Retiree Matters

Retiree Matters is a monthly column written by members of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC) that explores issues relevant to retirees, senior citizens, their families and their communities.

Columnists

Liberals' pension reforms fall woefully short for Canadian workers

While changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) recently adopted by the current federal Liberal government offer some improvement, they do not go far enough.

The legislation includes an increase to the annual payout from 25 per cent to 33 per cent of pre-retirement earnings. In addition, the maximum amount of income covered by the CPP increases from $54,900 to about $82,700 -- once it is fully phased in. However, because the changes do not fully come into effect until 2025, most workers will not have saved enough or contributed a sufficient amount to the CPP and therefore many will be retiring in poverty.

For a government that claims its legislation is fact-based, it has clearly misread the facts.

The facts are:

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We must unite to end gender-based violence

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November 25 is the date chosen by the United Nations to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

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women's rights violence against women abuse domestic violence gender based violence retiree matters gender inequality

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The incredible, irrepressible and witty Nellie McClung

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January 28, 2016 was the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in Manitoba. That date was a day to celebrate the sheer determination of women's suffrage to gain for Canadian women -- for the first time -- equality with men to cast votes and hold provincial office.

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women's equality suffrage Nellie McClung retiree matters right to vote women's vote in Manitoba

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Under the Liberal government, will there be a new year for the old?

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The popular image for the changeover in the calendar combines an old man with an hourglass and scythe giving way to a bouncing baby. As the calendar changes in 2016, how will the lot of seniors change?

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seniors pension plans canadian poverty Old Age Security Canada Pension Plan senior Care retiree matters Retirement Savings pension protection Trudeau government

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Memories of 64 years as political junkies

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I'm a "political junkie." The Wikipedia definition of a political junkie is, "One who is obsessed by all things political and votes in every election." So, yes, that's me, but I'd like to add that I believe political junkies also need to get involved in politics as party members, volunteers, as well as candidates.

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Being Mortal: Examining our ideas about living and dying

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Everyone knows about Halloween but few remember that its origin was as the eve of All Saints' Day on November 1. This day honours not so much the big-name saints like Saint Peter but our ancestors who are now in heaven. Or as Dylan Thomas poetically put it, "those no longer willing with us." In small Italian towns, on November 1, like the one my wife is from, people go to the cemetery to clean the graves and place fresh flowers on them.

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death Seniors' Care home care assisted living end of life retiree matters well-being public institutions

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Women face gender inequality at every stage of working life

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My mother, Barbara, was a lovely, energetic, innovative and resourceful woman: she was a published author of science fiction, selling her first article to John Bull when she was only 17; she was an accomplished dressmaker, taught herself French polishing, and built her own business around each of these skills. Our home was her workshop. During the Second World War, she served as a plotter in England's Auxiliary Territorial Service.

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women's rights economic inequality canadian poverty Gender Discrimination retiree matters workforce Retirement Savings gender inequality women's labour Canadian pensions

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Rand Formula: Bitter strike, inspired resolution

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At the end of June, Conservative senators took what Senate Speaker Leo Housakos told the CBC were "draconian steps" to hustle through Bill C-377 just before Parliament's summer break.

The Union Transparency bill forces unions to provide the public with detailed spending accounts. This places an unnecessary administrative burden on labour organizations, a burden other organizations do not bear, and constitutes an invasion of privacy for unions and their employees. Seven provinces have declared their opposition.

C-377 is just the latest anti-union position the right wing has taken.

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Rand Formula workers rights class struggle dues union rights retiree matters Canadian labour history Canadian unions Labour Day 2015

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Debt: The new four-letter word for seniors

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seniors canadian poverty retirement low income household debt retirement security retiree matters Canadian debt

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Fighting for retirement equality: What women need to know

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The second day of the Union Coalition for Free Negotiation's States-General took place in Montreal on April 27, 2015. We heard from distinguished guest speakers who introduced us to the reality of women's pensions vs. those of men. Several statistics emerged, showing realities that the majority of women may not know.

Demographics

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income inequality pension plans OAS wage gap retirement security retiree matters Retirement Savings women workers CPP/QPP

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Retiree Matters

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