March Budget

Hi Everybody ;

The new Ontario Budget will be in early March . Susan Eng Vice President of Advocacy of CARP will be trying to convince the Finance Minister to unlock pensions for retire,s 100% in the upcoming budget
She can use all the support she can get behind her request .
Please E-Mail Finance Minister Dwight Duncan through the CARP E-Voice Mail and put some support behind Susan .

http://www.carp.ca/advocacy/index.cfm

Please also pass this on to all of your contacts .

Take Care , Regards , Bill C

Update on Private Members Bill 116

Bill to Unlock Pensions to be Debated May 7th, 2009

MPP Chudleigh Seeks Fairness and Respect for Retirees

(Milton, ON – February 3, 2009) Today Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh announced that his
Private Member’s Bill 116, the Pension Benefits Amendment Act, will be read for the
Second time and debated on May 7th, 2009.

Bill 116 would allow retirees full access to locked-in funds (LIFs, LIRAs, LIRFs) at the
Age of 55. These funds are currently doled out in increments by the government and not
Fully paid out until the recipient is 90 years old. Too often, retirees pass away before
Receiving their hard-earned pensions.

“My Bill seeks respect for retirees first and foremost,” said Chudleigh. “Ontarians over
55 do not need the government to ration out their pensions like parents giving allowance
To their children. At the age of retirement, most Ontarians have raised families, bought
And sold homes, made investments and shown prudent and responsible management of
Their money and property. It’s time to start treating our seniors like adults.”

“An immediate unlocking of pension funds would also act as a timely stimulus to the
Economy,” added Chudleigh. “It would put money in the hands of the people and, while
I’m sure they won’t spend it all at once, I imagine they might use some of it on projects
And expenditures that would ease our provinces current economic trouble and create some
Well-needed jobs.”

Chudleigh has worked in concert with the Ontario Coaltion of Independent LIF Holders
(“The Coalition”) in understanding the issues and garnering public support. This
Province-wide group of activist citizens has been demanding changes to pension laws for
Many years.

“There have been several attempts to unlock pensions but so far the government has been
Reluctant to act,” said Coalition spokesman Bill Costello of Atikokan. “Yet we remain
Hopeful that Premier McGuinty and MPPs from all parties will finally see the light and
Vote for Mr. Chudleigh’s Bill 116 on May 7th. It is simply the right thing to do.”

The Coalition has begun a petition which calls on the Legislative Assembly to pass Bill
116 without delay.
The petition can be downloaded at www.tedchudleigh.com/petitions

And sent to Chudleigh’s Queen’s Park office: Room 450, Legislative Building, Toronto,
Ontario, M7A 1A8.

For information contact:
Ben Ellis - 416-325-5747 or 905-878-1729
Bill Costello - 807-597-6882

Petition Address

Hi Everybody ;

This is the site to download the petition if you wish .
www.tedchudleigh.com/petitions

The second reading will be on May 7th and then it will be debated.

We need all the help we can get to try and have this petition accepted by the majority of members from all party's . Mailing your MPP and Premier Dalton McGuinty and requesting of them to pass Bill 116 . The Bill to unlock LIRA , LIRF , and LIF pensions in Ontario .

We also need all of you to download the petition and print out copy's and get them signed ...

Please don't procrastinate and think the next person will do it . If everybody takes that attitude , We are then dead in the water .
If we want these pensions unlocked we have to show that there are a great number of people behind unlocking.
Have your family , children (( There is no age restriction )), friends , neighbors and whoever sign .

There is one restriction however . Only citizens from Ontario may sign , overthought you may hold a locked in pension under Ontario rules . In this case e-mail Premier McGuinty and protest .

If you get at least one petition signed ( Great ) if you can get a hundred . ( Absolutely Fantastic ) . What ever the number it will be a big help in reaching our goal for every retiree , being able to control their own finances in times of need and not have to pay the government a fee and beg for their own money (( This is not CPP or OAS ))

Please also pass this on to any contacts you have and also ask for their help .

We Can Do This !!!

The Petitions can be mailed to . Ted Chudleigh , Room 450 Legislative Building , Queen's Park , Toronto , Ontario , M7A 1A8

Or you can mail to me and I will bundle them up and send them on .
Bill Costello , 6 Chub Lake Road , Box 56 , Atikokan Ontario , p0t 1c0

We would like the petitions sent in by April 10th .

