CARP calls on MPs to separate OAS changes from Budget Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 7, 2012

Toronto, ON: CARP calls on MPs to separate OAS changes from Budget Bill: Open Letter

CARP today issued an open letter calling on MPs to support motions to separate the changes to the OAS eligibility age from the rest of Bill C-38 citing strong opposition from its membership and the fact that it was never put before the electorate. [open letter below]

“CARP members would be shattered to learn that such a fundamental part of our social safety net was rushed through Parliament on the strength of the government’s Parliamentary majority alone, without adequate opportunity for full debate,” said Susan Eng, VP Advocacy, CARP.

Debates on Bill C-38 are limited and the vote to refer the Bill to Committee takes place on Monday, May 14th. Various motions and discussions among house leaders may be taking place to break the massive Budget implementation bill into separate components and CARP is asking that the OAS changes be separated to allow for proper debate.

CARP is on the record that:

  1. The age of eligibility for OAS should not be increased from 65 to 67
  2. If there is a need to relieve budgetary pressures, there are other options such as the potential savings from health care reform or the reduced military spending once the Afghan mission is complete
  3. A fundamental change such as raising the OAS eligibility age should be fully debated especially given that the issue was not put before the voters and the implementation date is far enough away to allow for measured deliberations.

According to CARP Polls™ in the past months, CARP members roundly reject raising the OAS eligibility age and see better ways to help younger Canadians– such as increasing job opportunities.

CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to advocating for a New Vision of Aging for Canada, social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination. CARP seeks to ensure that the marketplace serves the needs and expectations of our generation and provides value-added benefits, products and services to our members. Through our network of chapters across Canada, CARP is dedicated to building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s mission.

For further information, please contact:

 

Michael Nicin 416.607.2479

Director of Policy

[email protected]

 

Pam Maher 416.607.2475

Communications coordinator

[email protected]

 

for

Susan Eng

Vice President Advocacy

[email protected]

CARP, A New Vision of Aging forCanada

or visit our website: www.carp.ca

 

 

OPEN LETTER

May 7, 2012

Dear Member of Parliament

CARP is calling on you to ensure that the changes to the Old Age Security Act contained in Division 24 of Bill C-38 are fully studied and debated before being passed. One option is to separate the OAS changes from the rest of Bill C-38.

Debates on Bill C-38 are moving quickly and we understand that there may be various motions to separate the OAS changes or to otherwise give effect to this result before next Monday’s vote. We urge you to vote in favour of a full and complete debate on the OAS changes which represent a fundamental shift inCanada’s social safety net at a time when Canadians of all ages are concerned about their financial and retirement prospects.

CARP is on the record that:

  1. The age of eligibility for OAS should not be increased from 65 to 67
  2. If there is a need to relieve budgetary pressures, there are other options such as the potential savings from health care reform or the reduced military spending once the Afghan mission is complete
  3. A fundamental change such as raising the OAS eligibility age should be fully debated especially given that the issue was not put before the voters and the implementation date is far enough away to allow for measured deliberations.

According to CARP Polls™ in the past months, CARP members roundly reject raising the OAS eligibility age and see better ways to help younger Canadians– such as increasing job opportunities.

CARP members know that their own OAS will not be affected and do not see how cutting OAS spending would help future generations. Instead, they are calling for measures that will create job opportunities for them as a better way to secure their future. Rather than selfishly guarding their own interests, as has been suggested, CARP members and other older Canadians are defending an important part of the social safety net and do not want to see it torn up for their children and grandchildren

CARP is a national, non-partisan organization advocating for changes that will improve our quality of life as we age. We have 300,000 members and 53 chapters across the country. We communicate with our members through the pages of ZOOMER magazine which has 9 issues annually and our e-newsletter CARP ActionOnline which reaches 95,000 emails. CARP members are politically engaged and actively supportive of CARP’s advocacy initiatives. We expect that CARP members have already made their views known to you directly and will continue to do so.

Sincerely,

Susan Eng, VP Advocacy