[onetwo_threefour]

Did a search and didn't find anything so apologies if this is a Fata.

I got an email last night that struck me as interesting on a couple of levels. On the one hand the actual content of the Bill being discussed in the email, but secondly, the nature of these political emails forwarded to hundreds of people that I seem to get from people all the time now. I thought this might raise an interesting discussion on either or both issues, so I have copied the email below removing the identifying info.

The Billl itself proposes an amendment to the Old Age Security pension allowing immigrants to qualify for pensions with only 3 years of Canadian residency instead of the current 10. The tone of the email is quite clear in what the author thinks about this proposal. I have my own thoughts and sent a lengthy reply back but I was curious as to other people's responses to this type of email and whether you get this type of political communication in your inbox and how you respond to this type of thing.

Originally Posted by The Email

More on Bill C-428. I think it's time to make sure this bill does not go through! Join me and write your MP!


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: <deleted>
To: <deleted>
Sent: Fri, January 7, 2011 2:31:49 PM
Subject: Fw: Bill #C-428 - Old Age Pension Reform


Hi Where does it end. What´s next... Norval & Ann..

--- On Thu, 1/6/11, <deleted> wrote:

Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 6:29 PM


I totally disagree, something has to be done!!!!!

If this doesn't affect you..it will sooner or later. Please pass on to those who fall into this category.

Please read and hopefully follow thro'
Dear Ms. Consul:

I am pleased to respond to your electronic message, which was forwarded to me by the Office of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, regarding private member's Bill C-428.

As you know, Bill C-428 proposes to amend the Old Age Security Act to reduce the residence requirement for entitlement to a monthly pension from ten years to three years. This private member's bill was introduced in the House of Commons by M..P. Ruby Dhalla, a Liberal Opposition Member.

As the Minister responsible, I have been very clear that when this Bill comes forward we will strongly oppose it.

The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is paid to seniors in recognition of the contribution that they have made to Canadian society, the economy, and their community. The OAS program is non-contributory and is based solely on age and residence in Canada after the age of 18. The ten-year residence rule is consistent with many other countries that have residence or contribution requirements associated with their national pensions to ensure that benefits are given in proportion to years of residence or affiliation with their pension programs. With this in mind, it is felt that the current ten-year residence requirement represents a balance between a reasonable contribution to Canadian society and the right to receive a lifelong pension.

It is estimated that reducing the ten-year eligibility requirement to three years would cost over $700 million annually in additional OAS and Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits. Given that the OAS program is funded entirely from general tax revenues, this would be costly and place an additional burden on the Canadian taxpayer..
Yours sincerely,
The Hon. Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development


Bill #C-428 [THANKS TO RUBY DHALLA AND BOB RAE]
Only if you disagree with this Bill ... pass this message along.


This bill should not have seen the light of day ... and yet it will receive second reading at the next sitting of parliament.

Please read the bill and make your own decision. If you disagree with the bill send this to everyone over the age of 50 in your address book ... or those who may be turning 50 a few years.

Hopefully, by letting your member of parliament know your feelings on the bill, it will be defeated..

If you agree with the bill you don't need to do anything..

URGENT ATTENTION About Our OAS pensions Bill C-428 An Act to Amend the Old Age Security Act (residency requirements)



Bill C-428 will allow recent immigrants to apply for OAS in 3 years instead of the existing 10.


This bill had first reading in the house on June 18, 2009.It was seconded by Bob Rae! MP Ms Ruby Dhalla who introduced the bill represents the riding of Brampton whose population is mainly East Indian.Right now you have to have lived in Canada for 10 years in order to qualify for Old Age Security. She wants the time reduced to 3 years. Thousands could come to Canada when they are 62 years old, never having worked or contributed to this country's tax system, etc and qualify for full Old Age Security benefits. 10 years minimum is reasonable - 3 is not!

Look this up, Google C-428 and you will see this bill has only one purpose, and that is to 'featherbed' a select group of people for votes.

I certainly hope this bill does not get passed. It is about time we called our elected MP's to ask them to NOT support this bill. Their response may be one factor in helping us determine who gets elected in the next election.

What Can You Do?

1. Spread the message to family, friends and e-mail buds.

2. Write letters, send e-mails to all your list and call Members of Parliament

It is time Canada looked after it's vets and long-term citizens before tossing OUR hard-earned money around on people who have no right to this money, never having 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 do it.




There are too many people abusing the generosity of the Canadian people.. We need to stop this NOW. We, our children and our grand children currently owe the global investment community over $500 billion dollars ... the sum of our accumulated National Debt that is never publicized.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now READ THIS..

Canada Pensions...
Only in Canada
* It is interesting to know that the federal Government of Canada allows :

• <LI style="COLOR: black" class=yiv500669224MsoNormal>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 Beautiful Big Country during 40 or 50 years, CANNOT receive more than :

• Amount/month $1,012.00 in Old Age Pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement

X 12 months
============





$12,144.00 annual income

• A difference of : $16,776.00 per year

* Perhaps our senior citizens should ask for the Status of Refugees instead of applying for Old Age Pension.

* Let us send this message to as many Canadians as possible, and maybe the allowance of refugee could then be reduced to $1,012.00, and that of our Canadian pensioners raised to $2,470.00 per month. (who actually deserve it) the money that they have been paying in income taxes for 40 or 50 years,

AN INCREDIBLE NONSENSE !!!
OUR CANADIAN SENIORS CITIZENS, DESERVE BETTER
Please circulate this text to see the reaction of your contacts !

I did a little looking into this and there is an interesting discussion here:

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/canadian...ics/bill-c-428

that I think provides a bit more context to the discussion. To some degree I'm interested in what people actually think about the Bill itself, but I think the actual form of communication and this new kind of political discourse, the 'political chain letter email', is an equally compelling topic for discussion.