Take Care , Regards Bill Costello , The Ontario Coalition of Independent LIF Holders .

Update on Private Members Bill 116

February 2, 2009

To all the people that would like to see LIRA , LIRF , and LIF's Unlock 100% in Ontario .

Great news! The Ballot Day lottery was held today and Ted pulled number 17. That means that second reading of Bill 116 will be held on May 7, 2009, much earlier than expected. There is still a chance that the Liberals will prorogue the house which might affect the number of the Bill and could possibly move the date back a few weeks but all signs indicate that they won’t prorogue.


This is a grassroots cause for fairness, respect and economic benefit. It is a cause for which many of you have been struggling for several years. While Ted Chudleigh is personally dedicated to Bill 116’s passage, he is also acting as your representative as Ontarians so I encourage you to keep in touch with him through me so that we stay united and so that your voices do not get muffled by the usual politics. Your ideas are most welcome. Even if we disagree, our own healthy debate will strengthen our position leading up to May 7th.

Thanks again to all for your continued support. Together, I think we have a real chance for success!

Best regards to you and your families,

Ben Ellis
Executive Assistant to
Ted Chudleigh, MPP Halton
Ben.Ellis@pc.ola.org
416-325-5747

PS . AS always we need your support in contacting your MPP's and Premier Dalton McGuinty and request of them to pass Bill 116.
There will be a site where you can download a petition . I will post it as soon as it is set up .

Regards Bill C

Private Members Bill 116

Hi Everybody ;I thought I would pass private members bill 116 's address in case you would like to look at it .

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2074

Ted Chudleigh MPP Halton has assured me that he is fully committed to having these pensions unlocked as is his party .

He said if the current government should prorogue parliament he will present it again under a new number .

Please e- mail your MPP and ask him/her to support bill 116 . You could also e-mail Premier McGuinty and ask him to let this bill pass .

We have a petition in the works that I will mail out as soon as it is ready .

On another front a Liberal MPP is also having unlocking pensions 100% put on the agenda for discussion in the next caucus meeting February 4 . There are a number of Liberal MPP's that already support unlocking 100% , with your encouragement maybe we can get more .

I have received a letter from Gilles Bisson one of the NDP candidates that they now have decided to back unlocking 50% . I have asked him why the Turnaround from Andrea's private members bill of 100% . His reply was it was a party decision . I have not yet received a reply from any other of the candidates when I asked what percentage of unlocking they support.

I would ask of you all to mail the 4 NDP candidates and ask them why the change .I thought they always say they are for the people . Do they now feel that we are not competent enough to look after our own money .

We are getting to the stage that I really belive that we are going to succeed in having this cruel legislation changed . We just need the support from all of you and anybody else you can reach out to , to also mail the MPP's of Ontario and ask for LIF , LIRF , LIRA pensions be unlocked 100% .

To anybody out of province that has a locked in pension in Ontario or feels that this unjust legislation should be changed . You can e-mail Premier Dalton McGuinty and ask for change .

dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Until I have further Information , Take Care Bill Costello ,
The Ontario Coalition of Independent LIF Holders

New Private Members Bill

Hi All ;

I have just been notified by Ken Elliott that there is another Private Members bill to unlock locked in pensions 100 % in Ontario .

We can use all the help we can get from concerned Ontario Citizens , or if you are in any other province and hold a Ontario locked in pension . mail your MPP's of all party's , and asking them to support bill 116 on your behalf .

It would also be helpful if you also mailed Dalton McGuinty Premier of Ontario .

Here is the addresses of the MPP's .

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_current.do?locale=en&list_type=all_mpps&go=go

If you are stuck for words this is a letter Philip James set out to his MPP.

" Hello Peter.
We have received information that Mr Chudleigh of Halton has introduced a private members Bill to finally level the playing field Re: Locked in Pensions. His Bill states that all should get 100% unlocking as did the 61Mpp,s back in 1999, with some still sitting including Dalton McGuinty.
My question Peter is straightforward.

Can we the pensioners of Ontario count on your yes vote for Bill 116.

Your response will be appreciated.
Regards Philip James , The Ontario Coalition of Independent LIF Holders . "

As Many of You know these locked in Pensions are Pensions arriving from your own private pension plans and the Ontrio Government has no right to keep them locked in when there has already been a presedent set in 2002 in Saskatchewan when they unlocked 100% for their Citizens , in 1999 61 Ontario MPP's passed legislation to unlock their pensions for them selves 100% .

