SOCIAL CONCERNS:
INTRODUCTION:
Annette O’Connor and Cliff Boldt will be co-chairing the social concerns committee for 2007/2008.
Thank you for being the Social Concerns contact for you Branch. We will be sending out a report after each Directors meeting and we welcome your comments.
We encourage you to send any suggestions you have for future agenda items.
OBJECTIVES FOR 2007 – 2008:
1
Review seniors’ concerns raised by the membership.
2
Prepare information and communicate with the membership and branches
about these issues.
3
Update the list of organizations that could provide speakers to branches
on social concerns issues.
4
Update the directory of information sites for members on social concerns
issues.
5
Encourage BCRTA branches to have a social concerns representative.
SHORT CHANGING OF SENIORS PENSIONS:
For 5 years the OAS and CPP and some private pensions have been short changed if they were tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Government should be paying out what was lost. Canadians were underpaid and many can’t afford to be shortchanged.
Government has changed the rates we are receiving since the error was identified which is good. However, the government refuses to pay the retroactive benefits for CPP and OAS. Government should pay in the same way that they would charge us if we didn’t pay our taxes.
Bill C36 will amend CPP and OAS will provide the retroactivity but you have to apply for this. We need to let members know about this.
We are including a petitions and asking that you circulate it to members and send to Chris Charlton, MP Hamilton Mountain, 129 West Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6.
Websites on this issue: www.unclehughie.com and www.chrischarlton.ca
IDENTITY THEFT:
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George Greenwood, the author of the book In
Your Good Name! Is an excellent guest speaker.
His presentation is a wake up call about identity theft. George has been able to meet with and get the attention of
numerous mayors, MLAs and federal Mps including a number of cabinet ministers.
George was responsible for the writing of the resolution for legislative
change sent by the Surrey Board of Trade to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to
possibly be the advocacy subject for the next year proving that one
person can make a difference.
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The recommendations are:
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That the federal government:
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1. Make
the following amendments to the Criminal Code:
o
A) Clearly defining “identity theft”.
o
B) Defining “personal information” for the
purposes of specifying offences for identity theft in the Criminal Code.
o
C) Creating a criminal offense for unlawful
possession of individuals” personal information.
o
D) Creating a criminal offense for possession
of multiple pieces of identification for a number of individuals without lawful
excuse.
2
Adopt a more holistic approach to the problem of identity
theft by assisting both business and individuals in protecting their personal
information.
3
Increase education for businesses to ensure proper data collection and
handling practices.
4
Ensure that businesses truncate credit card numbers and expiration dates
on purchase slips.
5
Investigate the creation of a government issued “Identity Theft
Passport” to quickly and easily verify a victim’s identity.
Web site:
www.itcanthappentome.ca
TILMA
We are
waiting to see how the BC government will proceed as this is still pending in
the house. The UBCM and Saskatewan
have taken a position opposing this initiative.
-
www.canadians.org/DI/issues/TILMA/index.html
THE PETITION TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN
Bill C22 wants to increase the age of protection from 14 to 16. This bill is being held up in the Senate.
We are including a petition and asking you to circulate it to your members and send it to the Senate.
MSP PREMIUMS FOR SENIORS
Concern was raised about the MSP premiums for seniors with income below $28 000. Many may not know that a subsidy is available.
We are enclosing an article by Joey Thompson and asking that you make this information available to your members.
See the web site HIBC or call 1 800 663 7100 for more information.
VERI CHIPS
These are being now being used in the USA on patients. Transponders are implanted into the patients with health information. In Canada they are only used on animals. We will monitor the situation.
‘PROTECT YOUR MONEY’
This is an investment fraud prevention seminar for ‘Seniors by Seniors’. This is presented by the BC Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors (BCCEA) in association with the BC Securities Commission (BCSC).
Learn how to protect your money, whether you are a seasoned or novice investor, by booking this lively one-hour free seminar and find out how to protect your hard earned money from fraud and unsuitable investments.
Seminars can be booked in the lower mainland and other areas of the province. For more information or to book a seminar for your branch please contact:
NEXT MEETING: November 20, 2007