Veterans' Lament

We veterans cannot dream dreams

Our trust, our vision, have been dismembered.

For we; - We few have been forgotten -- not remembered.

The House, the Senate, the Treasury foe,

They've broken the faith with venom aglow.

They've dropped the torch with penurious schemes,

We few, we angry few -- We shall not sleep.

Our ghosts farewell their trysts will keep,

We will remember Bill "C" seventy-eight.

For a brave revenge ne'er comes too late.

Destiny -- they cannot suspend their fate,

Our souls "no stab", but souls can kill

Such be our wrath, they surely will.

By: Cdr RT Goddard DSC CD

Ontario Court of Justice

File No: 99-CV-12257

On 26 June 2000,Mr. Justice Paul F. Lalonde, a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice rendered the decision that our claim against the Crown regarding Bill C-78/99, and the recovery of our retirement savings would be tried in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Our specific instruction to our solicitors was that that was where we wanted our case tried. Originally the other two plaintiff groups were prepared to go along with the defendant and have the case heard in a Federal Court. We persevered and it now proves that we were right.

We now await a trial date unless the government's multitudinous lawyers try some more stalling tactics!

Our insistence for the case to be heard in a Provincial Court has considerable validity which will be brought out at the Trial. Mind you, we have earned nick names such as being traitors, trouble makers, the enemy and many others but it will eventually be proven that God and justice are on our side!!!

Second event:- The Report by the Human Rights Act Review Panel has also shown that we have been right - again. The issue of the blatant discrimination against those who marry after age 60 and having no right to leave a survivor's benefit was decreed as wrong! It is now up to the Attorney General to correct that miscarriage of justice. However, we must not hold our breathes on this recommendation. It will not receive swift action as did Bill C-78/99! Even though it is our money, this government does not want to return to citizens who Serve(d) their Country Honourably in Uniform, their retirement savings.

Promised Dental Plan

The inauguration of the government dental plan has again been postponed until next year.

The BOONDOGGLE

Anyone following the "dance" in parliament since January, will have observed a disgusting spectacle. The Minister for Human Resources Development Canada's hopeless and incompetent answers to repeated questions about the mismanagement of a billion dollars of tax payers' money. Much of the money going to the ridings of Liberal Cabinet ministers, including a sizeable amount into the Prime Minister's Riding! Including some for a musical fountain in the PM's Riding and an unneeded armouries! The fund that Jane Stewart was "liberally" dispensing to Liberal contributors was to create "permanent" jobs. One has to wonder just how many permanent jobs were created after the fountain was built?

Of interest to those of us who Served our Country Honourably in Uniform, and those still Serving, is that those contributions to the account, now called the Employment Insurance Account, are NOT available to first time retirees, yet available for dispensation, without any accountability, to friends of liberal politicians!!

We should feel very patriotic to know that we who Fought and Served Canada also provided the politicians with our retirement savings to use to buy their seats in parliament! We are truly patriotic and loyal. A pity that the politicians aren't also.

DENTAL PLAN

The government's carrot, a Dental Plan, which may have bought one organization's support for Bill C-78/99, the Bill which stole our retirement savings, appears to have stalled - again. Using previously obtained government figures for the cost of providing such a scheme makes it inconceivable that it will ever see the light of day. Treasury Board made the numbers available to Ms Mary Collins, when she was A/MND at a sum of $90 million annually, just for the CF Retirees! To date no other numbers have been quoted. Apparently meetings are still being held regarding this issue but all information is being classified as CONFIDENTIAL! Typical! The rumour is that an underwriter cannot be found. This is very strange, as there are insurers in the business now providing group dental health plans for companies, even for Serving military, RCMP and public servants!??

Not to worry, the AFP/AAC to the rescue. For several years now, a group Dental Plan has been available to AFP/AAC members through Ingle Health. It appears to be satisfying CF Retiree participants as we have not had any complaints from members.

On Page 6 is an Application Form and information regarding contact addresses. It must be pointed out that this plan was negotiated with exact terminology that there would be NO financial or other benefits for any Executive of the AFP/AAC - thus keeping the Plan as inexpensive as possible.

