As Health costs Soar, business seeks a remedy

This article from the Globe and Mail further perpetuates the idea that health care costs are unsustainable. (See "The "Unsustainability" Myth"). Note also that the ones who say they want to help, i.e. banks and insurance companies have a vested interest. They are the ones who would make massive profits, (as if they don't already), from either complete or partial privatization of health care in Canada.

What do you wanna bet that the resulting report from Bay Street will recommend at least partial privatization or the sky will fall?

Oh, and of further note is that even before Harper entered politics he headed up the National Citizen's Coalition, whose sole raison d'etre was to privatize health care in Canada.

The "Unsustainability" Myth

This is a very interesting article from The CCPA Monitor, published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. The author, Robert Evans, is a University Killam Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of British Columbia and a member of that university’s Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. He is an officer of the Order of Canada, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Services.

"The central fact is that apart from periods of recession, spending on Medicare - hospitals and physicians' services - has remained fairly steady, fluctuating between 4% and 5% of GDP since 1975."

Mr. Evans says the appearance of escalating Medicare costs has been manufactured by substantial cuts to personal and corporate income taxes by the federal and most provincial governments. Governments have deliberately, and unnecessarily deprived themselves of the revenue they need for all the social programs they fund, not just Medicare. Most of the benefits have gone to high-income individuals and highly profitable corporations, and not to needy Canadians. This is otherwise known as taking from the poor and giving to the rich.

Read more:
The "Unsustainability" Myth

Pension Panel, Part 1 & 2

Only 1 in 10 Canadians is financially secure at retirement age.

Watch this video  from the CBC News web site:
CBC.ca Player (Part 1)
CBC.ca Player (Part 2)

Pooled pension consensus reached

Finance Minister Flaherty continues talks with his provincial counterparts in Kananaskis in Alberta. Flaherty says he won't support any CPP expansion because not all provinces are on board, despite the plan being strongly supported by six provinces.

Instead Flaherty says he and his provincial and territorial counterparts have agreed to create a pooled private pension plan for small businesses, employees and the self-employed. The pooled pension plan "will make well-regulated, low-cost, private-sector pension plans accessible to millions of Canadians who have up to now not had access to such plans," he said.

Read more on CBC News:
Flaherty: Pooled pension consensus reached

Boomers put health at top of retirement priorities

From CTV News

"The first of the baby boomers hit the official age of retirement in 2011 and many are wondering whether they’ve saved enough, according to RBC’s most recent RRSP poll. But this cohort is dedicating as much thought to their medical files as to their portfolios. Health and wealth are closely connected for the generation on track to live longer, healthier lives than any generation before."

Read more:
CTV News Boomers put health at top of retirement priorities

Harper Government Kills Bill C311 and Funding For Canadian Climate Research

The most anti-science Prime Minister this country has ever had has not only killed Bill C311, but Harper has also cut funding for the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences.

From the Vancouver Sun:
"The budget crunch at the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences comes on the heels of revelations that the government is leasing out the coast guard breaker CCGS Amundsen – Canada’s most advanced research ship for the study of climate change – to none other than BP and Imperial Oil so they could study the impact of drilling in the delicate Arctic ecosystem."

Harper got the Liberal dominated Senate to kill  bill C311, something virtually unheard of in this country after MPs had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill and it had passed second reading! Once again Harper thwarts democracy in order to further his own agenda: promoting his home province's oil industry.

This comes just before the UN Climate talks in Cancun! I'm ashamed to be a Canadian - once again Canada has been awarded the "Fossil of the Day" award for lack of action on climate change.

Read more: Harper Government Ends Funding for Climate Research Organization
Read more: Harper Government Kills Funding 

URGENT ATTENTION about Our OAS pensions

Bill C-428 An Act to Amend the Old Age Security Act (residency requirements)

This bill had first reading in the house on June 18, 2009. MP Ms. Ruby Dhalla, who introduced the bill, represents the riding of Brampton whose population is mainly South Asian. At present one must have resided in Canada for 10 years in order to qualify for Old Age Security. This bill will reduce that 10 years to 3 years; thousands could come to Canada at age 62, having never worked or contributed to this country's tax system, and 3 years later qualify for full Old Age Security benefits. 10 years minimum is reasonable - 3 is not!

This bill should never have seen the light of day... and yet it will receive second reading at the next sitting of parliament.

It is time that Canada looked after its vets and long-term citizens before handing OUR hard-earned money over to people who have no right to this money, having never paid taxes or contributed to our economy. There are too many people abusing the generosity of the Canadian people. We need to stop this NOW.

Now READ THIS…

The Government of Canada allows a monthly pension of:
$1,890.00 to a simple refugee
Plus: $580.00 in social aid
A grand total of $2,470.00 monthly X 12 months = $28,920.00 annual income.

By comparison, the Old Age Pension of a senior citizen who has contributed to the development of our country for 40 or 50 years, CANNOT receive more than:
$1,012.00 a month in Old Age Pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement X 12 months = $12,144.00 annual income.

This is a whopping difference of $16,776.00 per year! Perhaps our senior citizens should apply for Refugee Status instead of applying for Old Age Pension.

INCREDIBLE NONSENSE! OUR CANADIAN SENIOR CITIZENS DESERVE BETTER!!
What Can You Do?

1. Spread the message to family, friends and colleagues.
2. Write letters, send e-mails to friends, and call your Member of Parliament.
3. Sign the online petition STOP Bill C-428.

It is time Canada looked after its vets and long-term citizens before handing OUR hard-earned money over to people who have no right to this money, having never paid taxes or contributed to our economy. If a family wishes to bring elderly relatives here and are willing to waive their own right to collect these funds in order that the elderly relatives can receive them... fine. Otherwise, do not expect the Canadian taxpayers to provide for them.