Allstream Pensioners’ Association
Newsletter
Toronto, Ontario Volume 15, No. 2 September 2006
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting was held at the Naval Club in Toronto, on Wednesday June 14. 2006. Meeting called to order at 12;20 p.m., Norm Hobbs presiding. Norm welcomed all present and introduced the Regional Chairmen, who were in Toronto for this meeting, (and the Directors meeting held the previous day, Tuesday June 13). The Regional Chairpersons attending were:
Richard Golding – Maritimes
Frank Massarelli – Quebec
Norm Czepiela – Ottawa
Fred Perchaluk – Prairie
Casper Lewitski – Alberta
John Thomas – Pacific
Norm spoke briefly on his report, text of which is included in this newsletter. Norm next introduced Dave Clement, Senior Manager HR Benefits, to the meeting. Dave commenced by pointing out that the company is doing well and meeting all targets at this time. He outlined the changes to the medical and dental plan costs for the coming year, pointing out that the rates are set just to cover costs. Depending on which part of the country you live in, E.H.C. rates will fluctuate between -4% and +1% for the next year. Semi private rates will drop by 10%, but dental care will increase by 25%. E.H.C. usage increased by 9% in the past year, but appears to be leveling off. Currently there are 1400 members in the Extended Health Care Plans and 600 members in the Dental Care Plan. Dave also mentioned that MTS/Allstream is operating as a company now, rather than the two companies operating independently as previously. Later this year Allstream will publish a booklet containing a full pension report. This booklet will be distributed to all pension plan members.
Auditor’s Report
The Auditor’s report was approved by the meeting. Ted Laramy’s continuance as auditor was supported by a motion from the floor.
Election of Officers
The President called for nominations from the floor to fill six open Director positions. The openings are a result of expiry of term for five present incumbents, and the sixth due to the death of Sandy Purdie. Nominees were as follows:
Bob Clarke
Norm Czepiela
Len Ferguson
Norm Hobbs
Ed Hughes
John Thomas
Hearing no further nominations and since the number of candidates did not exceed the number of open positions, nominations were closed and the six candidates were declared elected by acclamation.
Norm Hobbs will continue as President of the Association for the 2006 – 2007 term of office. Norm Czepiela will remain Vice President during this period.
Other Business
Norm asked the members to stand for a minute’s silence in respect of members who have passed away since the last AGM, with particular attention to Oskar Stubbits, Neil Ibbitson and Sandy Purdie. The Association is indebted to Oskar, Neil and Sandy for their very considerable contributions to the organization.
Also, noted was the fact the position of Ontario Regional Chairperson remains vacant. Norm called for volunteers, but there were no acceptances.
Motion to adjourn. Time 12:50 p.m. 95 members in attendance.
The formal portion of the meeting was followed by a luncheon and social hour.
It is to be noted that a factor in the company meeting all targets included a staff reduction of over 500 employees. Many of these people were senior employees, eligible for pension, who left voluntarily with fairly generous incentive “golden parachutes”. The ratio of “voluntary departures” to “layoffs” is unknown to us, but hopefully not too many were damaged by this cost cutting move. This also enabled Allstream to achieve further economies by operating from smaller premises, amongst other savings.
President’s Report
Well, another year, and most of us are still here. According to actuarial studies we are living longer and that is the good news. The bad news is that longer life increases the liabilities to our Pension Fund, and is one of the things that impedes the repayment of the deficit.
Your Board is maintaining a close watch on the deficit and on the recently introduced amendment by the Harper Government to the Pension Funding Rules. The changes contemplated are a one time effort to relieve a number of Federally controlled Pension Fund sponsors of the onus to correct a deficit over a five year period. The plan is to extend the time frame to ten years with the Fund sponsor seeking agreement from the Pension Plan Members. Failing that agreement the sponsor can still opt for the ten year limit but only upon securing a letter of credit from a bank. In that instance if a company declares bankruptcy the bank is on the hook for the deficit. We will continue to monitor the process, add our voice through our affiliations where appropriate, and keep you informed.
Which bring us to MTS/ALLSTREAM
As most of you are aware the communications sector of the economy presently is a volatile business. Witness the junk mail offers we all get for long distance, wireless phones, Internet and VOIP services. There are dozens of enterprises out there. In the past, other sectors have experienced similar turmoil, the most notable recently being the airline industry. Eventually it shakes down to two or three of the larger players taking over smaller endeavours or driving them out of business. Let us hope that MTS/Allstream is among the former, rather than the latter. Certainly, MTS CEO Pierre Blouin has expressed that determination.
There are two items that have experienced some change since the last report.
Pensions
The Solvency Ratio of the Contributory Pension Plan has shown a dramatic increase since the last report. The Solvency Ratio is calculated by comparing the funds in the Plan currently to the funds required in the unlikely event that the Plan had to be terminated.
Several factors contribute to the Solvency Ratio both plus and minus. On the plus side are increased interest rates, lower cost of living Increases, and a better return on investments. On the negative side are longer life expectancies, lower interest and higher cost of living rates and bad market experience.
