The Vancouver Sun du lieu suivant : Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 1

g4CThe VANCOUVER SUN: Nov. 30, 1970 New welfare deal will aid aged, disabled, widows scope, and to seek the combination of programs that will best meet basic income security objectives." Discussion on the Canada Pension Plan changes will come at January's federal provincial conference of wel-, fare ministers. So will talks on a number of changes Ottawa wants made in welfare programs of the provinces to which federal money is contributed under the Canada Assistance Plan. The white paper lists a vari-ety of issues to be raised such retired disabled pensioners, the wives of the disabled, widows and "special adjustments" for others. Since the proposals are so involved, it is best to single out just one category and give the new benefits suggested.

Thus, for a disabled pensioner with a wife and two children, the pension he currently receives is $159.49 a month. If the white paper is approved, he would get $335.74 in 1973; $351.87 in 1974; $372.25 in 1975; $387.17 in 1976, and $396.62 in 1977. The ceiling on pensionable earnings would be raised in stages from the $5,500 a year it will be in 1972 to $7,800 in 1975. This would be accomplished by increases in 1973 to $7,100 in 1974; and $7,800 in 1975. The maximum monthly retirement pension under existing legislation would reach about $121 a month in 1976.

It is currently $31.83 a month, the same amount as the present guaranteed income supplement. If the ceiling Is raised to the proposed $7,800 a year, the maximum pension would jump to $162 a month in 1977. On top of tills, of course, every recipient of a Canada Pension Plan benefit would also receive a flat old age pension of $80 a month. Regarding social assistance or welfare, the white paper states that despite all the new benefits proposed, social assistance programs will be required for many more years. Continued from page 1 income hikes to the pensioners who have no other income, and severely restrict the pensions of those with private resources.

In 1971, this would mean pension increases for about one million persons, and freezing of the pensions for approximately 800,000. At the present time, the basic old age pension is $75 a month plus $4.58 in cost of living bonuses. This $79.58 would increase to $80 a month and in the future there would be no further two per cent annual cost of living increases. Currently, a single pensioner with no other income receives the old-age pension and a guaranteed income supplement making a total of $111.41 a month. The white paper proposes boosting this to $135 a month.

1 The pensions for a married couple with no other income presently total $222.82. The proposal is to hike this to $255 a month. Guaranteed income supplements would decrease on a scale related to private income in much the same way as the new family allowance program. "The new program, for the first time," the white paper says, "attaches weight to the higher unit cost of living faced by the individual as compared to a couple living together." The proposed changes in the Canada Pension Plan are extremely complicated and technical, since they involve programs for so-called normal Jh1, I 1 II "In addition, social insurance programs should be expanded in those areas where poverty alleviation or prevention can be achieved. The combined result should achieve a more stable income base for low income families." As first revealed 10 days ago at the national policy conference of the Liberal, party by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the white paper rules out a universal guaranteed income program at this time.

To provide a guaranteed income of $1,800 a year for all single persons and $4,200 a year for a couple with two children would cost Ottawa an estimated $5 billion annuallyapproximately one-third of the current national budget. If the benefits were reduced to $1,600 per single person and $3,600 for a family of four, the gross annual cost would still be $3.8 billion. "A guaranteed income program," the white paper states, "that provides an adequate income without removing the basic incentive to work, can thus be seen to be very costly indeed. "Much more information is needed on questions of incentives and administration before a general guaranteed income program could be adopted covering all people in the labor force. "The best approach for overcoming deficiencies of the existing system at this time does not lie in the direction of dismantling the system in favor of one over-all guaranteed income program.

"The best approach is to revise income security policies, to redirect their emphasis and as entitlement to wellare. work incentives, adequate; benefits, appeals information for welfare ents and such services as day-care, homemaker, selling and manpower referral. The Canada Pension Plan -i discussions with the provinces also are to explore integration of the plan with provincial n's compensation laws. The white paper says that blind persons allowance, dis-' abled persons allowance and unemployment assistance pro-grams are gradually being re- placed as separate entities by the Canada Assistance Plan. The government therefore wants to end cost-sharing for them.

This requires 10 years no-Mi tice for blind and disabled al-' lowances and one year for unemployment assistance unless the provinces agree on an ear-' lierdate. A 10-year notice also will be given for cost-sharing for special old age assistance which is gradually being replaced by! the lowering of qualifying age for old age security to 65. do nothing to cure colds at all that it's the deconges JOHN MUNRO Only needy pensioners gain under new formula DOCTORS SAY: Plain aspirins are still the best "Accordingly the federal government wishes to do all it can to ensure that the existing social assistance systems will, in future, be undeserving of the criticisms now prevalent. "The vehicle for federal delivery in this field is the Can-ada Assistance Plan under which the federal government pays 50 per cent of assistance costs. "At the earliest opportunity, the federal government wishes to enter discussions with the provincial governments to secure improvements in social assistance programs." On top of all this, the government also plans to make vast improvements in unemployment insurance benefits, details of which were contained in a white paper tabled ealier this year by Labor Minister Bryce Mackasey.

Proposals in that document included an increase in the maximum unemployment benefit to $100 a week, and extension of the program, to 1.6 million workers not presently included. The government suggests that added objectives of the white paper are to provide income protection and income support. "Income protection reduces uncertainty, alleviates temporary financial hardship and prevents or reduces poverty for the majority of citizens who may be expected to participate in the labor force," the health department said. "Income support is aimed more directly at persons in poverty because they cannot, for reasons beyond their indi- depending entirely or almost entirly on the old age pension for income will get less than $255 a month. For the single pensioner in the same economic circumstances, the figure will be $135 a month.

