| | NEWSLETTER - INTERNATIONAL EDITION | ISSUE 01/2005 | | | Update on Pension Surplus Litigation |
At long last, it looks like the case challenging the federal government's confiscation of the surplus in the federal public service, Canadian Forces and RCMP Superannuation Plans is in the home stretch. A tentative trial date has been set for November 15, 2005 and the trial is expected to last two to three weeks. Some of the steps necessary to get the case ready for trial have taken place over the last few months. The remaining steps have been scheduled to take prior to November 15th.
The most important recent developments have been the examinations for discovery of the plaintiffs in all three actions, which took place in December 2004 and a meeting with the case management Master on January 10, 2005. In the December examinations for discovery, Steve Hindle was the representative on the PIPSC action. Daryl Bean was the representative on the PSAC action and Bill Krause was the representative on the AFP/AAC/RCMP Association/CAPE action. The lawyers for the government have indicated that they may have some additional questions for some of the representatives, but any additional examinations for discovery by either side must be completed by April 15, 2005.
In the January 10th case conference, all of the parties were able to agree on a strict time table for the various matters that need to be dealt with prior to trial. This includes dates for finalizing an Agreed Statement of Facts and an Agreed Book of Documents. This is important because to the extent that the parties can agree on certain facts and documents, this can substantially shorten the length of the trial.
The schedule also provides for expert reports to be completed by the plaintiffs by June 30, 2005 and for the government lawyers to give the plaintiffs any expert reports they intend to rely on by September 30, 2005. It is expected that most of the witnesses at trial will be experts and therefore the completion of the expert reports by both sides will be a significant step in preparing for trial.
Another key event in the preparation for trial will be a Trial Management Conference with the judge who will be hearing the case, which is scheduled to take place on September 23, 2005. By that time, the parties are expected to have completed a great deal of the preparation work for trial and it is likely that the judge will provide direction regarding how the trial should proceed.
March 3, 2005 Fiona Campbell
| COSTS FOR LEGAL ACTION
ON BILL C-78 | To date we (you) have contributed over $370,000.00 towards the legal costs for the battle to recover our stolen retirement savings!
This includes contributions from the RCMP Association but excludes contributions from the CAPE which pays its share directly to the law firm.
Of interest is that the Federal Superannuates National Association which claims it represents all government retirees has contributed the GRAND sum of $50,000.00 to a union in this legal action.
So who represents whom??? | | | NON CANADIAN CITIZENS | | | For those in the military who Serve their Country HONOURABLY in uniform, this is the sort of bureaucratic garbage with which they have to contend! Note the arrogance in the statement "to avoid further queries!" Which idiot in the government created this problem?
A CANFORGEN msg just came out to clarify and end the saga of the CF Dependants born outside Canada. To avoid further queries here is a copy of the msg:
Subject: 211718Z FEB 05 - CITIZENSHIP OF CF DEPENDANTS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA - CFG 037/05 01 01 211718Z FEB 05 RR RR UUUU ADM(HR-MIL)015
NDHQ OTTAWA//ADM HR-MIL// CANFORGEN UNCLAS CANFORGEN 037/05 ADM(HR-MIL)015
A. CIC CITIZENSHIP POLICY MANUAL 1O PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
B. PASSPORT OFFICE WEBSITE WWW.PPT.GC.CA C. CITIZENSHIP
ACT SECTION 8 D. CFAO 26-9 CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE CANADA - CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
1. THE INTENT OF THIS MSG IS TO CLARIFY THE CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF CF DEPENDANTS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA
2. BACKGROUND
A. PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP. FORMER LEGISLATION (DESCRIBED AT REF A) REQUIRED THAT CDN CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE CANADA BETWEEN 1 JAN 47 AND 14 FEB 77 BE REGISTERED AS CDN CITIZENS WITHIN TWO YRS OF BIRTH AND BE ISSUED A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH ABROAD. SINCE 15 FEB 77, CANADA'S CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP HAS BEEN THE ONLY PROOF OF CDN CITIZENSHIP ISSUED FOR CDN CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE CANADA
B. SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER (SIN) APPLICATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CANADA (SDC, FORMERLY HRDC) REQUIRES PROOF OF IDENTITY, NOT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, TO PROCESS AN APPLICATION FOR A SIN. IN OCT 02, FOR SECURITY REASONS, SDC ELIMINATED 20 DOCS FROM THE LIST OF THOSE ACCEPTED AS PROOF OF IDENTITY, INCL THE FORMERLY ACCEPTED CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH ABROAD. THEREFORE, FOR CDNS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA, THE CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP BECAME THE ONLY PROOF OF IDENTITY DOC ACCEPTED FOR SIN APPLICATIONS. THIS CHANGE APPLIES ONLY TO THE SIN APPLICATION PROCESS. THE ELIMINATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH ABROAD DOC AS PROOF
OF IDENTITY FOR SIN APPLICATIONS SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT THE CITIZENSHIP OF PERS BORN TO CDN PARENTS STATIONED OUTSIDE CANADA IS IN QUESTION
3. CURRENT SITUATION: WE UNDERSTAND THAT SDC NOW ACKNOWLEDGES THE VALIDITY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH ABROAD DOC AS PROOF OF IDENTITY FOR SIN APPLICATIONS AND WILL REINSTATE IT ASAP. IN ADDITION, WE UNDERSTAND THAT CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA (CIC) CONSIDERS THIS DOC TO BE PROOF OF CDN CITIZENSHIP
4. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
A. PASSPORT APPLICATIONS. IAW REF
B. ADULTS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA CAN SUBMIT ANY ONE OF FOUR DIFFERENT DOCS AS PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, INCLUDING THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH ABROAD ISSUED TO CDNS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA BEFORE 15 FEB 77. CDN CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 WHO WERE BORN OUTSIDE CANADA WILL HAVE RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP (PARA 2A REFERS) WHICH IS THE ONLY DOC ACCEPTED FOR THEIR PASSPORT APPLICATIONS. CONSULT REF B FOR MORE
INFO B. RETENTION OF CITIZENSHIP. WHILE THE CITIZENSHIP OF CF DEPENDANTS BORN OVERSEAS IS NOT REPEAT NOT IN DOUBT, REF C REVEALS THAT SOME CDN CITIZENS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA TO A PARENT ALSO BORN OUTSIDE CANADA MAY HAVE TO APPLY TO RETAIN THEIR CDN CITIZENSHIP BEFORE THEIR 28TH BIRTHDAY. THOSE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE WORKSHEET PROVIDED ON THE CIC WEBSITE AT: www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizen/retention-worksheet.html
C. DND 419. A CF DEPENDANT BORN OUTSIDE CANADA BETWEEN 1963 AND NOV 79 MAY HAVE BEEN ISSUED A NATIONAL DEFENCE CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH (DND 419). THE DND 419 IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS PROOF OF BIRTH AND IS NOT CONSIDERED PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP. HOWEVER, PERS IN POSSESSION OF DND 419 WERE REGISTERED AS CDN CITIZENS IAW. THE PROCESS DESCRIBED IN PARA 2A. ON REQUEST, CIC WILL CONDUCT A SEARCH OF RECORDS TO VERIFY CITIZENSHIP REGISTRATION
D. WHILE CIC AND THE PASSPORT OFFICE (AND SOON SDC) ACCEPT THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTH ABROAD DOC, PERS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA COULD ENCOUNTER OTHER SITUATIONS WHEREBY AN ORGANIZATION REFUSES TO ACCEPT THIS DOC AS PROOF OF BIRTH OR IDENTITY. IN SUCH A CIRCUMSTANCE, PERS MAY BE REQR TO APPLY TO THE COUNTRY OF BIRTH FOR A BIRTH REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE OR EXTRACT OF THAT DOC AS SECONDARY PROOF OF
BIRTH
5. AS THE CERTIFICATE OF CDN CITIZENSHIP IS THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE PROOF OF BOTH IDENTITY AND CITIZENSHIP FOR CDNS BORN OUTSIDE CANADA, AFFECTED PERS MAY WISH TO ACQUIRE THIS DOCUMENTATION FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR CHILDREN AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE TO AVOID FUTURE INCONVENIENCE. CIC SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE OF INFO ON CDN CITIZENSHIP. CIC CALL CENTRE CAN BE REACHED AT 1-888-242-2100 OR CONSULT CIC WEBSITE AT: www.cic.gc.ca 6. REF D IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW TO REFLECT THE INFO PROVIDED ABOVE
MichelATC 35 Pl
Michel Morency <Ottawa, On Canada - Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at 08:33:24 (EST)
The above also applies to War Brides and children born overseas of Canadian Soldiers and the War Brides. So much for Serving one's country HONOURABLY!
| | IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM WILLIAM GRAHAM, DEFENCE MINISTER
| In a recent full page article including a photograph the spin doctors in Defence had a propaganda item describing what a wonderful Superannuation we get along with providing a great survivor's benefits. This was published in the magazine 50 Plus published by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). Why we can even donate half of our superannuation towards a survivor's benefit if we marry after reaching age 60.
The reason for this generous benefit which we can pay for, for the second time, is because the current Canadian Forces Superannuation cannot be sustained due to lack of funds. No mention is made of the fact the provision of NO benefit for the marriage of these Seniors is called a "death bed romance" by "Gold Diggers" by the government. It is passing strange that some of these "death bed romances" have lasted thirty years! Of course calling a Canadian woman a "Gold Digger" is acceptable by this politically correct Liberal government but don't dare call a "gay" person a homosexual or the wrath of the entire leftist Liberals will descend on one! That is not politically correct you know. Why even the PM might come calling.
Of course Mr Graham neglected to mention the fact that nothing can be sustained because his Liberal Party under "mister integrity" himself, Jean Chretien and his good buddy, Mr Paul Martin, stole over $16.6 billion from our retirement savings! Of course William Graham voted for the Bill legalizing the theft. But then he was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Justice Gomley is currently investigating the Liberal Party's manipulation of a mere $100 million for Party purposes yet the theft of $16.6 billion plus from the savings of the members and ex members of the Canadian Forces doesn't appear on ANY political party's agenda, hidden or otherwise.
WHY?
Martin balanced the budget with our savings, obviously using some on the AdScam and other items to get the Liberals reelected with himself as Prime Minister. ( We must remember that he is a bit of an expert at confiscating pension funds. He tried it with the Voyageur Bus Line which he owned. He had to return the money. As a good and solid Canadian citizen he also pays no Canadian taxes having registered his companies in the Bahamas).
And now we have Mr Graham spouting more goodwill propaganda.
Two articles were sent to the 50 Plus refuting Graham's misinformation. One was published, the other from the AFP/AAC probably will not be published.
Too politically incorrect no doubt. | | | LETTER TO 50 PLUS | | | Ref: Your mailbag (Feb/Mar 2005 Edition) letter from the Minister of National Defence "Cohabiting after 60".
The Minister, however, makes no reference to the 16 billion plus dollars that were confiscated from the Canadian Forces Superannuation Account by his government since 1993. The potential costs of survivor benefits to CFS Annuitants married after age 60 would amount to a fraction of what has already been confiscated. Contrary to the last sentence of the Minister's letter, spouses of post age 60 unions could easily have been granted the same benefits as other survivors had this confiscation not been made in the first place. While the government professes to extend equal rights for members of same sex unions, it continues to deny equal rights for all heterosexual military annuitants.
The Armed Forces Pensioners'/Annuitants' Association Inc. of Canada continues to fight for equal rights for all Military Annuitants and further information can be obtained from the Association at: PO Box-28029, LONDON, ON. N6H 5E1. | Theodore Rivney, AFP/AAC member | | | To: "Morgenthau, Lillian" <carp@50plus.com>
Subject: Defence Minister's misinformation |
Dear Ms Morgenthau,
In your magazine you published a letter by Defence Minister Bill Graham, complete with a picture, which was typical Liberal claptrap trying to justify the theft of over $16 billions from the Canadian Forces Superannuation Account and then claiming that there are no funds with which to provide improved superannuations for the Canadian Forces Retirees.
It must be borne in mind that the Account is owned by the CF Retirees and Serving military as they contribute(d) to this retirement savings plan to which is added the employer's portion as part of the Service contract made upon joining the military. Furthermore, Paul Martin, as Finance Minister, at a meeting in London Ontario in 1994 told me that he would NOT touch that account as it was our money, then upon returning to Ottawa promptly started nibbling at it. Firstly the Defence Minister took a bite of $467 million from the account claiming he had the support of the Auditor General for this creative book keeping. When informed by the Auditor General that there was NO agreement, the minister then returned the money to the account with the explanation that it had been "a minor clerical error" !
