George Wallace
Army.ca Dinosaur
- Reaction score
- 59
- Points
- 560
This letter is making the rounds. It is yet another attempt to affect change:
Please read this reply and understand fully what is in fact happening.
We have been down this road before, on a seemingly regular basis. Perhaps we can stop this never ending cycle of petitions by those who are ignorant of the facts.
Good Day
FYI my friends, I have written this letter to the PM in the hope that he will take action to correct this issue and travesty.
Subsequently, if you would be so kind as to assist in helping express your frustration in this policy it would be greatly appreciated by more than you can know.
I am hopeful that the more Canadians who know of this travesty and what their government is doing to their soldiers, the more the PM will be forced to take action and correct this wrong doing.Thankyou.
Mr. Stephen Harper, PM
I speak with thousands of people on a regular basis as I am very involved with the Community. When we gather in a group, subjects are discussed in length and vary significantly. In fact, in such a short period, it is amazing how several discussions can take place and be dissected to the core.
As I am sure you are aware and can appreciate, almost always, the discussion will make it's way around to politics, religion, freedoms, policies and beliefs. The one thing however that should be noted, at the end of the day, everyone walks away agreeing as one.
Mr. Prime Minister, the travesty I have outlined below is within your power to correct, if you do nothing else for the rest of your current tour, you must correct this travesty:It will also more than likely solidify your position for another tour:
Background:
Our men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, those who have served Canada and all Canadians, decide to retire.
They get an extremely meeger pension as long as they have served a minimum of 20 years.
Once they turn 65 years of age, the Canadian Government takes back (claws-back) from these men and women the amount equal to their Canadian Pension Plan (CPP). Subsequently, this meeger pension simply becomes a token with little value after all they have given. Truly an insult.!
Current:
The issue I have, and I believe all Canadians would have (if they were made aware of it), is that these very same unique men and women, pay into and contribute to the Old Age Security (OAS) program their entire lives. They pay into and contribute to the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) their entire lives. They pay into and contribute to the Employment Insurance (EI) program their entire lives. However, at age 65, the government of the very Country they have sworn to protect decide to penalize them, simply for growing older.
The Canadian Forces pension plan that they work towards every moment of their lives//career is their right, more so, than any other plan.
The OAS program in which they have participated and contributed to their entire working life is simply, their right.
The CPP program in which they have participated and contributed to their entire working life is simply, their right.
At no time should one reflect upon the other.
What is being done to these phenomenal men and women is a travesty and I find it discussing and I am embarrassed knowing what I know and that the Canadian government see's nothing wrong with this.
In fact, I have spoken to 1000's of others whom all agree that this travesty must stop and they are appalled that our government would do this to our soldiers.
These are the very bravest of the men and women among us, they are so full of Canadian Pride that they willingly give up their freedom to protect ours. They give of themselves 100% to protect Canada and all of her people.
They ask for nothing in return other than to be treated with the same respect they have so willingly fought for. These proud men and women do not complain that their being mis-treated, they do not demand their rights to be upheld through protest, they do not demand their rights be upheld through striking, they do not demand their rights be upheld by setting up blockades and displacing other Canadians, they do not demand that their rights be upheld by rioting and causing property damage, they do not threaten, they simply take a deep breath, they swallow their pride and they soldier on.
These proud Canadians have given so much of themselves and of their own families that my thoughts wander.......... and the only thing that comes to mind, is.........WHAT IN HELL ARE WE DOING.
I believe if the people of Canada were made aware of this outdated, unfair, almost un-constitutional policy, that, they would rise as one and demand that changes be put into place immediately to protect their Freedom Protectors. They would demand that their Freedom Protectors receive and be treated with the same respect that all Canadians at home demand for themselves.
Mr. Harper, If you want the support of the hundreds of thousands of retired service personnel, their families, in fact all Canadians, listen to what I am saying. If you want to make a difference, if you want to make a stand, you will rise as a proud, caring, compassionate and thankful Canadian and you will demand for all to hear, that our soldiers, those very unique men and women will be treated with respect when they come home and they will be treated with respect upon completion of their tour of duty. They will not be forgotten, they will not be taken advantage of, we will not mistreat them and we will not forget what they have sacrificed. Their tour of duty means something and we value it.
A soldier can retire, a soldier can be removed from service, but a soldier is always a soldier and in or out of active service a soldier honours, protects and gives of themselves 100% of the time, until death.
I put my trust in you and I ask you to take steps to right this very wrong.
You see, Mr Harper, I am not only a Canadian who is appalled by this policy, I am one of those very proud Canadian Soldiers who have fought to protect the freedoms and values of Canada and of all of her people. I continue to do so today.
John Wayne MacMullin, CD1
Retired Warrant Officer
604-819-2997
johnwayne1957@gmail.com
PS: "Mr. Harper, after I proofread this letter..........I cried"........so should you!!!!
Please read this reply and understand fully what is in fact happening.
dapaterson said:There is no claw back. I say again, there is no claw back.
The Canadian Forces Superannuation Act and its related regulations specify what members will receive on their retirement. It is in plain, clear black and white that a portion of the annuity is a bridge benefit, which expires when an individual reaches age 65 and begins to collect benefits under the CPP (or QPP). If, on release, an individual chooses to ignore the briefings where this is explained, there is not much else that can be done.
Contributions are based on the full amount for the life of the member (and suvivors) plus the bridge benefit to age 65. If someone want to increase the benefit, they have to be ready to pay for it.
We have been down this road before, on a seemingly regular basis. Perhaps we can stop this never ending cycle of petitions by those who are ignorant of the facts.