Vancouver City Council |
REPORT TO COUNCIL
Date:
January 28, 2005
Author:
Bruce Chown
Phone No.:
604.266.1039
RTS No.:
4884
CC File No.:
3057-2
Meeting Date:
March 15, 2005
TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
Chair, Advisory Committee on Seniors' Issues
SUBJECT:
Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement Programs for Seniors
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Vancouver City Council request the Federal Government to ensure pension equality for all Canadian senior citizens, regardless of their country of origin and whether or not that country has a social services contract with Canada;
FURTHER THAT this motion be forwarded to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for support.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The City Manager submits this for Council's CONSIDERATION.
PURPOSE
The Advisory Committee on Seniors' Issues requests City Council support of a request to the Federal Government to secure Federal Government pension equality for all Canadian senior citizens.
BACKGROUND
At the November 26, 2004 Seniors' Committee meeting, representatives of the Old Age Benefits Forum sought support for their request to the Federal Government to make the Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement available to all eligible Canadian senior citizens after the same period of stay in Canada. This should include those who have immigrated to Canada from a country with which Canada does not have a social security agreement. The Old Age Benefits Forum representatives confirmed they were lobbying on behalf of only those immigrants who have subsequently satisfied all requirements for citizenship and are now Canadian citizens. Background documentation is attached for your review (Appendix A).
CONCLUSION
The Advisory Committee on Seniors' Issues, in its belief that all Canadian seniors should be treated equally, recommends support of the Old Age Benefits Forum request to the Federal Government to make the Old Age Security pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement available to all eligible Canadian senior citizens.
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