BIRD TALK

Dear Bird Talk,

I would like to take this opportunity to speak to the letter from R.W. McClure in the summer issue of CSANews regarding the medical coverage offered to retired civil servants, military and RCMP.

R.W. McClure seems to be under the false impression that the government is providing this coverage free of charge. The medical coverage that is offered to these retired employees is not free. Each employee must pay a premium based on the level of coverage they enrol for.

I do not know the occupation of R.W. McClure, but I must point out that there are many companies that offer far better medical benefits to their retired employees than those offered to the federal retirees.

McClure states, “They earned excellent wages during their working years.” I am not sure where this information came from, but I spent 29 years in the Canadian military and, as did many others, worked a second job when not out of the country on duty to make ends meet.

I am proud to say that I’m a retired serviceman and feel that I earned everything I am now entitled to. I wonder how many people think that the soldiers who are putting themselves at risk every day should not be entitled to all of their retirement benefits, if they live to collect them.

Hugh Tamblyn

Response:
Our guess is that Mr. McClure’s real point was that he, and many others, have nothing in the way of retirement benefits. I would also guarantee that he did not intend to include the military in his comments. Many people had no real access to purchase retirement benefits and many were unable to have benefits, even prior to retirement. Mr. Tamblyn is totally correct in every point he has made, though. Civil servants must pay for several of their benefits through payroll deduction and then pay for extra benefits after retirement. It is ironic that I am writing this message on Remembrance Day, November 11. Canada’s soldiers have been underpaid for years and under-appreciated by our government for decades. Perhaps our current government representatives (who are all sent a copy of CSANews) will be able to address a soldier’s low pay and improve his or her benefits. Our personal thanks to Hugh Tamblyn, soldier, for his personal sacrifice and for his service to the people of Canada.