British OAPs in Canada face poverty sparking requires motion

Scores of Canadian parliamentarians are calling for motion so British pensioners who’ve retired of their nation don’t reside in poverty.

There is rising concern and anger that British pensioners who’ve settled in Canada don’t obtain annual inflationary will increase to their pensions.

This means a number of the 125,000 UK pensioners in Canada obtain as little as £46 every week in comparison with the £156.20 they’d be paid in the event that they lived in Britain or a rustic the place there’s a deal to up-rate pensions.

Campaigners say the UK has now turned down 4 requests since 2013 to barter preparations. There is consternation {that a} deal exists within the United States however that individuals who reside in Canada have “frozen pensions”.

More than 40 Canadian parliamentarians attended an occasion on the nation’s parliament to point out assist for British pensioners. A key demand is for his or her authorities to “achieve a final resolution to the frozen British pensions policy”.

They need the problem to be raised in commerce talks with the UK.

Matt Jeneroux, a Canadian MP for Edmonton Riverbend in Alberta stated: “I find it incredible that the UK Government is allowing this archaic policy to continue, punishing their pensioners for moving to some countries but not others. The UK is lucky that Canada has stepped up and provided support where it can.

“But it should not be just down to us; a country should treat its pensioners fairly, with dignity and respect. Canada is ready to end this injustice. It is time for the UK Government to work with us.”

Campaigners say internationally round half 1,000,000 British pensioners undergo from frozen pensions.

The value of residing disaster has escalated concern that the worth of their funds is being eroded. They say that 90 per cent of these affected reside in Commonwealth states, whereas retirees to the US and the European Union get pleasure from absolutely uprated pensions.

Sheila Telford, who chairs the International Consortium of British Pensioners, stated: “It is encouraging to see how the Canadian government has stepped up and is now determined to press the UK Government to end the discriminatory policy of freezing pensions… These frozen pensioners paid their compulsory National Insurance contributions, as did their employers in the expectation that they would be looked after in their old age.

“We look forward to the Canadian initiative being a next step in a final resolution of this festering issue”.

Ian Andexser, the director of the Canadian Alliance for British Pensioners, stated: “Cost of living is not just affecting those in the UK; Canada is also seeing rising costs.

“British pensioners who moved to Canada are forced to make their UK state pension stretch further and further. But it can only stretch so far, only so much can be cut back on.

“I often speak to these pensioners, many of whom have to cut down on essentials, some of whom have had to enter back into work, and I hear how this policy has affected their retirement, a period in life where they are supposed to be supported and looked after.

“The UK Government and Canadian Government must sit down together to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Lord German, vice-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on frozen British pensions, stated individuals had been “really suffering”.

Earlier this yr Work and Pensions minister Laura Trott stated the Government had “no plans” to vary its coverage. Foreign minister David Rutley final month stated that the Foreign Secretary has “not had recent discussions with his Canadian counterpart on this issue”.