But the factor that has increased the Solvency Ratio from 88% in January 2006 to 95% in May 2006 is Allstream’s clarification of its’ policy on the 85 point rule. Presently an employee with 85 points (age and years of service) is eligible for retirement. An employee with age less than 55 years but who has 85 points may also retire with consent from the company. That consent is rarely withheld. Under the new rule, in the event of termination of the plan an employee under age 55 with 85 points will not be granted retirement. That clarification of policy has reduced liability to the fund in the amount of $48.5 million, thus the increase in the Solvency Ratio of 7%.
Since there is no provision in the Non-Contributory plan for 85 point retirement the Solvency Ratio of that plan remains the same at 94%.
The Association is always on the lookout for members who can make a contribution and assist us in our endeavours. If you have new ideas or a concern that you feel is not being addressed come join us on the Board and be heard.
Health Benefits
Claims and costs to the plan have leveled off in the past year; the result being a slight decrease or increase in premiums, depending upon your province of residence. I like to think part of the reason is that members took the advice of the committee studying the plan and limited their claims to those that were only necessary. The dental costs, however have risen considerably and since this is an optional plan you do have the choice of keeping dental insurance or dropping it. The cost of dental protection is quite high considering the cap on claims.
We are approaching Fall Fair time, signifying an end to summer. For those who intend to leave God’s country for the winter, I wish you a safe trip and trouble free return. For those who prefer to do battle with Mother Nature on your home ground, take a break in December and meet many of your old work mates at our annual Christmas Meetings. Full details will appear in the next newsletter..
Norm Hobbs, President
Staff Photo taken at the Directors’ Meeting, Tuesday June 13, 2006
Left to right – Front row: Norm Hobbs, Len Ferguson, Norm Czepiela, Saul Koblin, Bob Clarke, Bryant Freeman, Jacques Rochefort
Back Row: Wayne Boyle, Frank Massarelli, Andy Kruk, Vic Johnson, Bob Harrison, Fred Perchaluk, Casper Lewitski, Richard Golding, John Thomas, Morley Kipp. (Saul Koblin is the only person in this picture who is not on the 2006 – 2007 Executive.
Saul chose not to run in the current term.)
Staff
The following is a staff listing of the Pensioners’ Association Executive following the annual election.
Norm Hobbs, President 8 Tomlin Court, Barrie ON L4N 7H1 705 722 3914
Email hobbs_6@hotmail.com
Norm Czepiela Vice President 139 Chemin de Guides, Ripon P.Q. J0V 1V0 819 428 4202
Email nczepiela@sympatico.ca
Bob Harrison, Treasurer 1890 Valley Farm Road. Apt 716 Pickering, ON L1V 6B4 905 831 8915
Email bobharri@rogers.com
Vic Johnson, Secretary 4960 7th Line RR#4, Rockwood ON N0B 2K0 519 856 2389
Email mavic@golden.net
Norm Czepiela Membership Convenor 139 Chemin de Guides, Ripon P.Q. J0V 1V0 819 428 4202
Email nczepiela@sympatico.ca
Len Ferguson, Newsletter Convenor 83 McGregor St. Stratford, ON N4Z 1G6 519 272 2717
Email lenferg@allstream.net
Morley Kipp, Past President 3632 Chiplow Road Mississauga ON L4X 2P9 905 625 0529
Wayne Boyle, Director 231 Victoria Ave. North Kawartha Lakes ON K9V 6C9 705 878 9088
Email boyle543@rogers.com (temporarily removed due to Bouncing Back)
Bob Clarke, Director 966 Inverhouse Dr. Apt. 809 Mississauga ON L5J 4B6 905 822 5511
Norm Czepiela Director 139 Chemin de Guides, Ripon P.Q. J0V 1V0 819 428 4202
Email nczepiela@sympatico.ca
Len Ferguson, Director 83 McGregor St. Stratford, ON N4Z 1G6 519 272 2717
Email lenferg@allstream.net
Ed Hughes, Director 1172 Sutton Court, Oshawa ON L1H 8C7 905 433 0983
Email edhughes@sympatico.ca
Vic Johnson, Director 4960 7th Line RR#4, Rockwood ON N0B 2K0 519 856 2389
Email mavic@golden.net
Andy Kruk, Director 72 Wolesley St., Toronto ON M5T 1A5 416 703 0323
Email andykruk2000@yahoo.ca (temporarily removed due to Bouncing Back)
Jacques Rochefort, Director 11 Regina Ave., St. Catharines, ON L2M 3G5 905 934 0594
Email jacrochefort@sympatico.ca
John Thomas, Director 3938 Hoskins Rd, North Vancouver BC V7K 2P2 604 987 9235
Email j-thomas@shaw.ca
Bryant Freeman Database Mgr/Webmaster 23 Wentworth Dr., Riverview NB E1B 2T4 506 386 6269
Email lbfreeman@rogers.com
Norm Hobbs, Contributory Plan Representative
8 Tomlin Court, Barrie ON L4N 7H1 705 722 3914
Email hobbs_6@hotmail.com
Bob Clarke, Non Contributory Plan Representative
966 Inverhouse Dr. Apt . 809 Mississauga ON L5J 4B6 905 822 5511
Regional Chairmen
Richard Golding, Maritime Regional Chair, 18 Baffin Dr., Moncton N.B. E1A 5P1 506 383 5734
Email richard2.golding@rogers.com
Frank Massarelli, Quebec Regional Chair 6244 3eme Ave, Rosemont PQ H1Y 2X5 514 376 9155
Email frank.massarelli@sympatico.ca
Norm Czepiela Ottawa Regional Chair 139 Chemin de Guides, Ripon PQ. J0V 1V0 819 428 4202
Email nczepiela@sympatico.ca.
