Bill VanGorder of CARP NS interviewed by CBC's Tom Murphy.

Nordixx Nordic Walking Poles

They benefit your health and they benefit CARP NS, which receives 15% from each sale.
Two types of professional performance poles are available from CARP NS. Each features:-
• Detachable Hand Loops 
• Ergonomic Handles: easy-to-clean, comfortable EVA coating
• Hand Loops: Comfortable fit with ‘Click-off-System’
• All-Terrain-Use: Removable Rubber Tips for hard surfaces
• Twist-Lock System.
• Blunt carbide tip for soft surface

	Nordixx Global Traveler Poles		Nordixx Global Walker Poles
	• three-piece - fits in your suitcase • adjustable (55 - 135cm / 21“ - 53“) • $79.95 + HST = $91.90		• two-piece • adjustable (83 - 143cm / 33" - 56“) • $64.95 + HST = $74.65

• To order your Nordixx Nordic Walking Poles, email CARP NS.
• Cash or cheque only; sorry, no credit cards. Cheques made out to "CARP NS Chapter"
• Spare rubber pole feet: 1 pair $7.50 + HST = $8.60; pkg of 6 pair $18.95 + HST = $21.75  

An Open Letter To the Premier & Finance Minister etc (via the Chronicle Herald)

By Bill VanGorder, President, CARP Nova Scotia Chapter:
 Sat, Jan 8, 2011.

CARP Nova Scotia is disappointed that junior finance minister, Ted Menzies, is supporting Alberta's opposition to the expansion of the Canada Pension Plan. Both Premier Dexter and Finance Minister Steele are correct in suggesting that expanding public pension benefits would not put an onerous burden on Canadian businesses and that inadequate pensions will cause dire social consequences for seniors and end up costing even more in the long run. Indeed, finance ministers are all aware that CPP improvements will reduce the pressure on OAG and GIS payments in the future. This is no time to give up on CPP enhancements that will do the most to help those most at risk of retirement insecurity.
The status quo – which has left many older Canadians with financial insecurity as they face retirement -- is not acceptable to the almost 10,000 Nova Scotians represented in our membership. CARP favours a public option to avoid the high costs and lack of accountability in private offerings. CARP is looking for legislated protections to ensure affordability, benefit adequacy, portability, fiduciary responsibilities, and proper risk management to ensure sustainability. The vast majority of CARP members do not trust the private sector to deliver safe, low-cost, high-return plans and 20 percent say they do not trust the private sector "at all".
CARP Nova Scotia believes that there is an urgent need to move on the pension reform process and we are impatient with the current pace of reform. CARP members strongly support improving the retirement landscape not for themselves but for their children and grandchildren. And they give us the benefit of their wisdom when they say that there should be a universally accessible and affordable plan that provides an adequate pension and is large enough to be professionally managed and withstand demographic and economic body blows.

We should care about pensions (link)

By ROGER TAYLOR Business Reporter: Wed, Dec 22 - 7:19 AM
Nova Scotia’s older demographic means Canada’s pension problem is likely to hit home sooner here than in other provinces. In other words, the fact that people aren’t saving enough for retirement should be an important issue for Nova Scotians. The trouble is that the pension reform issue is complicated to understand and most people may simply choose to not pay attention, especially during the holidays.
Almost everyone agrees people aren’t saving enough for retirement and changes are needed to the pension system so that more money is set aside for retirees. But should there be a new privately managed pension scheme in addition to the Canada Pension Plan or should the government-run pension plan be beefed up?
Nova Scotia already has the second-highest workers’ compensation rates in Canada, pushing payroll taxes beyond what employers face in most other provinces, says Leanne Hachey, Atlantic vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Because of that, Hachey says she believes any compulsory increase in Canada Pension Plan payments would have a dampening effect on the Nova Scotia economy and employment levels.
The federation sent a letter to federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the provincial finance ministers before their meeting Monday in Alberta on the topic. The group urged the ministers not to consider Canada Pension Plan increases. The finance ministers agreed to push forward with the creation of pooled registered pension plans, similar to pooled registered retirement savings plans. The pooled registered pension plans would be aimed at small- and medium-sized businesses and self-employed individuals.
There would be more than one pooled registered pension plan. Employers would join a plan, but they wouldn’t necessarily need to contribute on behalf of their employees.
The pooled plan isn’t necessarily the only answer. Hachey says the Liberal party’s proposal to allow individuals to increase their contributions to the Canada Pension Plan without affecting their employers’ contributions may be an option for small-business owners, especially if the option includes an opportunity for employers to contribute to their retirement.
Susan Eng, advocacy vice-president for the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, says her organization does not oppose the idea of pooled registered pension plans. But Eng says she believes the finance ministers missed the opportunity to advance pension reform in any meaningful way by not stipulating that there should be adequate protection for investors in the private-sector-run pools. In an interview Tuesday from her Toronto office, Eng told me she believes the discussion of reform has become a political issue. She says Flaherty and Alberta Finance Minister Ted Morton, two of the biggest proponents of the privately run pooled system, "decided to play to their (political) base." As a result, Eng says she suspects the issue won’t be worked out until after the next federal election.
Although pension can be a complicated issue, she says it is her job to break it down into simple concepts everyone can understand. She says she hopes her group will make pension reform an election issue.
Eng says she doesn’t buy the argument that increasing Canada Pension Plan contributions will be a job killer. The modest enhancements announced after the ministers’ meeting in Prince Edward Island in June were never going to amount to a vast improvement in retirement security, but they would have recognized the importance of a mandatory defined-benefit element in a pension plan. A 10 per cent increase in Canada Pension Plan contributions for people earning $40,000 would result in an additional cost of $43 a month for both the employer and employee, Eng calculates. For those making about $20,000, a 10 per cent increase would cost an additional $18 a month for both parties.

