News & Views JI_ARTA_POM_BkCvr_Apr11.Left_FINAL.ai 1 26/04/11 4:07 PM Contents Table of Volume 19 Number 4 Summer 2011 COLUMNS FEATURES 2 11 24 Greetings From the In Memoriam Health Care in a Social President Democracy—Germany 4 3 14 27 Elder Abuse in Canada Golf Tournament Pension Committee— World Health Care —CARP CPP Changes Big 29 18 Society 5 Editor’s Do You 12 Scholarship musings Know? Information Lessons 20 30 from Reflections The Latest the 7 —Judy Steiert Scam Master Candidates for Provincial Leadership 21 9 Political Notes 31 16 Contest Winners Letters 23 to the Editor 10 What Are We Executive Director’s Doing Now? 32 Report —Marilyn Bossert Classifieds Colombia and Ecuador News and Views is published four times a year by the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA). Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to 409, 11010-142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1. Tel.: 780-447-9474; Alberta only: 1-800-232-7208 ext 474; fax: 1-780-447-0613; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www.albertarta.org Contributions to News and Views to the editor: David J. Flower, 409, 11010 – 142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1. Assistant Editor: Vi Oko; Graphic Artist: Hazel Adair; Printing by Central Web, 16940 – 110 Avenue NW, Edmonton T5P 1G9 AR-ARTA-12e Greetings From the President Leading the Way Marlene Reddekopp On November 11 and 12, 2010, As I have been reading the book, youth organization called Roca ARTA members attended a leader- I have experienced those “Aha that works with young people to ship training workshop in Calgary moments”—so that is what he help them escape street life. When entitled “Building a Sustainable was talking about! My notes make everything is awry and out of bal- Future.” The keynote speak- more sense to me now. ance, they use “Peacekeeping ers were Dr. Peter Senge and The Fifth Discipline is systems Circles,” a Native American tech- Dr. Margaret Wheatley thinking. It is the discipline that nique to garner consensus. When I participate in such an integrates and fuses the other I found this interesting since small intense conference, I sometimes disciplines into a coherent body of groups of five or six formed in a wonder how it will help me in the theory and practice. Others include circle at the Calgary conference to future since there is so much infor- personal mastery which deepens have a dialogue on a given topic. mation to sift through. our personal vision and focuses our Taking this concept further, at Dr. Senge recommended his book energies to develop patience and to see reality objectively; mental ARTA board meetings we are “The Fifth Dimension,” which he seated in a “square” circle as we had written in 1990 and revised in models which make assumptions, regarding how we understand the conduct our meetings and, yes, 2006, as a reading resource. At the resolve issues through dialogue. time I did not look to see if I could world and how we take action; as purchase it. When I returned to well as building a vision and team The Strategic Planning Committee my daughter’s home, I mentioned learning. met in May with all committee regretting not seeing about doing Dialogue is very important in heads to review each group’s initia- so and she said, “Oh, Mom, I have it team learning because it suspends tives in an effort to get an overall on my bookshelf downstairs. It was assumptions and brings in different picture of ARTA’s work to ensure suggested reading for my Family points of view. Different ideas and cohesiveness that will result in a Support Studies when I was work- thoughts usually result in disagree- smooth transition from one initia- ing on my Masters in Social Work.” ment but from that comes progress. tive to the other. In the introduction it was noted In Volume 1 Issue 4 (October ARTA is alive and well. that the book is used by church 2010) of the leadership journal Have a safe and happy summer. leaders and large corporations, to called The Solutions in Our Midst name just a few. Peter indicates that there is a Marlene Reddekopp A sales representative, an administration clerk and a manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and when the genie comes out, it says, “I will give each of you just one wish.” The clerk says, “I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world.” Poof! She was gone. The sales rep. went next. “I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on a beach with a personal masseuse, an endless supply of pina coladas and the love of my life.” Poof! He was gone. The manager then made a wish. “I want those two back in the office after lunch.” Moral: Always let the boss have first say. ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19, No. 34 2 News & Views CPP Changes—They may affect you As you all may know, the Federal Government will be implementing changes to the Canada Pension Plan in 2012 and more than likely some of these changes will affect retired teachers and retired people in one way or another. Gordon Thomas wrote an excellent article in the ATA News, which he allowed us to reprint. Q and A: Changes are coming to the Canada Pension Plan Question: I’ve heard that changes will be made to the Canada Pension Plan. I just turned 60. If I retire now, should I start collecting pension benefits before I reach 65? Answer: First, several changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) will take effect in 2012. Currently, workers have to stop working (and earning) for two consecutive months before they are eligible for CPP. In 2012, this requirement will disappear, making it easier to start collecting pension. Teachers can start collecting CPP at age 60 without retiring from teaching. On January 1, 2012, one major change to the way CPP is calculated will reduce the amount of pension payable for people who start CPP before age 65 and increase the amount pay- Gordon Thomas able for those who start CPP after age 65. At present, the CPP entitlement is reduced by 0.5 per cent for each month CPP is started before the age of 65. A teacher who opts to start CPP at age 60, the earliest it is available, will receive a reduction of 0.5 per cent × 60 months = 30 per cent. Therefore, the teacher will receive 70 per cent of the normal CPP. Starting next year, the 0.5 per cent rate will increase each year until it reaches 0.6 per cent. The change goes both ways, however. If a teacher continues to work past age 65, CPP increases by 0.5 per cent per month. This will increase to 0.7 per cent by 2013. The good news is that these changes will be implemented without an increase in contribution rates. To answer your question about waiting until age 65 to retire, one thing to consider is when you need the money. Most people need more money when they’re younger and able to do more, such as travelling or pursuing pas- times. The best answer I can give about retiring before 65 is from a retirement planner, who cited the example of a pensioner who, while out for a walk, spies a $20 bill on the ground and wonders: “Hmm, should I pick that up now or come back in five years and pick it up?” The answer is clear. And remember, once you start collecting CPP, any future changes usually only affect people who have not yet started CPP, so you would be protected from any future erosion of benefits. You can find out about your CPP entitlement by registering with Service Canada at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/ eng/isp/common/proceed/socinfo.shtml. Teachers should check their contributions history on a regular basis so that errors can be corrected prior to retirement. The Pension Committee has the following suggestion: If you are retired and are between the ages of 55 and 65, and working, or contemplating returning to work, the changes to the CPP will affect you. For more detailed information on CPP changes and examples, please check out the Federal Government website www.servicecanada.gc.ca. There is a lot of valuable information here, so read it carefully, paying particular attention to this section. Are you affected by the changes? These changes will affect you if you are: • an employee who contributes to the CPP, whether you are just starting your career or you are planning to retire soon; • a self-employed person who contributes to the CPP; or • between the ages of 60 and 70 and you work while receiving your CPP retirement pension (or if you work outside of Quebec while receiving a QPP retirement pension). You will not be affected by these changes if you started receiving a CPP retirement pension before December 31, 2010, and you remain out of the work force. ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION Volume 19, No. 34 News & Views 3 Elder Abuse in Canada by Norbert Boudreau Did you know that thousands a rather simple way to abuse an needs to be checked. Being with- of seniors are being repeatedly elder as well. Trusted unscrupu- drawn or even depressed are often abused or neglected in Canada? lous individuals can steal from a signs of elder abuse too. What’s most shocking is that they vulnerable senior almost at will. Preventing and protecting our are being mistreated by someone This likelihood, however, does not loved ones against senior abuse is close to them.