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LETTER: British Pensioners weigh in on election

Editor:
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Editor:

As we approach another federal election all Canadians need to know that an antiquated and unjust British policy of denying Canadian-resident UK-pensioners with annual indexation is costing the Canadian economy close to $1 billion every year. The sole reason for this policy is that these pensioners chose to make Canada, rather than another country like the US, their home.

This immoral policy, one that leaves many of these Canadian-resident pensioners in dire financial straits, unfairly puts Canada in the position of subsidizing these frozen pensioners via social assistance programs. All of the major Canadian party leadership – Conservative, Liberal, Green, and NDP - rightfully express concern about how this situation negatively affects all Canadians.

This wrong can be righted by whichever party assumes political power this coming election in UK-Canada trade talks. In support of these talks, voters with their eye on the Canadian economy can remind candidates in their ridings that the frozen pension policy revisions suggested by the Canadian Alliance of British Pensioners must be negotiated with the UK government should they be successfully voted into office.

More information on this can be viewed at www.britishpensions.com.

Carol Friend

Hope resident and member of the Canadian Alliance of British Pensioners