In the thick of the 2004 election campaign, Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party sent out a “REALITY CHECK” titled: Paul Martin’s hidden seniors agenda .
Conservatives claimed that Liberals were hiding a plan to raise the retirement age to 67 for Old Age Security (OAS). They ridiculed the idea of raising the eligibility age for OAS because “Canadians would have to work two years longer only to receive less from their public pension.”
A copy of that missive is still posted here: http://www.garrybreitkreuz.com/election/News1/CRelease17.htm
In 2004, Conservative were ready to stand up for seniors. On Friday, Stephen Harper was asked about the possibility of raising the eligibility age by two years and replied "Absolutely, it's being considered."
This government was elected on the promise that they would change Ottawa.
They’ve become everything they used to oppose.
**REALITY CHECK** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2004
Paul Martin’s hidden seniors agenda
OTTAWA – Paul Martin’s real agenda for seniors is so shocking it took an Access to Information request to force it into the light of day.
Mr. Martin plans to raise the retirement age to 67 for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). (Department of Finance White Paper, 1995). This means Canadians would have to work two years longer only to receive less from their public pension.
Under Mr. Martin’s proposal the poorest senior would receive over $24,000 less in OAS than he or she would be entitled to today. And a worker receiving full CPP at age 67 would receive almost $20,000 less than today.
Funny how Mr. Martin failed to be perfectly clear about these facts at today’s news conference.
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For more information, please contact the Conservative Press Office: (613) 364-6040
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