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Recently I met with some wonderful seniors in my constituency office who had some questions about an error in how Statistics Canada calculated their pension income.
Consequently, I thought it was important to share with seniors the facts regarding Statistics Canada, the Consumer Price Index, and how the Government of Canada calculates seniors’ pension incomes.
When it comes to honouring our public pension system, seniors know that actions speak louder than words.
Under the previous Liberal government, Statistics Canada miscalculated the inflation rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the tool used for measuring inflation and calculating pension benefits for seniors. The impact of this error was one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) between 2001 and 2006.
The CPI can be underestimated. It can also be overestimated. If the inflation rate used to measure seniors’ incomes was found to be too high, we believe it would be wrong and unfair to claw back seniors’ hard-earned dollars. Like all western countries, Canada does not adjust the CPI retroactively.
Earlier this year, Statistics Canada corrected this error and the Consumer Price Index continues to serve as Canada’s best and most accurate tool to measure inflation.
In the meantime, our Government has continued to deliver for seniors by cutting taxes, investing in programs that serve seniors, and continuing to ensure our public pension system remains a world leader. Canada’s seniors deserve no less.
White Cane Week
White Cane Week, which takes place February 3rd to 11th, provides us with the opportunity to stop and consider the reality of living with visual impairment.
How many of us take our sight for granted or forget to accommodate those who are visually impaired? How many of us consider the difficulty some experience in gaining access to resources such as our public libraries. We all agree our local libraries are important sources of learning and information, including access to the internet. But what do the visually impaired do?
The federal government took this into consideration in October when it announced $3 million in funding for the Initiative for Equitable Library Access (IELA) to assist Canadians who are unable to read standard printed material. The funding, through the efforts of Library and Archive Canada, will ensure that all Canadians have access to the resources they need to participate fully in society. In this, the age of information, there could be no better or necessary a goal.
Speaking of participation, I’d like to take the opportunity to let you know that the Blind Curling Bonspiel is taking place this week in Ottawa.
Team Canada, whom I am meeting on Parliament Hill this week, is represented by none other than our own Kelowna team and will defend its championship title for the 4th year in a row. I have no doubt that they will do us proud and bring the Championship home once again.
The bonspiel, organized by the Canadian Council of the Blind is one of the premier events of White Cane Week a week dedicated to celebrating the equal talents and abilities of the blind and visually impaired community.
Events such as this national bonspiel demonstrate the self-sufficiency and determination of the blind and visually impaired and their commitment to maintaining an active lifestyle.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