Ontario Regional Chair – Position Vacant – We are seeking an applicant for this position. If you are interested please contact
Len Ferguson at 519 272 2717 or email lenferg@allstream.net
Fred Perchaluk, Regional Chair Manitoba and Saskatchewan 434 Redonda St. Winnipeg Man. R2C 3R6 204 224 2958
Email fperch@mts.net
Casper Lewitski, Regional Chair Alberta 26 – 22348 Townwhip Road 512 Sherwood Park, Alberta T8C 1H2 780 922 3299
Email casper@lewitski.com
John Thomas, Pacific Regional Chair 3938 Hoskins Rd., North Vancouver BC V7K 2P2 604 987 9235
Email j-thomas@shaw.ca
Please Note - Some of the staff members occupy more than one position.
Regions
Maritimes
We meet on the first Tuesday of every month, in the Moncton Area at McDonalds on the Riverview side of the causeway, just across the street from the Superstore.
The wet weather has given us a typical Maritime summer, every week since late June we have had a major rain storm in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The growing season has been helped with rain and dog days of August coming in July this year. An exceptional crop of blueberries highlighted the summer harvest.
Travis McCluskey toured central New Brunswick in his new truck and dropped in on Retiree Donat Perry and wife Doreen in Gagetown earlier in August. Bob Noble has had knee surgery and is recovering at home in Berry Mills NB.
Maritimers who have good news they wish to pass on, please get the information out to Richard Golding in Moncton.
Quebec
Schedule of Events
BREAKFASTS:
Wednesday, September 20th/2006 at 9:00am
Wednesday, May 16th/2007 at 9:00am
Wednesday, September 19th /2007 at 9:00am
Location: Restaurant Picasso, 6810 St Jacques St, West, Montreal.
CHRISTMAS DINNER:
Wednesday, December 20th/2006 at 12:00pm (noon)
Wednesday, December 19th /2007 at 12:00pm (noon).
Location: Restaurant Stanza, 1760 Blvd des Laurentides, Laval, Quebec.
QUEBEC REGIONAL MEETING:
The annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 11th/2006 at 2:00pm
Location: 3050 Rosemount Blvd, Montreal.
The Quebec Retirees Golf Tournament, which was held on June 6th/2006, was again a great success. A special thanks to organizers Lucien Fortin and Serge Giroux.
Lets hope that next year we will have a bigger attendance!
Ottawa
The quarterly luncheon at Robbies on June 29 had a good turnout of 26 retirees and we all shared our plans for the summer. There will be an employee and retiree Golf Tournament in MetCalf Sept 23rd and all are welcome. The next luncheon will be held at Robbies 12 noon September 28th hope to see you all there.. Regards GBP Norm
Ontario
At about the same time as the U.S. Open was getting under way in Mamaroneck, New York at the Winged Foot Golf Course, our own Allstream Pensioners’ Golf Tournament went to the first tee (9 East Course) at exactly 10:02 a.m. on June 15th 2006 at beautiful Centennial Park Golf Course in Etobicoke.
First (foursome) was Morley Kipp, Jacques Rochefort, Jon Taylor and Alf Kenzel. Norm Czepiela, Libor Sesel, Dieter Graeber and Hagen Von Chamier made up the second group off the tee. The day following our tournament, Bloomberg News released a story on The History of the Mulligan, just a little too late to incorporate Mulligans into our tournament. We’re getting enough copies of The Mulligan Story from Bloomberg to supply a copy to every golfer and/or those who showed up for lunch (dinner?) at the Wild Goose Bar & Grill, where the awards/presentations would later take place.
The third group off the tee, another foursome, were the McKever’s: Barbara, Boyd and Ken, and Bob Colbourn. Next were Bob Gilliard, Dave Calder, Vic Hill and Bill Bradbeer. They were followed by Tom Moore, Nick Vukson and Frank Kelly. Dyanne Arrowsmith and Doug and Laura South were a threesome in the sixth group. Norm Banning, Al McVean and Mike Ricks went seventh. Fred Doran, Lynn Sanderson and Esther Tilley constituted group eight.
