering said. “With the increase in the price of food, and in Saskatchewan look at the cost of housing and house rentals and the like, this is bad timing and it’s also against one of the most vulnerable groups.” The seniors mechanism plans to hold a news conference further outlining its concerns Wednesday. The federal government hasn’t revealed what changes could be in store, but it’s believed that one possibility is raising the eligibility for OAS from 65 to 67.The Conservatives have promised an adjustment period so possible reforms don’t hurt Canadians close to retirement, while also issuing reassurances that seniors who are receiving OAS benefits today won’t see any changes. Local MP Tom Lukiwski last week noted the number of seniors is expected to climb significantly by 2030 and said there are concerns the program could become unsustainable without changes. But Pickering, who is also president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Union Retirees, said adjusting OAS isn’t necessary. The provincial NDP also attacked the possible changes Tuesday, and urged the Saskatchewan Party government to take a similar stand. “It’s another example of costs being shifted from the federal government to the province,” said Cam Broten, NDP critic for employment and seniors. “As seniors would be earning less, there would be a greater need, a greater demand on many of the programs that the province provides.” The situation has created a great deal of uncertainty for people who already have most of their working career behind them, Broten said. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour also called on the province to oppose any proposed pension cuts. But the provincial government said it would be premature to comment on possible OAS changes when it’s not clear what may be in store.“We have yet to see the details of what the federal government is proposing, except what has been talked about in the media,” the Sask. Party government said in a statement issued by media services.“Our government will continue to support seniors, as we have proven, through increases in the Saskatchewan Income Plan and doubling the number of seniors eligible, senior housing, introducing the Low Income Seniors Drug Plan, etc. Single low-income seniors have up to $1,200 more annually because of our government’s tax changes. Low income seniors have nearly $2,000 more per year.”
http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Worries+ ... story.html

It just clearly demonstrates the "biased attitude" of the local media and the fact that they are either unwilling or not allowed to do any real investigative reporting! Plus, Harper has such a "tight rein" on his MPs that they aren't really allowed to say much!

Except Tony Clement-bet his riding won't get any more pork for a while! LOL. If anyone had read Harper's comments while in the Alliance(or excerpts from his thesis)none of this should come as a surprise-he loves how they do things in the good old USA! Ray has never had an opinion of his own-why would he start now?

It is sort of ironic that Ray is out there selling this pension reform here locally when it is going to hurt a lot of people here including many of his former students that he earned his other pension from.
Ironically while this measure is being debated Ray will be closing in on his other this time really gold plated MP pension.....
The thing I cannot understand about all of this how could Harper attack the OAS that keeps many of the people who voted for him in their homes?
As a master of distraction I wonder what he is really up to and is thos just a distraction tactic to actually sell something else?

Is this the making for another Harpo Flip Flop?

Most Canadians don’t want seniors to wait longer for pension benefits: poll
OTTAWA — Three-quarters of Canadians oppose raising the age of eligibility — from 65 to 67 — for the Old Age Security (OAS) benefit, a new poll has found. The national survey by Ipsos Reid, conducted this week for Postmedia News and Global TV, suggests Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government could have a tough publicrelations battle on its hands as it moves forward with plans to reform the country’s public pension plan. John Wright, senior vice president of Ipsos Reid, said in an interview that the potential policy shift — making seniors wait two years longer for pension benefits — is clearly unpopular when considered ”in black and white.”
“This dog won’t hunt,” said Wright.
However, he cautioned that public opinion could shift once the government’s plans are actually announced and if Harper successfully explains the financial necessity for scaling back rising pension scheme costs.
Still, he said the political ramifications less than a year into the majority Conservative government’s four-year mandate are clear.
“I think Harper’s going to weather a storm, because it comes at a time when the Liberals and NDP are rejuvenating and this is something which they can grab on to,” said Wright.
“This is red meat for the opposition parties. It gives them the first chance to nail the government on something which is widely recognized as sacrosanct. They are going to take this flag and run it up the tallest poll, and will muster every source for demonstrations on the Hill.”
Among the findings the poll:
• 74 per cent of Canadians oppose increasing the OAS age eligibility from 65 to 67.
• Women (81 per cent) are more likely to opposed, compared with men (66 per cent);
• Canadians aged 35 to 54 (81 per cent) are also most likely to be in opposition, followed by Canadians aged 55 and over (73 per cent) and 18 to 34 (64 per cent);
• Opposition is strongest in Atlantic Canada (86 per cent), followed by those living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (76 per cent), Ontario (75 per cent), Quebec (75 per cent), British Columbia (71 per cent) and Alberta (58 per cent).

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

Maybe a certain Conservative senator will be franking out ropes to pensioners as a cost saving measure...