The Guardian reports that, “The first in a series of town hall meetings hosted by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Canada’s retirement income system will be held in Charlottetown tonight.”
“The Council of Canadians believes workers who have no pension plan and seniors in particular should attend this meeting to let Flaherty know the reality of how inadequate Canada’s pension system is. Leo Broderick said the present model is failing many Islanders. ‘Despite these public programs many in retirement live in poverty — no senior should live in poverty,’ said Broderick. ‘One thing the federal government must immediately do is increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement substantially.’”
Recent campaign blogs on the pension issue include:
– VIEW: ‘Double CPP benefits’, says Georgetti, http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=787
– NEW: CARP, CLC call for pension reform, national summit, http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=977
– CARP’s pension reform campaign, http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=2060
The Guardian adds, “Public town hall meetings will also be held in Quebec City and Richmond, British Columbia.”
“The consultations will inform discussions at the next meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers of Finance in May, where the retirement income system will be a key agenda item.”
You can read more about these consultations in the campaign blog ‘Federal government to hold hearings on pension reform’ at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=3154.
The Guardian article can be read at http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=335410&sc=98.
