A critical vote on pension reform takes place in the House of Commons on Tuesday, June 16. It's urgent that you contact your MP before that vote. Read this article for an overview of the issue. Then read the other articles for important background information that will help you compose your email. Support CARP's leadership on pension reform. Make your voice heard!

Unlike many Opposition Motions that go nowhere, this one may well have all-party support and your input could make the difference.

The Motion is to
-- increase OAS, GIS and CPP
-- move pensioners closer to the front in case their employers go bankrupt
-- provide a national insurance fund against pension fund failure
-- takes aim at executive compensation.

The full text of the Motion is in the right hand column.

While this motion only applies to the CPP and those who already have pensions, the thorough debate on Thursday covered many of the issues that CARP has advocated on your behalf including
-- the two year moratorium on mandated RRIF withdrawals
-- very importantly, a new retirement savings vehicle, or enhancing the CPP to provide people with the chance to better save for their own retirement.

Although the Motion itself does not specify all of the pension reform issues we have raised, it has engaged the MPs in a debate on retirement security and an affirmative vote on this Motion will help keep pension reform at the front of the parliamentary agenda. The lengthy, and mostly conscientious, debate focussed entirely on older Canadians and the need to better provide for their retirement security.

CARP sent an open letter to all MPs, calling for their support of the Motion and took the opportunity to add our call for the Universal Pension Plan and a Pension Summit at which representatives of retirees will have a material role.

A news release was also issued on Friday.

This is a very opportune time to make your views known to your MP and to the Minister of Finance. You can send your own email or better still, use CARP’s E-voice function (which has a handy drop down list of all the MPs) and tell your MP how you believe he/she should vote on this Motion.

You should copy your email to the Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, his Parliamentary Secretary, Ted Menzies and the leaders of the four political parties. You can copy any part of our Open Letter, write your own message, or simply say: “Please support the Motion to increase OAS, GIS and CPP and better protect our retirement security.”

In reality, the fact of getting your email and having it come it with the “CARP e-voice” banner is as effective as anything you actually say so you do not have to agonize over what you write, just state your opinion. The vote is scheduled for around 5 pm on Tuesday June 16th. Please make sure to get your emails out well before then. This is short notice but it is a great opportunity to give the MPs something to think about as they leave for their summer break!