FSNA - London and District Branch

Obtained pension splitting for seniors

1. FSNA was part of a common front of 22 retirees’ organizations that lobbied to convince the federal government to allow pension splitting for tax purposes effective for 2008

Obtained a material pension increase over age 65 after 2007 for pensioners born after 1942

1. Pursuant to a position paper submitted in 2001 by the pensioners’ representatives on the Canadian Forces and the Public Service Pension Advisory Committees

Convinced the Ontario Government to refrain from PSHCP first payor

1. In 2007, successfully lobbied the Ontario government to withdraw proposed changes to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan that would have made the PSHCP the first payor for drugs

Participated in establishing an alliance of seniors groups to represent the interests of older Canadians

1. Participated in the establishment of the Congress of National Seniors Organizations (CSNO). FSNA has chaired this Congress for a number of years. Since the incorporation of the CNSO in 2007, FSNA’s Executive Director has been the CNSO President.

Obtaining and protecting indexation for federal retirees

1. Played a major role in the addition in 1970 and maintenance thereafter of full indexation of pensions

Securing Pensioners Dental Services Plan (PDSP)

1. Convinced the federal Government to introduce in 2001 a subsidized dental plan for pensioners and their families

Highly subsidized Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) premiums for federal pensioners

1. FSNA played major negotiating role in convincing the Government to maintain in 2006 for the upcoming 5 years its subsidy of at least 75% of the cost of PSHCP for pensioners and to materially improve the covered benefits

Supplementary Death Benefit increased at no cost for federal retirees

1. Successfully lobbied the Government to increase from $5K to $10K the ultimate amount of SDB for Public Service pensioners

Protected survivor’s allowances for surviving spouses of federal pensioners who remarry

1. Obtained in 1989 the retention upon remarriage of survivor’s allowances for surviving spouses

Appointment of FSNA National Officers to federal government boards and committees

• Convinced the Government to have FSNA:  

1. Recommend the pensioners’ representatives on each of the Public Service and the Canadian Forces Pension Advisory committees

2. Select the pensioners’ representative on the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan Board

3. Recognized as being one of the 3 parties to the PSHCP Trust Agreement and to having FSNA select a Trustee on the PSHCP Trust