Of course there was NO apology.
Shortly thereafter, some $4.2 billions were stolen from the account.
This organization, The Armed Forces Pensioners'/Annuitants' Association Inc. of Canada commenced legal proceedings to recover the stolen funds. The Chretien/Martin government immediately introduced Bill C-78 to legalize the initial theft and added another $12.4 billions for good measure. The Bill was rammed through parliament with limited debate and, in spite of strenuous objections by the AFP/AAC, became law.
Paul Martin then announced that he had balanced the budget!
The AFP/AAC, on behalf of its members and the RCMP Association, again proceeded with litigation to recover the retirement savings of the CF Retirees. The trial is to commence on 15 November 2005 in an Ontario Court.
With the theft of all that money the government, through its mouthpieces such as Bill Graham, claim that the military have an excellent "pension plan" but that because of a shortage of funds now it cannot be sustained. Our Canadian women who marry a retiree over the age of sixty are considered to be "gold diggers" by the government and are involved in "death bed romances ". Some of these "death bed romances" have lasted thirty years! Some "gold diggers"! Not only that, but our survivors are entitled to only a 50% survivor's benefit whereas the under worked and overpaid MP's leave a survivor's benefit of but a "mere three fifths" benefit. Dividing five into three comes up with a 60% benefit!!! More creative book keeping by the artists on Parliament Hill.
The Gomery Commission is investigating the creative book work of only $100 million whereas the theft of over $16 billion creates NOT a stir!
Doesn't matter, it is only the money of those who dedicate(d) their lives to protect Canada and its inhabitants through Honourable Service in Uniform. Those others call one another honourable but only are there to serve their own interests and hunger for power.
| SERVIVIMUS PATRIÆ NOSTRÆ
E.W. Halayko, PEng, CD
National Chairman,
Armed Forces Pensioners'/Annuitants' Association Inc. of Canada
| | VETERAN'S CAR LICENSE PLATES
| | In the last NEWSLETTER the article regarding automobile license plates for veterans did not include the fact that slowly every province in Canada, except one, had made special veteran's plates available for free. Not all provinces however allowed those with special plates to have those special plates imprinted with the veteran's Logo. Veterans in those provinces had to accept the province's choice of plates. | | | WISDOM
| When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar...and the beer.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full".
"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff.
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."
| | | THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AROUND THE WORLD | This chart is from CNN's web site April 7,2005.
Gasoline prices around the world, are expressed in US dollars per gallon. |
Netherlands, Amsterdam $6.48
Norway, Oslo $6.27
Italy, Milan $5.96
Denmark, Copenhagen $5.93
Belgium, Brussels $5.91
Sweden, Stockholm $5.80
United Kingdom, London $5.79
Germany, Frankfurt $5.57
France, Paris $5.54
Portugal, Lisbon $5.35
Hungary, Budapest $4.94
Luxembourg $4.82
Croatia, Zagreb $4.81
Ireland, Dublin $4.78
Switzerland, Geneva $4.74
Spain, Madrid $4.55
Japan, Tokyo $4.24
Czech Republic, Prague $4.19
Romania, Bucharest $4.09
Andorra $4.08
Canada $3.89
Estonia, Tallinn $3.62
Brazil, Brasilia $3.12
Cuba, Havana $3.03
Taiwan, Taipei $2.84
Lebanon, Beirut $2.63
South Africa, Johannesburg $2.62
Nicaragua, Managua $2.61
Panama, Panama City $2.19
Russia, Moscow $2.10
U.S.A. $2.34
Puerto Rico, San Juan $1.74
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh $0.91
Kuwait, Kuwait City $0.78
Egypt, Cairo $0.65
Nigeria, Lagos $0.38
Venezuela, Caracas $0.12
| | | A SOLDIER DIED TODAY
| He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbours
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so many times,
That our Bobs and Jims
Went to battle, but we still pine.
It was not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our Country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand,
Or would you want a Soldier,
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
in the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
~ author unknown ~ |
Thanks for dropping by; hope you enjoyed this poem and don't
forget to pray for our soldiers, wherever they may be!
