AFP/AAC Newsletter #20 Spring 2015

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3 ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS ’ /ANNUITANTS’ ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
AFP/AAC Joins the SSPFC
We’re pleased to announce that the AFP/AAC has joined
the Surviving Spouses Pension Fairness Coalition (SSPFC).
We were among the first to join the coalition, which is fighting
to repeal both forms of federal legislation that deprive surviving
spouses of pensions – Marriage After Age 60 and Marriage
After Retirement.
For over a decade the late Helen Rapp-Bowen, as Vice
Chair of the Military Widows, fought to abolish the Marriage
after Age 60 restriction. We’re honoured to be building on
Helen’s legacy.
The section of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act,
that prevents military spouses from receiving a survivors’ pen-
sion, goes back to 1901 when it was introduced in the Canadian
Militia Pension Act. In modern society, it is unfair, outdated,
and anachronistic.
It isn’t an unusual phenomenon for Veterans, or anyone
else, to get married after retiring or reaching age 60, whether
divorced, widowed, or just lucky enough to find a life partner
later in life. However, it’s wrong to imply that their spouses are
gold diggers, the issue addressed by the original legislation en-
acted 114 years ago. “It’s absolutely outrageous,” says Rick In-
glis, Co-Chair of the SSPFC.
The government offers an option for these families, avail-
able at a price most can’t afford. For example, one decorated
Veteran was told he would have to pay $900 monthly out of
his $2200 pension, forever, to provide his wife with a survivor’s
pension of only $760 – if she outlived him. If he survives her,
the money is simply forfeit. “They’ve been married 28 years.
How can anybody think that this Veteran’s wife is a gold-dig-
ger,” wonders Inglis.
Helen Rapp-Bowen battled this legislation for many years,
and her daughter, Sharon Halayko, is working with the coali-
tion committee as a representative of our board. As a dedicated
voice, Helen made a lot of great progress that helped pave the
way for the coalition, which is made up of 21 groups. Now,
with over 5.2 million voices, we intend to be heard in this elec-
tion year.
To learn more about the SSPFC and our goals, visit the Sur-
viving Spouses Pension Fairness Coalition website at
.