The next group (number nine) are all newcomers to the tournament. Recent retirees, they came in as a foursome to ?beef up? Our roster of players. They were Ed Hughes, Doug Renshaw, Manny O’Quinn and Vahan Aghagulian. The last group (we had to pick up the markers) consisted of Dave Clement (Allstream), Peter Van Horne (Manitoba Tel.), Wayne Boyle, and Bernard Scanlan. They teed of at exactly 11:06 a.m.
The markers were for:
Ladies Closest to the Pin on 3 West - Barbara McKever
Ladies Long Drive on 9 East - Lynn Sanderson
Ladies Low Net, with 92, also Barbara McKever
Ladies Low Net Runnerup, with 96 - Lynn Sanderson
Men’s Long Drive (250 yards) went to Vahan Aghagulian on 13 West and Men’s Closest to the Pin went to Dieter Graeber on 6 East.
Men’s Low net was won by Doug Renshaw, with a neat 68 score and Men’s Low Net Runnerup was Ed Hughes, with a tidy 73.
There were eight special prizes for the above fine efforts, so these people got first pick at the prize table.
The prizes, generously donated by Allstream’s Dave Clement and
Manitoba Tel’s Peter Van Horne, ranged from a Big Bertha knockoff to a 
hardcover book titled Learning from the Links by
David K. Hurst, also the author of Crisis and Renewal. Bob Colbourn of
Addison on Dundas donated an
oil change at his Chev. Dealership in
Mississauga.
Ed Hughes has agreed to take over the reins next year and we’re planning to make the reservations at the Centennial Park Golf Course and the Wild Goose Bar & Grill as soon as we learn the date of the AGM (it’ll be about mid-June) and we’ll hold the golf event the day after.
When the last group arrived at the Wild Goose, the beer was flowing and the bubbly chatter was near deafening. Sandy and her crew took good care of our group and the service was excellent. The food likewise. Sandy’s been doing this for ten years! Special thanks to Dave Clement and Peter Van Horne and our own Bob Harrison for making this event possible.
In summary, nearly fifty people showed up at the Wild Goose for the après golf and lunch. There were thirty-six golfers in all, a mixture of threesome and foursomes – a fine turnout.
Make plans now and set that date aside (probably June 14, 2007, a Thursday). Same time, same place, same eatery. Eglinton west at Renforth.
Come out and chat it up with some former fellow workers you might not have seen for twenty-five years. As the old Marineland ad used to say:
“You’ll have a whale of a time.”
Committee: Jacques Rochefort
Doug South
Bernard Scanlan
Prairie
The Allstream Pensioners’ Association Prairie Region Golf Tournament was held at the Cottonwood Country Club on August 17th.
The day turned out beautifully. Blue skies and warm sunshine greeted the golfers, who started to tee off at noon.
Robin Cowan was the all-star golfer with a low score of 77, which we think is legitimate. Randy Burkett, Len Burkett’s son came in with an amazing low net score of 59. Doug Rombough proved to be the most honest golfer with a score that we promised not to divulge. Closest to the hole honours went to Terry Sawka on #5 and Ralph Piatt on hole #7.
A bubbly or two and a steak barbeque followed the golf. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, so the day was declared a success.
Many thanks go out to all the participants, Ray Machan and Mike Morhun, who did the handicaps again this year. Robin Cowan did a fine job recruiting golfers and rounding up prizes too.
A reminder to all Prairie Region members. Our first meeting of the new season is scheduled for September 20th. As usual all meetings will be held at noon on the third Wednesday of each month, at the Viscount Gort Hotel.
If you wish to contact your local representative Fred Perchaluk, you can contact him by phone at 224-2958 for members in Winnipeg and out of town members can contact on his toll free number 1-888-977-1777. You can also contact him by email at fperch@mts.net.
Alberta
Greetings and salutations to all my fellow Alberta retirees. My name is Casper Lewitski and I am the new Regional Chairman for Alberta replacing our recently departed Neil Ibbitson, who I had the pleasure and honour of being mentored by some years back.
From a historical perspective, I started work with CNT in Edmonton in 1963 as a telegram messenger boy while still going to school. In the course of the subsequent 36 years, time was spent as a Route Aide, Front Counter Clerk, Plant Clerk, Installer (with some time spent working up and down the Alaska Highway, based out of Dawson Creek, BC), Equipment Tech. General Tech, Telex/Infoswitch Supervisor, Service Centre Supervisor and Technical Manager. The last few years were spent as a Senior Systems Engineer before retiring in December of 1999. It was a good ride.
Currently, my wife, Gloria, and I live on an acreage (5.5 acres) southeast of Edmonton and south of Sherwood Park. My address is:
26 – 22348 TWP RD 512
Sherwood Park, AB T8C 1H2
Telephone: (780)-922-3299
Email: casper@lewitski.com
After attending the recent June Annual General Meeting in Toronto, a few items of interest surfaced and I would like to take this opportunity to ask you, my fellow retirees, for assistance in getting them addressed and resolved.