Supplementary Death Benefit

In the preamble to the introduction of Bill C-78/99 and subsequent veiled comments, there was an implication that the residual SDB for all government superannuation contributors and recipients would be increased to $10,000.00 plus increased benefits for the survivors of retirees who died before the age of 70.

How wrong we were. After the smoke cleared, only the public service participants were and are eligible for improved benefits. The explanation being that there isn't enough money in the SDB Account of the Canadian Forces!

Therefore the statement regarding SDB entitlement in the NEWSLETTER 3/99 was and is incorrect. We regret having published a misleading statement.

Downsizing

The Canadian Armed Forces

The Canadian Armed Forces have been downsized to about 56,000 all ranks.

The General and Flag ranks have also been downsized from 64 to 72.

"Only in Canada, you say."

E-mail Addresses

Some of the e-mail addresses which were given to this office by members have turned out to be not available or in service.

Recently, three all informed letters were sent to all those who provided this office with their e-mail addresses, over fifty were returned as undeliverable. Some of the addresses had been cancelled, some unknown and others from servers such as: sprint, nb.sympatico, home, telus, which are but a few examples, were returned.

If you did NOT receive any of the three letters, which dealt with the participants and the status of our litigation regarding the surpluses, please reconfirm your e-mail address to this office, either by regular mail or e-mail. Those who have not ever sent in an e-mail address and wish to receive ongoing information also inform us of your e-mail address. Addresses are treated as CONFIDENTIAL and are NOT loaned, rented or disseminated in any way to a third party, including other members. All information is mailed as Blind Carbon Copies (bcc) so no one knows who the other recipients are!

E-mail address AFP/AAC:-

For incoming e-mail, NO e-letter with the suffix .exe will be opened. Similarly NO other suspect e-letter or cookie will be accepted, nor will any be mailed.

Letters from here are normally mailed in the WordPerfect format. However, Microsoft Word, and HTML and text can be made available upon request.

Humour and Bull Headedness

Subject: US Navy

This is the transcript of the ACTUAL radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.

Canadians: "Please divert your course 15 degrees South to avoid a collision".

Americans: "Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision".

Canadians: "Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision".

Americans: "This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course".

Canadians: "No. I say again, you divert YOUR course".

Americans: "THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, I SAY AGAIN, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP".

Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call".

Annual Report

Canadian Forces Superannuation Act

The Defence Minister's Annual Report for 1998/1999 on the financial status of our Canadian Forces Superannuation Account was finally received in June 2000. Extracts are as follows:

Contributors:- 59,285

Recipients, CFSA:- 100,226

DSPCA:- 923

Revenues:- $959,603,000.00

Expenditures:- $1.75 Billion

(Misappropriations for Bill C-78/99:- Unknown?)

Balance as of 31 March 1999:-$45,322,358,000.00

Surplus for FY 98/99:-$2,835,680,000.00

It was claimed on Page V of the Report that an interest rate of 2.3% was paid quarterly on the "account balance".

Using a very simple calculation the 2.3% per quarter times four for the year comes to 9.2%.

Or:  0.092  x  42,486,678,000 = $3.9 Billion,

If the interest rate was only 2.3% for the year then the interest accumulated would have been:

0.023  x  42,486,678,000 = $977.5 Million.

The Report shows that only $420 Million in interest was credited to our account with a note that $4.4 Million had been overpaid and recovered in the 99/00 year!

Based on the MND's number, an Accountant came up with the number of $4.7 Billion for interest payable!

The interest actually paid into our account and the published interest rate just do not match.

This discrepancy is being investigated and if a statement to the effect that it was a typographical error is the response, then we will ask the Auditor General to conduct an investigation. A difference of $3.5 Billion in a payment is a very large sum of money and must be clarified by the MND. An explanation is definitely in order, and quickly!

Supplementary Death Benefit Account

Revenues FY98/99:-

Contributions by Participants:- $10.456 Million

By employer (government):- $2.1 Million

Interest:- $16.7 Million (rate approx. 9%)

Expenditures:-$26 Million

Surplus Revenues over Expenditures: $3.918 Million. (Note:- this was a decrease of 45.2% from 97/98)

Balance 97/98:- $178 Million

Surplus 98/99:- $3,918,000.00 ($3.9 Million)

Balance 98/99:- $182 Million.

