Presented by Hon. Judy Sgro, MP

Liberal Critic for Seniors, Pensions and the Status of Women

Cynicism and Anger as Instruments of Change

The ignorance or suppression of one voter in a

democracy impairs the security of all.

John F. Kennedy

In an age when half of the population does not take the time to vote in a federal election;

In an era where partisan membership is on the general decline; and

In a period when cynicism and anger seem to be the watchwords of the public attitude toward political leadership…

Conventions such as this one are important events that help to shape the future of Canada. Your presence and participation are key factors in a successful democracy.

Following the election of Stephen Harper as Prime Minister in January of 2009, the political spectrum in Canada slowly began to shift.

The Reform-style philosophy began to transform the way the federal government conducted itself on a range of long standing policy areas.

Pensions, foreign aid, healthcare funding, environmental regulation and social supports for the vulnerable, were each to be changed.

Canadians are typically kind, compassionate, and deeply concerned about the health and well-being of the planet and those on it.

But for 6-years the Conservative government has employed a specific and aggressive strategy designed to increase cynicism and anger within the general population.

The goal – to get the average voter to check-out when it comes to the happenings in Ottawa

The government has been able to make changes that would never have been possible otherwise.

For example – after Brian Mulroney partially de-indexed pensions in his 1995 budget, protesters shouted “you lied to us.” In his so-called “goodbye Charlie Brown” moment, the PM

was forced to back down.

Mr. Harper’s changes go much further but the public response has been quiet at best.

Prior to the Great Depression, most Canadian social services were delivered by a patchwork of religious, volunteer and charitable organizations.

Families and communities looked after each other.

It was not a perfect system so your parents and grandparents began to push for change. That change is now under threat.

But the government has been smart about how it has unveiled their cuts…

Current seniors and those over 54 years of age have been told that the changes won’t hurt them;

Working Canadians (who aren’t thinking about their pensions yet) have been told the change is WAY off in the distance; and

Young Canadians have been sold the sustainability / intergenerational argument

Despite the government rhetoric to the contrary, the reality is that these kinds of

social rollbacks hurt each one of us.

If something as “untouchable” as pensions can be cut today, what can/will be cut

tomorrow?

Public inaction has (in part) permitted this and it is up to us to re-inspire the Canadian

people.

1. By showing that Liberal values are Canadian values;

2. By advancing evidence-based policies;3. By staying true to the Liberal legacy on

things like pensions (see below)…

Whether we are referencing the Old Age Pensions Act (delivered by the Mackenzie King Government), the OAS Act (delivered

by the Louis St. Laurent Government), or the Canada Pension Plan and GIS (both delivered by the Lester Pearson Government), Liberals

have a legacy of valuing the long-term pension security of Canadians. As we move forward, the Liberal Party is again needed to step forward and build upon this legacy by fortifying and strengthening these essential

societal benefits.

Liberal Governments responded to the changing nature of the family with several programs.

Old Age Security;CPP;The GIS;Spousal allowance;Income Supplement; andVarious private options (RRSPs)

These changes reduced poverty in seniors.

On paper it may seem as though Canada has already addressed the challenges presented by an aging population.

Despite this, retirement income security continues to be a looming matter that requires constant attention.

300,000 Canadian seniors live below the poverty line but not everyone agrees on the role of government in solving that problem.

This is part of the reason that I am here today speaking to you.

I want to start by outlining what I think should be done.

As the Liberal Critic for Seniors and Pensions I have spend a good portion of the last 3 years travelling the country and speaking to working class Canadians.

My recommendations are taken directly from the feedback I have received from that effort. I put those ideas into something called a White Paper

Enhancing the existing CPP;

Create a Supplemental CPP;

Create a Pension Income Bill of Rights;

Immediately review the manner in which “Cost of Living” is calculated for the purposes of OAS/GIS/CPP.; and

Allow surviving spouses to receive 100% of a deceased spouse's pension entitlement;

The SCPP would be a defined benefit, group pension plan opportunity for every Canadian – regardless of their age or employment status. This kind of plan is usually reserved for employees of governments or large corporations but we believe it should be available to everyone.