1) – Membership
As I’m sure that you all would agree, nothing worthwhile in this world is necessarily free. Having said that, it should come as no surprise to know that maintaining a strong, supportive association also carries a cost albeit a small one….say the equivalent of a few cups of Tim Horton’s coffee that buys a full year’s membership. This membership buys a strong voice for dealing with issues that impact all retirees from health issues, to personal, individual issues, to pension issues. You may or may not know that the Association has been instrumental in resolving issues like pension reinstatement for some individual retirees, pension rate adjustments and medical coverage costs. It’s true that medical insurance rates have been getting adjusted upward, but consider how much more they would have gone up if it were not for the collective voice of the Association. In order to maintain this strong voice, we need to ensure that we become paid up members of this association and in so doing add more power to the voice.
To do this, if you are not a member, or are a member in arrears,please sit down now, take out your chequebook, make out a cheque to “Allstream Pensioners’ Association” in the amount of $10 and mail it to:
R.E. Harrison, Treasurer, Allstream Pensions’ Association
1890 Valley Farm Road, Apt 716
Pickering, ON L1V 6B4
(For members in arrears $10 for each year in arrears is required.)
2) – Address/Phone
Another thing that is important is how to contact you in order to distribute information and generally keep you in the loop. I realize that if we do not have your current address or phone number, then the likelihood of your reading this is rather slim. However, it is hoped that other members may know of another member’s status and would be kind enough to advise me of it. A proposed follow-up calling campaign is also being considered.
3) - Email
Given our total membership, it is rather surprising to see such a low percentage of the retirees either without an email address or an incorrect one. Would those Alberta Members that have email, please send me a message at casper@lewitski.com confirming not only your email address but your postal address and telephone number as well.
4) – Historical Photos
Alberta Communication history will tend to slip away with those of us who helped to make it. To maintain this link, would those of you who have photos of time spent with the company, consider sharing them so that they can be put up on the website for all to enjoy. Pleae give me a call or email me to let me know if you have some photos to share so that we can arrange to make appropriate copies for posting.
5) – Other Info
Just to let everybody know that Barney Lach, former telex plant tech (wire chief) in Edmonton who has been retired for some years now, had to sell his home in Edmonton and move into a nursing home due to emphysema. He doesn’t have email but I’m sure that he would enjoy receiving some card from friends and acquaintances that he had made over the years. Barney’s new address is:
Barney Lach
Good Samaritan Nursing Home
101 Youville Drive East NW
Edmonton, AB T6L 7A4
In the near future, please expect to hear from BILL MOGRIDGE, (403)-686-8742, Calgary or from myself in Edmonton as we work to confirm retiree information.
Alberta Members who have any questions or concerns regarding any retiree issue, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Casper Lewitski
Alberta Regional Chairman
Phone: (780)-922-3299
Email: casper@lewitski.com
Pacific
Greetings to all fellow members of the BC District of the Allstream Pensioners’ Association.. This year we have lost a few more members whom many of us knew most if not all of our working lives. In particular we lost our past chairman Don Ackert, retired from the Fabrication Shop in Vancouver. Don regrettably had many health issues. He will be missed by all. We also lost Don Carmichael, retired as Outside Plant lineman at McBride. Also missing is Claire McNeil, retired from the Clerical Department at Vancouver. All three members will be remembered by ex fellow workers.
The weather, at least on the BC coast this summer has been very favourable. Not too hot and not too much rain. Here’s hoping we will have a nice fall season. Members are to note that at our last meeting a phone committee was formed to advise members of the next upcoming meeting. You should get a call, but in the event that you do not you are cordially invited to attend a very informal meeting with emphasis on socializing and a minimum of business. Featured will be coffee and desserts. Come and meet some old friends and perhaps some new ones too.
Please be advised this next meeting of the local district will be held at The Holiday Inn Express, Cypress Room, 2289 East Hastings St. Vancouver, on Wednesday September 27, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
John Thomas
Chairman Pacific Region
In Memoriam
We have been notified the following members have passed away:
| Eileen Campbell | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Dec 31, 2005 |
| Jeanne Quirion | Montreal, Quebec | Jan 26, 2006 |
| Jeanne Halle* | St. Lambert, Quebec | March 3, 2006 |
| Ali Yilmaz Tezguler | Mississauga, Ontario | April 30, 2006 |
| Raymond Gilles Guimond | Laval, Quebec | May 11, 2006 |
| James M. Smith | St. Laurent, Quebec | May 11, 2006 |
| Roy Carrie | Etobicoke, Ontario | May 19, 2006 |
| Mary Delong* | Charlottetown, PEI | May 22, 2006 |
| Oskar Stubbits | Toronto, Ontario | May 23, 2006 |
| Donald Hawke | Sault St. Marie Ontario | June 1, 2006 |
| Bernice Fogel * | Winnipeg, Manitoba | June 4, 2006 |
| Hazen Marr | Courtenay, British Columbia | June 14, 2006 |
| Jim McDaniel | Toronto, Ontario | June 18, 2006 |
| Dorothy Cressman* | Virgil, Ontario | June 22, 2006 |
| Murray Stewart | Winnipeg Manitoba | July 4, 2006 |
| Don Ackert | Port Coquitlam, BC | July 16, 2006 |
| Sheila Gillingham* | Langley, British Columbia | July 19, 2006 |
| Bill Hawke | Sault Ste Marie, Ontario | July 20, 2006 |
| Bob Patry | Toronto, Ontario | July 23, 2006 |
| Frank Ross | New Westminster, BC | Aug 15, 2006 |
| Donald Carmichael | McBride, British Columbia | August 7, 2006 |
| Frank Glebe | Mississauga, Ontario | Aug 18, 2006 |
| Gerda Schlattner* | Brighton, Ontario | Unknown Date |
| Anne Crandell* | Willowdale, Ontario | Unknown Date |
| Gilbert Allard | Saint Eustache, Quebec | Augu7, 2006 |
| Winnifred McKay-Bell | Toronto, Ontario | Aug 29, 2006 |
* Denotes Spouse
In God’s Care
Jim McDaniel, Telecom Expert, 1918-2006
Jim McDaniel was one of the best known faces on Canadian television during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a paid-up member of ACTRA but never worked for a network. He did appear in a long running series of commercials promoting Telex and Private Wire Services, then the fastest way for companies to send messages to each other. He had a rugged face, more that of a character actor than a leading man, and a trademark brush cut. He would walk straight up to the camera and announce: “This is Jim McDaniel for Telex,” and then go on to tout the product from CNCP Telecommunications Those of us who remember those commercials agree that he was a very credible spokesman for the company..