Medal

It was reported in the magazine esprit de corps that authority had been granted authorizing personnel to wear a new medal for service with great heroism in the trenches of Manhattan, New York, USA!

This medal could possibly only represent the difficult and strenuous duty of finding suitable restaurants in which to spend the hazardous duty pay received while serving on the dangerous streets of war-torn New York (UN Headquarters). The Report went on to indicate that this medal was authorized for wear by General Maurice Baril CD, the present CDS, in a CANFORGEN in January 2000! The article also stated that the decision to wear this medal was a very personal one - "close to his chest so to speak" as the majority of "the little general's" 'overseas' service was spent "in the wilds of Manhattan".

Marriage after Age 60

With the favourable Report regarding this major issue the time has again come for all those affected, and any other interested parties, to flood the Minister of National Defence, the Attorney General of Canada, their own MP and the Human Rights Commissioner with demands to have the blatant discrimination against those CF Retirees who married after reaching the age of 60, ceased. This discrimination allows the government to continue to classify the survivors as "gold diggers" or "paramours" and participating in "death bed marriages".

Some correspondence, signed by Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defence, stated that the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the ruling of the Federal Court of Appeal that the age-60 provision of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act does not discriminate on the basis of age or sex. This is a false statement as there has been NO Supreme Court Ruling. The Supreme Court simply did not want to hear our arguments and the issue remains unresolved. Eggleton then goes on, in his computer formatted letter, to claim that the CFS Act provides a more generous benefit than the Public Service Superannuation Act. He did however neglect to state that his and all MPs' Retirement Allowance (pension) exceeds that of everyone! An MP's survivor get 3/5ths (60%) of the MP's pension, there is NO mention of age. (Eggleton took ONLY 8 months to reply to one correspondent. My what haste!)

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

As Chairman of the AFP/AAC I was invited to represent the members of the Armed Forces Pensioners'/Annuitants' Association Inc. of Canada to participate in the Unknown Soldier Ceremonies as an "Official Mourner Not in Uniform". It was an experience and a privilege not be forgotten. Once before I experienced a similar reaction from the public that lined the streets. When in Holland in 1994, during one of the annual commemorations of the Liberation by the Canadian Forces, hundreds of thousands of Dutch people lined the parade route and all wanted to shake our hands and thank us for what we did in WWII.

In Ottawa, the public was kept back, but as a veterans' group marched by, the citizenry lining the streets, broke into applause. They were silent while the political groups walked by.

After the Ceremony at the Memorial and while walking to the Reception, people continued to clap and wanted to shake the hands of the veterans.

To a large degree, my faith in the Canadian citizenry, young and old, was renewed. This, in spite of this government's attempts to denigrate the military, military history and veterans. The people still have not forgotten.

Many politicians of all stripes appeared to participate in photo ops but they were largely ignored and did not detract from the solemnity of the Ceremony.

May the Unknown soldier now rest in Peace, on Canadian soil! Ed Halayko

LITIGATION

Following is the current list of Plaintiffs participating in the Litigation against the ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA regarding Bill C-78/99.

We, the Plaintiffs, have Filed our Motion in the ONTARIO SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE. Government lawyers are using stalling tactics in order to have the case tried before a Federal Court and NOT a Provincial Court. Of course, preferably in NO Court.

This is going to be a long and nasty legal battle (war) when one considers the amount of money involved (over $30 billion).

A:- The Armed Forces Pensioners'/Annuitants Association of Canada Group - 99-CV-12257

AFP/AAC - Edward Halayko, Helen Rapp, Charles McCabe

L'Association des Membres de la Police Montée du Québec - Gaetan Delisle, Joseph Brennan

The BC Mounted Police Professional Association - Michael Funicelli, Gerald Kuffner

The Mounted Police Association of Ontario - Michael Niebudek, Charles Jules Vincent Gutta

B:- Public Service Alliance of Canada Group 99-CV-11878

PSAC - Daryl Bean, Nycole Turmel, Susan Giampietri

C:- Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada Group - 99-CV-11888 (Original List)

PIPS - Michèle Demers

Canadian Merchant Service Guild - Paul Turner

Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council (East) - Norman Kemp

