Canada Pension Plan – Huge Increase Announced

A NEW LEARNING
Canada Pension Plan – Huge Increase Announced

My worries are over.
The Federal Government yesterday, announced a whopping increase to Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Payment Rates. Prime Minister Harper made the announcement to a shocked House of Commons, citing it as one of the integral steps to the stimulus package. He stated that he believes that seniors with this fresh incentive money will boost the economy significantly. He described how with limited incomes, seniors have been compelled to locate inexpensive beverages and food at Tim Horton’s and MacDonald’s franchises for years. He wants to encourage seniors to enjoy the occasional Starbucks latte and Keg steak dinner.

Harper’s announcement estimates that twenty-eight million dollars has been designated to finance the substantial boost in CPP benefits. Here is the way it breaks down. At age 65 the maximum monthly benefit to Canadians has been $908.75. This has been raised to $1500 per month effective May 1 2009. Survivors benefit (under age 65) was $506.38 and is now $1000 per month. The entire CPP payment Plan can be found at http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/isp/pub/factsheets/rates.shtml

The Prime Minister has also announced the unusual option that seniors may choose to have their CPP as one annual lump sum rather than monthly payments. If a senior signs to accept this option within the next ten days, there is a signing bonus of $5000.00. Mr. Harper indicated that his desire is that seniors with these substantial amounts of money will be encouraged to spend. This will assist the recovery of our sagging economy. He also indicated that if anyone over 65 years of age purchases a new car between April 1 and June 1 2009 the Federal Government will provide an interest free loan of up to $20,000. Needless to say, with the ageing population, and the imminent possibility of another election, Mr. Harper is counting upon a huge support from the senior sector of the nation and pundits and journalists believe he will get the majority government for which he has been looking.

An April 7th Addendum: Readers who happen to look back to this entry after the April 1st date may not associate it with the April 1st joke it was intended to be. That's what it is. Here is a link to a government page with an actual January 1st 2009 increase in the CPP rate and opportunity to ask a commissioner any private question concerning your entitlement. http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=426809

Canadian Federal Administration Dismays Me

A NEW LEARNING
I have too much unfocused time and use a great deal of it to reflect on details of life that I ignored before I retired. I have harangued about this before but it irks me still. Obama’s White House government website is impressively classy, regal, and so very user friendly and informative and Obama is front and centre. Our Canadian Parliament site is tightly packed, minimalist and visually challenging and Harper is just a name, no visuals. I wrote a polite note to the Parliament website managers with some suggestions and detected in the following days that someone in the Parliament building had looked at my blog and art sites trying to know who I was. I received no acknowledgment of my note even though suggestions are welcomed. Maybe that was one of the jobs cut in this downturn.

I know that our Prime Minister is subject to parliamentary confidence while the US President is independent of the legislature. Stephen Harper is viewed as one of the many elected officers. Obama is viewed as the Chief as in "Hail to the Chief." Harper fits within Canada’s constitutional monarchical form of government while Obama operates within the American federal constitutional republic. In some ways that seems more pluralistic and democratic. I wish that we could accord to our prime ministerial leader a greater dignity and distinction than we do.

Stephen Harper gets a good deal of negative press. He has brought some of it upon himself. He and his inner circle goofed before Christmas. It is also directed at him because that is how we treat politicians in Canada – badly. He has shown some executive weaknesses as well as many strengths. By the skin of his prorogued teeth Harper is still on the same side of the House. We are moving forward with the Conservative plan for economic recovery but Harper’s hold on power is tenuous.He will stay there as long as the opposition parties (Liberals are key) allow him. I voted for him. I am trusting that his plan will work. But I am concerned.

Harper is almost invisible to the average Canadian. When did you last see Harper before the camera, talking to the press, taking time to talk to a city of people about the economic recovery strategy and listening to their stories. News networks profile every other piece of news, even the token animal story before I see Harper. How can I help but to contrast Canadian leadership with American leadership. I watch Obama almost daily with some clip of him in some American city or at this week’s second weekly Presidential Press Conference. I watch him because I can. He is news. He makes news. He speaks and it becomes news. Harper is unavailable. He is almost silent. He is closeted somewhere. Oh, I forgot. He was in our House of Commons where daily he must compete to talk more commandingly than the opposition amid catcalls and hissing. And you can watch this circus in action if you choose to do so. It’s no wonder Canadians turn to Jeopardy and American Idol.

See Obama's Feb 14 and 2nd press conference at the White House site (4:45 min)

Harper has not addressed the Press since November 8. Oh yes, and back to websites. The Conservative Party site which is colourful and is easily navigable merely leads you to outdated documents. Press the large photo on the first page of the site and you get a November 2008 statement about the economic action plan. I can’t tell you how this dismays me. This is our governing federal party. I can keep things more current than this. The True North Strong and Free is the Party’s 2008 plan presented before the last election. OK! Enuf already, I agree.