When he first decided to retire in 1983, Telex was still king, pumping out messages between corporations and banks and business offices everywhere at six characters per second. Mr. McDaniel left just as the fax machine came in. “The fax killed the Telex business. It used to be a $150 million a year business. It dropped off in just a few years to almost nothing,” Mr McDaniel said. He worked for the same company for well over 60 years. He came back after his first retirement and worked into his 80’s, always for a different version of the same company, which morphed from Canadian National Railways to CNCP Telecommunications and then to Unitel.
Jim McDaniel was a working class lad from Toronto. He went to Danforth Technical School, but only as far as Grade 9. His first job was delivering telegrams by bicycle in downtown Toronto for the Canadian National Railways. “He rode the bicycle 365 days a year, and winters were a lot harsher then,” said his son Grant. His pay was $8 a week, though he also got tips. After three years he became an office boy, studying typing and morse code in his spare moments. Jim moved quickly up the ladder so that by the end of the 1930’s he was a telegrapher. His salary tripled to $24 a week. During the war, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was sent off to aircrew training in Manitoba. When his telegraph skills were discovered, he was promptly shipped off to Washington where he took a course in how to manage codes. After that he became a cipher clerk, communicating in code between Commanders in the field and their political masters in Washington. The war changed his life in many ways. Later, it would launch him on his career in sales and then television. But, firstly, it taught him that to keep his mind sharp he needed to keep his body in shape. “We used to spend too much time staying up late at night,” McDaniel said. So one morning he walked into a gym in Washington and became hooked on exercising., He went through a strict physical regimen right up until the last months of his life. It showed. Even in late 80’s, when Jim McDaniel took his shirt off, he had a wiry, muscled physique that shamed men 60 years younger.
Back in civilian life after the war. he continued his studies, taking the 1950’s equivalent of an executive MBA course. As a result the telegram delivery boy became General Sales Manager for CNCP Telecommunications. One of his first assignments was helping sell and then supervise the installation of the first computer message system for Air Canada. Next came the move from selling face to face to selling on television. “I didn’t know anything about advertising,.” Jim said modestly, “but they put me in charge.” After a while he was put on camera. He traveled across Canada making speeches, using his familiar face and open personality to boost the company’s image.
Retirement was next on Jim’s agenda, but not for long. With a staff of six volunteers he became ombudsman for the Canadian Information Processing Society. Organized into local chapters CIPS had 4500 members across the country. The ombudsman was sort of a court of last resort for those who were threatened or confused by the faceless, at that time not well understood computer. Following this he went back to work as a sales consultant, selling dedicated fax lines, then switched to high speed data lines and promoting the use of the personal computer.
Many of his post retirement years were spent fighting the Bell Canada telephone monopoly. He made speeches, and lobbied Ottawa, using his media image to promote competition. Jim’s efforts played no small part in Unitel’s successful effort to bring long distance competition to the Canadian marketplace. Jim was also instrumental in obtaining a cellular phone licence for CNCP in 1985. Rogers Communications acquired the licence when it absorbed that portion of CNCP, and Jim worked for Rogers for a time following this.
Jim McDaniel was an early riser. For many years he was the first man in the gym each day at the Cambridge Club in downtown Toronto. He would park his car on York Street around 5 a.m., work out in the gym and then be back to pick up his car before the 7 a.m. no-parking curtain came down. Always a snappy dresser, he usually allowed himself at least one good cigar a day, and could be seen in the downtown business district enjoying a puff on his way to lunch.