This is your own money not Government money . This is not CPP or QAS .

Please pass this on to as many people as you can .
We need to fight the unjustness of the curent legislation .

Thank You Bill Costello , The Ontario Coalition of Independent LIF Hoalders

-------Original Message------- Subject: Bill 116

Hi all,
Just received this e-mail this morning ... let's keep the pressure on ... even Chudleigh in his first sentence is acknowledging that MPPs have been given an exemption on locked-in pensions
Ken

----- Original Message ----- From: Ellis, Ben To: kenneth.elliott@sympatico.ca Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 11:05 AM

Subject: Locked-In Pensions
Dear Mr. Elliott,

I have been informed that you are interested in the issue of legislation surrounding locked-in pensions and the exemptions for certain people including the terminally ill and MPPs.

As you may have heard, Mr. Chudleigh has tabled legislation recently that would “level the playing field”, so to speak.
Bill 116 would amend the Pension Benefits Act to allow up to the entire amount in the account to be transferred into a registered retirement income fund for all Ontarians.

The transfer could be made at age 55 or, if the pension plan provides for retirement at an earlier age, at that age.

In drafting this legislation, Mr. Chudleigh is attempting to undo and simplify the complicated laws which rob people of the right to spend their own hard-earned money.

As a conservative, Mr. Chudleigh feels that retirees deserve more respect, and do not need pensions rationed out by government like parents giving allowance to their children.

Beyond that principle, Bill 116 would act as a significant and timely stimulus to the economy.

Bill 116 will be given second reading some time in 2009, at a date yet to be determined (depending on Mr. Chudleigh's ballot day). At that time, we hope there will be serious debate on this issue both in the House, in the media and in the public.

Even if Bill 116 fails to pass, we hope that the Liberal government will take note of the issue and at least introduce legislation that changes the current system.

I understand the frustration that exists regarding this matter but there are several steps that can be taken to increase our chances.
For instance, as a private citizen you might start a petition or letter-writing campaign, perhaps in concert with an organization like CARP. If you were able to stir up enough support, Mr. Chudleigh could read them into the record and demonstrate to the McGuinty Liberals that there is real public clamoring for change.

I would be happy to help with this process. Please feel free to contact me anytime to discuss this or other issues.
Best regards, Ben Ellis
Executive Assistant to Ted Chudleigh, M.P.P. Halton P.C. Critic for Economic Development and Trade

Liberals Hypocritical on Pension Unlocking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liberals hypocritical on pension unlocking :

This is a letter sent out to all Liberal MPP's .

Mr Duncan ;

Thank you for responding to my letter . Even though your response was still the Same Old , Same Old .

I would like to quote you on some of your response .

Quote " As you mentioned, some MPPs voted to unlock their RRSP-type retirement arrangement in 1999 "

" This legislation was passed by the former government despite the objection of Liberal MPPs . The Liberal Caucus Opposed to compleat unlocking in 1999, and its views remains consistent . "

You are Correct in the above statements .

I would like to now Quote for You also what Your Premier said at that time .

" I want to make it perfectly clear in this House today that I and my party will have none of it."

Dalton McGuinty plus Jim Bradley , Michael Brown , Sean Conway , Elinor Caplan , Monte Kwinter , Lyn McLeod , Gerry Philips , David Ramsay , Tony Rupercht , Richard Patten , and the list goes on took all of it . 100% Unlocking !!!!!!

Don't you think Mr Duncan that Your party is being a bit Hypocritical ,letting members take all of it when they retire ,when your leader said " MY PARTY WILL HAVE NONE OF IT ".

You Can be sure of one thing Mr Duncan that I and The Ontario Coalition of Independent LIF Holders will continue to inform the Seniors of Ontario who all the members of the Liberal Party are that will have 100% unfettered access to their pensions on retirement .

Where as any other citizen of Ontario has to wait until they are 90 Years of age OR DROP DEAD so they may receive the same privilege.

To Me Sir HYPOCRITICAL is not a strong enough word for the disparity and hardship You and the Liberal Party are forcing on the SENIORS of this Province .

People that worked hard all their lives . People that saved all their lives for a comfortable retirement ,
And now You Sir and your party are denying them their own money in their golden years .

Bill Costello , The Ontario Coalition of Independent LIF Holders .