The SCPP would be a simple, secure and easy to understand pension plan for all Canadians.

The SCPP would not be linked to employment and would therefore not penalize stay-at-home parents, self-employed individuals, farmers and a host of other who leave the workforce for a range of reasons.

To create rights which would require that all Canadians have a chance to accumulate retirement income in a plan that will be there in the long-term;

To promote good administration of retirement income plans and to ensure that members of these plans regularly receive good, plain-language information on a regular basis; and

To set out, in law, the goals to which we aspire to legislatively, as they relate to retirement income.

Having our elderly live in poverty or near poverty is simply not acceptable in a country as wealthy as Canada.

Statistics Canada estimates that Canada’s

population over the age of 65 could reach an unprecedented 10.9 million by 2036.

Seniors today and in the future deserve respect and dignity in their golden years.

Of course the current federal government has a very different plan and vision for the future of Canadian seniors.

The two main elements of that plan are…

1.The creation of something called a Pooled Registered Pension Plan;

2.The alteration of the CPP to financially punish those who take their pension prior to the age of 70; and

3. Increasing the qualifying age for OAS

These three steps will accomplish one primary thing…

All future Canadian seniors will be required to work longer and harder before retiring.

This will include those who work in blue-collar, physically demanding jobs, those who become ill, and those who are not able to get employment due to their age.

This is the question that the current government desperately hopes you will not think about.

They have specifically designed their proposals to divide the public.

For example, only those under the age of 54 will be denied their OAS at the age of 65. (I guess this means that everyone under the age of 54 will enjoy endless health and high incomes – they will successfully invest their extra money for use during retirement).

It would be easy for you to say “this does not impact on me so why should I care.”

But I truly hope that you will look at the bigger picture.

After all, just imagine if your parents and grandparents had permitted seniors benefits to be slashed in days past. Canada’s social safety net would never have been woven.

You are the people who built this nation.

You survived the depression, defended the country in times of war, built the hospitals and schools we count on, and elected the governments that put things like CPP in place.

Don’t let any government take retirement security away from your children and grandchildren.

While right now you are worrying about other things… pension security is important. If you wait, it may be too late.

If you don’t have extra money in your budget now, how can you be expected to invest EXTRA amounts for your retirement?

As we age our health generally deteriorates. You are strong and healthy today but what if that changes. Do you really want to HAVE work until you are 67… how about 70…?

Retirement is the furthest thing from your mind right now but one day, pension security will become VERY important.

If governments are allowed to hurt the most vulnerable, who will be next. Without a social conscious, improved access to schools and other similar issues may be the next thing on the chopping block.

Every reputable expert agrees – there are no issues of sustainability or intergeneration equity with OAS

We are sitting at a crossroads and you have the power to decide which way we go.

Will you allow the CPP and the OAS to be reduced today and in the future?

Will you allow your children to be forced to work until they are 67, 70, 75… ???

Will you allow Canada to adopt a fend-for-yourself approach to senior’s benefits.

The true value of a nation can be gauged by the manner in which it treats the most vulnerable of its people.

The Liberal Party of Canada cannot and should not accept the fact that many of our elderly are living at or near the poverty line.

Pension income security is a Liberal policy objectives shared widely by Canadians in every region of Canada.

The Conservative Party of Canada has been clear… they are prepared to slash seniors pension and income benefits for the sake of short term austerity.

Put another way, they are prepared to pay for their jets and jails on the backs of Canadian tomorrow’s seniors.

Liberals know there is another way… a better way and we have put our plan on the table. Take a look for yourself.

I look forward to the other ideas and suggestions that are discussed today

&

I would urge you to keep the pressure on your governments at all levels – pension reform is a subject that should matter to

us all.