Membership – Allstream Pensioners’ Association (As of June 1, 2006)
Paid up Members 1155 Non Members (Excluding Survivors) 383
Associate Members 24 Non Members (Declined) 29
Survivors of Paid Up Members 271 Non Member Survivors 149
Members with fees Deferred 21
Members Past Due to June 30 2003 7
Members Past Due to June 30 2005 100
Total Number of Members 1578 Total Number of Non Members 561
Total Number of Pensioners on Record 2139
Financial Report - Allstream Pensioners’ Association – Period Ending March 31, 2006
|
Statement of Income and Expenses |
Balance Sheet |
||
| Period Ending March 31, 2006 | March 31 2006 | ||
| Income 2005-6 | Assets | ||
|
New
Members &
|
10,975.00 | Bank Deposit | 4,569.00 |
| Interest | 1872.00 | Cash on Hand | 125.00 |
| Donations | 186.00 | Financial Instruments | 61,961.00 |
| Allstream Contribution | 3,000.00 | Total Assets | 66,655.00 |
| Total Income | 16,033.00 | ||
| Expenses | Liabilities and Membership Equity | ||
| Professional Fees | 1,753.00 | Liabilities | |
| Translation Services | 2,196.00 | Accounts Payable and Accruals | 500.00 |
| Newsletter | 1,319.00 | ||
| Regional Operations | 2,020.00 | Membership Equity | |
| Headquarters Operations | 1,546.00 | Retained Earnings, Beginning | 68,994.00 |
| Board of Dir./Exec Meetings | 399.00 | ||
| Annual General Meeting | 713.00 | Net Income (Loss) | 2,839.00 |
| Travel | 8,055.00 | 66,155.00 | |
| Office Equipment | 200.00 | ||
| Web Site | 641.00 | Total Liabilities | 66,655.00 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | 30.00 | ||
| Total Expenses | 18,872.00 | ||
| Net Income (Loss) | (2,839.00) | ||
Pensioner Hotline
If you have any questions relating to Pension or Extended Care matters, or you wish to contact Allstream for other reasons this can be done through the Employee Helpline. The telephone number is 1 800 276 7630. The Helpline should also be used to notify the company of status changes, such as postal address or telephone number changes, loss of spouse etc. Unresolved issues may be referred to your nearest Allstream Pensioners’ Association representative for furtherance.
Wanted – a volunteer to act as backup person to our Database Manager and Webmaster. This would be a supporting role to the present incumbent, Bryant Freeman, with the possibility of replacing Bryant on occasion. Some prior experience with computer programs Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Front Page would be helpful, but not essential. Availability of an Internet connected computer is requisite. Interested???? Contact Bryant Freeman at telephone 506 386 6269 or email lbfreeman@rogers.com
In Case You Didn’t Know-----No charge for directory assistance. Phone companies are charging us $1.00 or morefor 411 / information calls when they don't have to. When you need to use the 411 / information option! Simply dial 1-800-FREE-411 or 1 800 373 3411 without incurring a charge. This is information people don't mind receiving. Pass it on.. Works on home phones and cell phones. Also works on Internet www.free411.com (note – for Internet users www.411.ca provides a similar service – but for Internet only).
Pension Splitting – The minority Conservative government has not seen the pension splitting issue of sufficient importance to act on it in the first parliamentary session of its’ mandate. The second sitting of parliament under the new regime will begin shortly. In the pre election campaign the Conservative Party platform included pension splitting for seniors. There is some danger that this important item will become just another broken promise. Including ourselves, organizations representing two million Canadians are involved in this struggle. The organizations include: Retired Teachers of Ontario RTO; Retired Teachers Association of Canada, ACER-CART; Federal Superannuates, FSNA; Bell Pensioners, BPG Inc.; Alliance of Seniors; Allstream Pensioners; Air Canada Pionairs; CBC Retirees; Seniors for Fair taxing, SenTax; Canadian Activists for Pension Splitting, CAPS; Communication Credit Union, COMTECH; REAL Women of Canada; General Motors Salaried Retirees Association, GMSRA and Canada’s Association for the Fifty-Plus, CARP, Canadian Legion
The groups operate collectively in appeals to the government. They also operate independently and individual efforts are encouraged. This is why you are urged to write your governmental representatives in support of the pension splitting initiative. The problem at this point is to convince the Federal Government that it should follow through on its’ own recommendations. Your support is crucial.
This is a fairness issue. Pension splitting of the Canada Pension is allowed, but pension splitting of private pensions and investments set aside for retirement purposes is not permitted under present regulations. The hope is to change this so that all pension income can be split between spouses for taxation purposes. The benefits of such a change would be substantial particularly where the two spousal incomes are very different.
Briefly the Canadian Government taxation system focuses on the individual, rather than the family unit. In the case of a two income family with both spouses each having taxable income of $20,000 the Federal taxation rate would be 15% of $40,000. In the case of a one income family with the sole provider having taxable income of $40,000 the Federal Taxation rate is well over 22%. Both families have the same $40,000 taxable income but the single income family pays considerably more Federal Income Tax than the dual income family.
.The chart illustrates the percent savings over a continuum of incremental total household incomes for retired couples.