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Paul Morse

Federal Government Dockyard Chargehands Association - Darryl Roode

Research Council Employees' Association - Wayne Findlay

Association of Public Service Financial Administrators - Merdon Hosking

Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers - C. Daniel George

Federal Government Dockyard Trades and Labour Council (West) - Dan R. Quigley

Translator's Group Canadian Union of Professional and Technical Employees - Luc Pomerleau

The Social Science Employees Association - William Krause

(On 24 May 2000 an Amendment was received to the list of Plaintiffs under the umbrella of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPS) Statement of Claim, Court File No: 99-CV-11888, to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Four more Plaintiffs were added:)

The Canadian Association of Professional Radio Operators - Martin Gregoire

Canadian Air Traffic Control Association - Fazal Bhimji

Canadian Military Colleges Faculty Association - Peter Dunnett

Federal Superannuates National Association - Rex G. Guy

(This was the latest Amendment to be received from the legal counsels for the Groups participating in the litigation.)

Memberships

Please check the date on the envelope that this NEWSLETTER came in - OR - check your Membership Card, and if it states Expiry date 31 Dec 1999, you are in arrears.

Please forward the dues of $15.00 for the year 2000.

Addendum - Litigation

A recent development in our Claim against the Crown has slowed the course of JUSTICE.

Not unexpected, the Defendant's lawyers (the government), have submitted a motion for Leave to Appeal the Decision of Mr. Justice Lalonde. If the Defendant losses this motion for appeal then the Defendant will have NO right to take this Appeal to a higher court. This is one of many stalling tactics available to the Defendant.

The haste and alacrity with which the Defendant filed this motion is indicative, at least to us at AFP/AAC headquarters, that the Defendant realizes that it doesn't have a leg to stand on in the Ontario Court so will try to beat us by stalling tactics. However, we will NOT go away, we may die first but we will not go away! It must be remembered that the Defendant has 30 million taxpayers, including us owners of the surpluses, paying the Defendant's legal bills whereas we only have our members to cover our, the Plaintiff's, Claim!

SERVIVIMUS PATRIÆ NOSTRÆ

Group Insurance Plans available

Through Ingle Health, an extended out-of-country medical insurance plan is available to "top-up" and or extend the coverage of the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP).

Contact Ingle Health at 1 800 387-2571

Politics

With the election of a new leader and a new party there is a good chance we will finally see the end of the Chrétien dictatorship. Those Liberal MPs who were our staunchest friends and supporters, when they were the Official Opposition, became the very people who voted to legalize the theft of our retirement savings! Too frightened to offend the master except Paul Martin who sat on the fence! In some cases our past friends became our strongest adversaries, doing anything to become cabinet ministers or parliamentary secretaries.

When the election is called; either an early "snap", to try and beat Stockwell Day; or when demanded by law, the voting list of all the MPs on Bill C-78/99 will be republished. This will be a refresher to remind you who voted to steal your money, and those who voted against the Bill or abstained..

One specific MP, who claimed to have been our friend and who voted YEA! with the greatest of glee, will be given a special mention. His conduct was recorded by CPAC during the final vote. We do NOT forget!

Post Bill C-78/99

Recent newspaper articles have published articles regarding that at least three provincial governments and one employer are now in the process of "dipping" into their employees retirement savings (supposed pension surpluses). This activity was forecast last year when Bill C-78 was being undemocratically rammed through parliament. Unfortunately no one wanted to listen or help at the time. With the Bills passage, chickens are coming home to roost. It is almost to late to say, "I told you so".

Even airline pilots are threatening strike action over pension benefits.

A Trust Company, owned by a major Canadian Bank, is also facing litigation after having helped itself to its ex-employees retirement savings (pension money). It seems some of the directors played fast and loose with the funds!

The federal government having set a precedent, there will be many more cases of the confiscation of contributor's deferred pay in future!

