News

In our riding of Nanaimo--Cowichan, 16% of our neighbours are seniors and that number is rising. It is important that our seniors are able to access income support programs and tax credits necessary to live healthy and enjoyable retirements. Below is some information regarding income support programs, as well as some statements I've made regarding the difficulties faced by seniors in our community.

Canadian Pension Plan

By: Darrell Bellaart, Daily News

Powerful emotions overcame David Munro as he carried the Olympic flame through Hope on Sunday.

Munro is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran who lived in Nanaimo for several years. He wept as he ran through the Fraser Valley town.

The 73-year-old man was overcome by thoughts of soldiers lost while he served as a United Nations peacekeeper in international hotspots such as the Suez Canal, the Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip.

By: Darrell Bellaart, The Daily News

Seniors will not be reimbursed for federal government pension shortfalls caused by an error in how Statistics Canada calculated the rate of inflation.

The federal government has no plan to correct the error, which resulted in a slight underestimation of the consumer price index between 2001 and 2006.

A.J. Murch, a 75-year-old Nanaimo pensioner, got that news in a letter from the office of Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise and speak to the motion presented by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour. In the motion the member put forward the notion that the government should, as quickly as possible, implement a genuine income support program for older workers who lost their jobs in order to ease their transition from active employment to pension benefits. Of course, nowhere in that motion does the member indicate that there should not be other measures as well as income support to bridge people into pensions when they involuntarily lose their employment.

The New Democrats will be supporting this motion. We recognize that older workers in our communities from coast to coast to coast are suffering in the current economic downturn.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo-Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Halifax.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP):  
    Mr. Speaker, the recent Conservative budget disappointed seniors once again.
    In my riding of Nanaimo--Cowichan, 16% of our neighbours are seniors and that number is rising. They depend on the OAS and GIS for part of their income, but there was no increase for them in the budget.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Victoria.

Before I get into some specifics around Bill C-36, much has been talked about in terms of the Canada pension plan and how its investment in the stock market has been such a good thing. Yet when members raise issues around health care, how do they address the fact that the Canada pension plan has money invested in tobacco companies?

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the motion. I want to thank the member for Sault Ste. Marie for sharing his time with me and for very ably outlining some of the issues facing veterans. I must thank the member for Sackville—Eastern Shore for his tireless work on behalf of veterans and their families.