For
illustrative purposes Only!: A couple where spouse A earns $11,000 and B earns $21, 000 for a
total of $33,000 pension splitting would reduce their combined tax by 45.8% if
they could split A+B's pension income, amounting to a tax saving of $601 for the
2005 tax year.
A couple where C earns $11,000 and D earns $51,000 for a total of $62,000 would save 23.1% or $2,413 if the couple could split C+D's pension income.
To roughly estimate most couple's tax situation you can plot their combined income on the horizontal axis to determine the percent saving if our income tax act allowed pension splitting. To roughly calculate the dollar amount that would have been saved simply multiply the percent times the actual combined tax paid in 2005.
The federal government is asked that the option of splitting pension between spouses be offered to couples as soon as one of the spouses reaches 65.
Recommended Approach – Provide senior couples taxpayers with the option to split pensions of all kinds, i.e. those payable pursuant to a Registered Pension Plan (RPP), a Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP), a Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF), federal and provincial public pension plans etc. Total pensions payable to the couple would split equally between the two spouses.
Rationale – Pension Splitting is consistent with a fiscal policy that is family based.
· According to family law, each spouse has rights on the family assets and income. Why should such income not explicitly include pensions.
· Retirement pensions payable under the Canada and the Quebec Pension plans may be split for income tax purposes. Moreover, pensions may be split between spouses upon marital union breakdown under private and public pension plans. These are actual precedents. Mechanisms are accordingly already in place for dealing with pension splitting and could easily apply to seniors’ pensions.
· There is a lack of consistency in government fiscal policies. Indeed, pensions may be split between divorced spouses but this privilege is denied to couples that are still cohabiting. This is discriminatory.
· Pension splitting aims, in respect of seniors, at improving their economic situation, ensuring them a better quality of life and maintaining their autonomy and independence.
· The individuals most affected by the present income tax system are women and seniors: many had chosen to be homemakers while some have had to let go jobs pursuant to discriminatory measures such as being forced to leave in case of pregnancy or marriage, no maternity leave and lack of accessibility to jobs at the executive level. Women live longer than men on average and many will face difficult financial conditions resulting from those past practices.
· The current tax system does not properly recognize the contribution of one of the two spouses, normally the wife, to the well being of the family and the society in general.
· Pension splitting is essentially a matter of fairness and equity for all taxpayers. The family, as opposed to the individual, should be the basis of the Canadian income tax system. Such approach would merely be consistent with current social realities.
· The cost is affordable. Implementation of Pension Splitting for seniors would represent a modest loss in tax revenues when viewed in the context of the present 10 to 12 billion annual federal budget surpluses.
Please address your correspondence to the following:
Hon Stephen Harper, Prime Minister - Email Harper.S@parl.gc.ca or Postal Address
Hon Stephen Harper, House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Hon Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance Email Flaherty.J@parl.gc.ca or Postal Address
Hon Jim Flaherty, House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Also if you want your MP’s support for this or any other issue, write or phone the constituency office and put yourself on record. Well-run constituency staff track and summarize constituents’ concerns and issues for publication in their newsletters.
Flexible Form
Following is a multi purpose form for Membership Application, Membership Renewal, Change of Postal or Email address. Please fill in the appropriate sections and mail to:
Bob Harrison, Treasurer Allstream Pensioners’ Association
1890 Valley Farm Road Apt 716
Pickering ON L1V 6B4
Address changes may be emailed bobharri@rogers.com or lenferg@allstream.net
Privacy concerns prevent us from forwarding address changes to Allstream, such information should be telephoned to the company using the employee helpline 1800 276 7630.
Note- We still have numbers of members who are in arrears with their dues. Your “paid up to date” appears on the address label of the envelope which contains this newsletter. If that date is not June 30, 2007 or later, then you are in arrears. Please complete the following form, enclosing $10 for each year that you are in arrears. (For example if the expiry date is June 30, 2006, you are one year in arrears, if the expiry date is June 30, 2005, you are two years in arrears).. If you are in arrears please add the amount you are in arrears to the current dues payment. If your paid up date is 2007 or later, your dues are paid in advance, and no further payment is necessary until after the expiry date.
Surviving spouses of deceased members of the Association are considered Lifetime members and are not required to pay annual membership fees. If your label reads N/A you are a non member and we suggest you consider becoming a member. The membership fee is a modest $10 per year,
Allstream Pensioners’ Association is a non profit organization dedicated to supporting and furthering the interests of the membership. Staff members are all unpaid volunteers. Membership fees are set at a level to cover operating expenses..
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Allstream Pensioners’ Association
Check Appropriate Box or Boxes
Membership Application [ ] Membership Renewal [ ] Postal Address Change [ ] Email Address Change [ ] Other [ ]
Name_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________________________________________
City______________________________________________Prov.______________________________Postal Code____________
Telephone_______________________________________ Email Address_____________________________________________
Spouse______________________________________________________
Other_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Membership Application or Renewal please include cheque or money order. Membership dues are $10 per year. Cheques should be made payable to Allstream Pensioners Association. Money orders should be payable to R.E. Harrison.