Currently there is a lot of fear over what is to become of
Canada’s OAP (Old Age Pension).
Certainly, with his involvement in the bail out of Greece, I
can understand Harper’s fears of Canada falling into a similar situation.
However, unlike Greece, Canada has many ways to prevent such
a disaster.
One of the fears is, where will we get the money for all the
forthcoming pensioners? Well, for
one we shouldn’t reduce the number of years required to become eligible. I am talking
about the mandate that requires a new citizen to be a resident for 10 years.
Now they want to reduce that to 3 years. That alone will triple the number of
new pensioners. This should be
reversed. To reduce the number of pensioners increase the requirement to 20
years or better yet, to be eligible a person must have been born in Canada.
Finding sufficient funds is not a problem, just reduce, or
do away with, the extravagant pension that was recently awarded to members of Parliament.
They certainly haven’t done anything, or been on the job
long enough, to deserve a pension.
In any other business an employee has to be with the company for 20
years. Why should they, or a new
comer to Canada, be in line for a pension after only 3 years?