From: ED McWhirter AFP/AAC Member
LEST WE FORGET.
| | | AGENT ORANGE AND OTHER GAS EXPERIMENTS
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES | | The truth is now coming out that Canadian Troops were exposed to a variety of poisonous gasses in experiments, in Suffield, Alberta and Gagetown, New Brunswick, without the troops involved being informed of the experiments and dangers.
Subsequent diseases and illnesses attributed to the gases used have been cancers, pulmonary problems, heart conditions etc. The America government has eventually accepted responsibility for the problems being suffered by the Vietnam veterans but Canada is still studying. The studies seem to fall in line with the stonewalling over incidents of encounters with noxious substances and injuries sustained in Kosovo, Afghanistan.
It has taken a very long time for the government and the Department of National Defence to accept any responsibility or blame for the conditions suffered by the military until recently, and even now grudgingly. According to the Minister of Veterans Affairs her department "will go the extra mile" to meet the needs of the veterans or their dependents. Yes the department has gone the extra mile, two individuals out of the hundreds, possibly thousands that were exposed to the gases which included Agent Orange and Mustard Gas have been given a $25,000.00 payment.
Even the current Defence Minister has spoken up in the House in defence of his department's "positive" treatment of the suffering veterans. He sounded almost sincere!
What to date has not been mentioned was that during the summer exercises in Wainwright Alberta in 1957, troops were exposed to gas attacks by aircraft without many being made aware of the experimentation. At that time those of us who were advised of the experiment were informed that a harmless substance was going to be sprayed. We were not told what the substance was! Nor exactly where and the gas was sprayed and on whom!
Anyone (or surviving spouses thereof) who might be suffering,, or have suffered, should contact VAC at 1 866 522-2022. While press articles have focused on CFB Gagetown in 1966, Orange or similar agents may well have been employed at other times and places. | E.W. Halayko PEng CD | | | THAT EXTRA MILE | | Further to the "extra mile" the Veteran's minister will go and the new Veteran's Charter.
Last year the Minister of Veterans Affairs decided to terminate the PSA test for prostate cancer for those veterans in receipt of a disability pension. It took the minister a mere 9 months to respond to the question why it was terminated, and it took a three page bureaucratic pile of "mumbo jumbo" to do so. The test may not be perfect but it is an indication if something is wrong and further testing can prevent the deadly illness. The 9 months it took to reply must be that she had to walk a mile to mail the letter.
As veterans age it is important that this test be made available as part of the disability programme and also part of the PSHCP.
The new Veteran's Charter which has received so much political publicity appears to be long on rhetoric and promises but short on action. For example, the "new" assistance in locating a second career job for those retiring appears to be a rehash of the old SCAN which was introduced over thirty years ago on the urging of this association. To the best of our knowledge, jobs were found: two for two generals and one for a W01 and none for the lower ranks! SCAN Seminars were held for about ten years and then conveniently terminated. AFP/AAC executives did participate in some of those seminars.
Reading between the lines of the hastily passed Charter for political gain, there is nothing really new. The list of promises looks good, but looks aren't everything. And we all know how good political promises are!
E.W. Halayko PEng, CD | | | MEETINGS NOT HELD | | It was reported in the last NEWSLETTER that The Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, Pat O'Brien, had requested that the minister of National Defence and the Veterans Affairs Minister meet with us to discuss our (your) concerns.
Needless to say not a peep has been heard from the VAC Minister. Her replies to groups take about 9 months so we have another 5 months to go. Or eternity if an election is called to put the Martin cabal out of its misery.
A telephone response was received from the Minister of National Defence's office with an offer to meet with an aide! We informed the caller that we were not interested in talking with a clerk as it was the managers that make the decisions. It seems that Bill Graham is just too busy doing nothing to meet with us. Although he has time to write misinformation letters to the media such as CARP, as reported elsewhere in this NEWSLETTER. He is also very good at spouting "let me assure you" during question period in parliament and actually say nothing,, but, with sincerity!
Where do the Liberals find these "honourable" seals?
("let me assure you" and "at this point in time" and "the fact of the matter.."also are favourite expressions used by other "prominent" ministers including Anne McLellan, yet all say NOTHING (known as "verbal diarrhoea )! The expressions (poor grammar) must be taught at the charm school for Liberal cabinet ministers!)
So now we await an early election and start all over again, with entirely new faces to deal with. | | |
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