CANADA LIFE CANADIAN PENSION PLAN MEMBERS’ RIGHTS GROUP
Newsletter 17- October 18, 2004
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The first Annual General Meeting that was held on October 5, 2004 at 2 o’clock at:
The Finnish Agricola Church
25 Old York Mills Rd.
Toronto, Ont
M2P 1B5
The meeting was very well attended with over 125 members attending. At the meeting the members strongly endorsed the slate of candidates and The Constitution.
The following core members stood for election as Directors:
Wib Antler
Ed Barrett
Phil Davy
Jim Martin
Don McIntyre
Gary Nummelin
In addition there was one nomination from the floor- Alex Harvey.
All seven were elected unanimously. At the first Executive Committee meeting held after the AGM the following Directors were appointed to fill the positions outlined below:
President Wib Antler
Vice President Ed Barrett
Secretary Gary Nummelin
Treasurer Don McIyntre
CONSTITUTION
As stated earlier The Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting a copy of which is posted on the website. A key section of the Constitution dealt with fees. There will be 2 types of members- voting and non-voting. To become a member all that is necessary is to send an e-mail to clpens@trigger.net asking to be added to the group. Payment of the annual fee and the one time initiation fee will elevate the member status to a voting member allowing the members to vote for the executive and any other areas of business put forward from time to time such as the selection of legal counsel, etc. See the next section on Fees.
FEES
As outlined in the last newsletter in order to move to the next level in dealing with the company we need to establish a war chest in anticipation of payment of legal fees to outside counsel.
The Constitution that was approved at the Oct.5th AGM included provision for an annual fee of $25 plus an initiation fee of $100 for a total of $125 in 2004. The initiation fee is to be used to establish the war chest. The annual fee will be used to cover the other incidental expenses. The anticipated expenses are:
Costs associated with outside legal counsel, if needed
Rental of meeting rooms for Executive meeting
Mailing costs
Attendance at industry meetings dealing with current topics such as the Monsanto Case
Website development
We cannot emphasize enough the need for everyone who is able to do so to become a voting member. If we do not raise a significant war chest we will not be able to fight for our rights!!!!
At the AGM we underestimated the demand for becoming a voting member, which resulted in a Cardinal Sin on our behalf-NOT ENOUGH MEMBERSHIP FORMS. Almost 40% of the attendees signed up to become voting members- an overwhelming show of support. But never fear the registration form is now up on the website. All you need to do is print the form, complete it, and send it along with your cheque:
CLPENS GROUP
P.O. BOX 37036
6502Yonge St
North York
Toronto
M2M 4J8
All fees will be deposited in:
Desjardin Credit Union Inc
University/ Dundas Branch
During a conversation off line at the AGM one member brought up the point that there were some retirees that were concerned that their pensions might be at risk if the company discovered that they had become an active members of this group. Pensions are paid from a trust fund and outside the direct control of the company sponsoring the plan- now the Great West Life Insurance Company/Power Corporation. The plan is registered under the Pension Benefits Act of Ontario and regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. So please rest assured that any involvement in this group will not have any adverse effect on your pension.
FOLLOW UP TO A QUESTION AT THE AGM
The following information will address the question from the floor about who the contact person is at Canada Life/London Life/Great West Life/Power Corp. As well, included is the contact person at The Financial Services Commission of Ontario.
Wallace (Wally) Robinson
Director, Pension Benefits, Human Resources
London Life Insurance Company
255 Dufferin Avenue
London, ON
N6A 4K1
Our contact at the Financial Services Commission of Ontario is:
Hae-Jin Kim
Pension Officer
Financial Services Commission of Ontario
Pension Plan Branch
5160 Yonge St., 4th Floor
P.O. Box 85
North York, ON
M2N 6L9
Quote: The Canada Life Canadian Employees Pension Plan
Registration # 035463
FINALLY
In closing we’d like to give a plug to Fraser Hale and our friends in Southwestern Ontario who are holding an annual old timers lunch meeting next month. Fraser and his group have been strong supporters of the Rights Group and have been instrumental in driving up our membership.
THE ANNUAL CANADA LIFE OLD TIMERS luncheon will be held at the Ancaster Old Mill Inn, Ancaster on Friday November 19th. Lunch will be served at 12 noon. Anyone wishing to attend should contact:
Fraser Hale 519-763-1498 fahale@sympatico.ca
Jim Shannon 905-935-6557 jshannon@cogeco.ca
Gil Graham 905-648-8002 ggraham@cogeco.ca