CPP "Reforms" Trouble CARP NS Members

Finance Minister Graham Steele has it right. Ottawa's plan for "improving" the Canada Pension Plan is disappointing.
The CARP Nova Scotia Chapter agrees with Mr Steele that the proposal by federal Minister Jim Flaherty is only half an answer. And the half he has chosen is suspect at best.
CARP Nova Scotia, members will welcome any action that improves on the status quo – which has left many of them with financial insecurity as they face retirement. However, we have always favoured a public option to avoid the high costs and lack of accountability in private offerings. Since the proposal rules out a public option, and call for a Defined Contribution approach, CARP will be looking for legislated protections to ensure affordability, benefit adequacy, portability, fiduciary responsibilities, and proper risk management to ensure sustainability.”
All the provinces except Alberta agreed on a gradual phase in of changes to CPP. CARP asks why Alberta's position was supported against the majority? Why is Minister Flaherty ignoring their opinion and the opinions thousands of Canadians?
The vast majority of CARP members do not trust the private sector to deliver safe, low-cost, high-return plans and one third say they do not trust the private sector “at all.”
CARP Nova Scotia believes that there is an urgent need to start the pension reform process and we are impatient with the current pace of reform. We urge Minister Mr Flaherty to pay attention to Mr Steele's reasonable suggestions.

In a recent press release from the national office it was announced that our own Bill VanGorder, President of CARP NS, has been named to CARP's Advisory Board for a two-year term.
CARP’s Advisory Board comprises 9 members from across Canada, selected for their leadership and expertise to provide advice, feedback and ideas that will help advance CARP’s mission and commitment to be the leading Advocacy organization for Canadians as we age.
Read the full press release here.
The board of CARP NS and its members salute and congratulate Bill.
If you have an issue that you would like addressed at the national level, email Bill.

CARP NS supports restoration of senior bus service

Halifax, July 27, 2010: Halifax City Councilor, Gerry Bluementhal, has the support of our CARP Nova Scotia Chapter in his efforts to restore the much needed "Manors" bus service to seniors.

According to Metro Transit's own officials, more than 1200 bus rides per week have been eliminated. This is no small matter for the seniors of our community who have no other form of transportation available to them since booking 8 days ahead for the Access-A-Bus is not an option that gives them the freedom of choice. Access-A-Bus users are a very different group from the mobile seniors who use regular buses.

"Eliminating Route 3 was a very short sighted decision," says Bill VanGorder, CARP NS President. He urges HRM area CARP members to contact their local Councilor and ask that they support the repeal of this unfortunate decision by HRM Transit authorities.

You can find your councilor’s email and phone information here.

As if celebrating the 25th anniversary of CARP (and the first anniversary of our Nova Scotia Chapter)  wasn't enough, almost 100 members gathered on December 1, 2009, at Royal Ashburn to cheer on the five Nova Scotian winners of the national "Top 25 Canadians Award".

The winners were: Redvers Cainey (Halifax), Keith Cameron (Halifax), Riet Vink (Halifax), Carol Welch (Brier Island), and Charlotte Wilson-Hammond (Clam Harbour).
[CARP NS board member Alex Handyside accepted the award for Redvers Cainey, who was unable to attend]

The Honourable Mayann E. Francis, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, told the crowd she was especially pleased that FIVE of the 25 national awards were presented to Nova Scotians.