Membership Application/Renewal

(Still only $15.00 per year)

Rank or Title & Init:_______________________

(Mrs Ms Mr. or Capt etc)

Name:__________________________________

Decorations:_____________________________

Address:________________________________

Apt No:__________

City:__________________________________

Prov:___________________

Post Code:______________

Telephone :(____)________________________

E-Mail:_________________________________

Please make cheques out to: AFP/AAC

Mail Application/Renewal forms with fees to:

AFP/AAC

PO Box-28029,

LONDON, ON. N6H 5E1

A Renewal a Form is NOT necessary. If your Membership number or Postal Code is legible you data can be easily accessed and updated. Therefor it is NOT necessary to damage your NEWSLETTER.

Tel:- 1 519 471-9232

e-mail:-

Renewed your membership yet?

Reminders are NOT mailed in order to conserve your membership money and keep the fees low!

GROUP INSURANCE

Specific Insurance Brokers have agreed to provide AFP/AAC members with insurance coverage at group rates for automobile, house, condominium, boat and furnishings in rental facilities.

As each province has different regulations governing coverage, Brokers in the following provinces have agreed to participate:

AB Harding Hall & Graburne Ins. Inc

Suite-500

1414-8 St. West

CALGARY AB T2R 1J6

403 244-4881

1-800 387-4440

FAX: 403 228-0618

BC TOS Insurance Services Ltd

#101 - 4180 Lougheed Highway

BURNABY BC V5C 6A7

250 293-1481

1-800 606-9969

FAX: 250 293-1493

MB Garrick Insurance

390 York Av

WINNIPEG MB R3C 0P3

204 942-7563

FAX: 204 942-7562

NB Assurance Goguen Protection Corp

770 Main St

MONCTON NB E1C 1E7

506 857-0064

1-888 819-7070

FAX: 506 857-1809

NS King Insurance

Suite-204

175 Main St

DARTMOUTH NS B2X 1S1

902 462-7500

1-800 422-5983

FAX: 902 462-7273

ON Haas-Sutherland Insurance Ins Gp Ltd

Suite-301

350 Oxford St

LONDON ON N6H 1T3

519 471-7740

1-800 682-5518

FAX: 519 471-2268

Smith, Petrie, Carr & Scott Insurance

301 O'Connor St

OTTAWA ON K2P 1V6

613 237-2871

FAX: 613 237-1179

PEI H.L. Sear Insurance Ltd

PO Box-635

57 Grafton St

CHARLOTTETOWN PE C1A 7L3

902 894-5066

FAX: 902 368-3659

QC Tanner Insurance Ltd

250 rue Principale

Suite 160

COWANSVILLE QC J2K 1J5

514 263-2787

1-800 363-1238

FAX: 514 263-1470

SK Klombies Galon

909-3 Av N

SASKATOON SK S7K 2K4

306 244-7000

1-888 296-7990

FAX: 306 664-6100

NOTE: NO Broker in the Province of Newfoundland is willing to participate in this programme.

Please DO NOT send any insurance inquiries to the AFP/AAC address. The association organized the provision of this service but cannot and does NOT actively participate in the implementation, nor does it receive any commissions. Feed-back from members has been that premiums are lower than from other agents and brokers and that the coverage provided is better.

We will however be very interested in any cases of "Caveat emptor" which may occur.

News Items

Did anyone notice the haste and alacrity with which our elected federal officials further feathered their respective nests with improved retirement benefits before they took off on their long and extended holiday. No debate, just swish and the deed was done! There is one deep trough in Ottawa.

How can they expect respect from honest hard working Canadians?

The Liberal House Leader and chief choreographer, Don Boudria, recently announced that this Liberal government has NOT used closure in any debates of controversial Bills - only "limited debate". Of course limited debate and closure are basically the same - the muzzling of the democratic process and ramming through adverse legislation.

Naturally Jean Chrétien does not want it known that he has surpassed Brian Mulroney's record of closure so he had Boudria enforce limited debate.

Didn't PET often use closure to get his own way, during his watch? That is where his pupil learned his trade.

Military Interest - Periodical

There is a magazine called esprit de corps which may be of interest to military retirees, Serving members and interested citizens. This magazine is published monthly and covers a variety of interesting current and historical military subject. The specialty seems to be the exposure of the rot at the top of the defence department. None of the exposures have been challenged although perpetrators have been strongly criticized for their irresponsible and occasional criminal actions.

To subscribe, call toll free:1 800 361-2791

e-mail: espritdecorps@idirect.com