In maximum figures, the increase is $27.78 a month for a couple and $22.39 for a single pensioner. The white paper said single pensioners need more help than couples because they have higher unit living costs. On an annual basis no single aged person would have less than $1,620 and no aged couple less than $3,060 if both are pensioners and receive the maximum supplement. The maximum supplement is being increased to $55 a month from $31.83 for a single per son and to $95 a month from $63.66 for a couple. The minimum monthly supplement is 50 cents.

The maximum two-per-cent cost-of-living annual increase in the supplement will apply beginning April 1, 1972. Increases in the cost of living above two per cent in any year will be held over for incorporation i subsequent years when the rate is below two per cent. The pension will not be reduced if prices drop. The white paper rejected any idea that the old age pension should not continue to be universal. It said that taxes have been collected since 1952, when the original $40-a-month pension without means test was introduced, to finance the program and that this has established an expectation and right to the pension.

The pension program in 1971-72 is expected to cost $2,183 million compared with $323 million in 1952-53. Additional cost of the white paper proposals over and above expenditures which would have been made anyway is calculated at $194 million, falling to $95 million in 1975-76. The extra costs will be met from the old age security fund, which will have a balance of $735 million at the end of this year. BRITAIN NURSES AGED, POOR BENEFIT BY PROPOSED MOVES OTTAWA (CP) Highlights of the government's white paper on income security: Guaranteed monthly income to needy old age pensioners rises to $255 for couples and $135 for single people next April. Easic old age pension set at $80 monthly beginning next Jan.

1. Two-per-cent annual cost-of-living increase eliminated from old age pension, effective next year; retained for supplementary payments based on need. Revamped family allowances systems more than doubles payments for families earning less than $4,500 annually but wipes them out for those with more than $10,000 annually, effective September, 1971. Tax exemption will be removed from family allowance benefits being renamed the family income security plan. Proposed changes will increase cost by $1 billion by 1973-74, to $3,679 billion from present $2,785.

Federal government will give provinces required three years notice of intention to seek revisions in Canada Pension Plan, aimed at increasing all forms of benefits. Guaranteed income for all Canadians rejected in favor of revision of various income security policies aimed at seeking combination "that will best meet income security objectives." tants and aspirin added to" OTTAWA (CP) Maximum monthly payments to old age pensioners with no other income will rise in April, 1971, to $255 a month for a couple and to $135 a month for a single person. The minimum basic old age pension will be $80 a month, effective next Jan. 1. If there were no pension plan changes next year, the comparable maximum figures for people with no other income would have been $227.22 for a couple and $113.61 for a single person.

The increases were proposed in a white paper on income security tables today in' the Commons by Welfare Minister John Munro. The government: plans to act immediately on the white paper proposals. It already has given notice on the Commons order paper of legislation for the pension increases. In practice the only increases will be for needy pensioners. For single pensioners with annual income of $1,320 or more and couples with $2,304 or more, there will be no increase.

In fact, there will be a reduction from what would have WASHINGTON (UPI) -Medical experts have indicated that plain old aspirin is still a better buy than the million of dollars' worth of fancy remedies sold yearly to relieve aches, pains and common colds. Over and over in detailed testimony before a Senate subcommittee last week, the message was the same: No, matter how it is dressed up, inexpensive aspirin is the most effective ingredient in costly over-the-counter medicines. And, half a dozen doctors testified, sometimes it is the only ingredient that works at all. Witnesses indicated that aspirin the yardstick against which similar pain-killers are judged is about the best mild analgesic available for home and hospital use. They also testified that popular antihistamine cold tablets vidual control, enter the labor force.

"The white paper looks at priorities in the light of modern problems. One such problem is the existence of several large groups of people who lack means and opportunities of life in comparison with the majority of their fellow citizens. "Included are the aged, mothers raising children by themselves, the disabled and the working poor. The situation is especially serious for families with children, "At the same time, some income protection programs are increasingly criticized -cause they are universal they pay benefits to all or most Canadians regardless of income. In some cases the payments clearly go to people who have ample resources of their own.

"The white paper defines the challenge, therefore, to arrive at a renewed affirmation of income security policy which will have the effect of assisting the people in greatest need, without detracting from programs designed to stimulate the economic development which operates as the basis of the entire system of national well-being. "Greater emphasis should be placed on anti-poverty measures. This should be accomplished in a manner which enables the greatest concentration of available resources upon those with the lowest incomes. "Selective payments based on income should be made where possible in place of universal payments which disregard the actual income of the recipient. PORTUGUESE DENY ATTACK LISBON (AP) Reports from Conakry that Portuguese mercenaries and regular troops had attacked the Koundara region in Guinea were "strongly" denied by a Portuguese government spokesman here Saturday.

A foreign ministry official said: "The imagination of the people of the republic of Guinea has no limits." Novelist wins prize PARIS (UPI) French novelist Francois Nourissier, 43, today won the 1970 Femina prize, second most important literary award in France after the Goncourt prize. The jury needed only one vote to decide the prizewin-n according Nourissier eight votes. Among the other writers in the lists was Canadian novelist Anne Hebert, whose Kamouraska received one vote. The Medicis literary prize for 1970 went to Camille Bour-niquel, author of Selinonte ou la Chambre Imperiale (Selinonte or the Imperial Chamber), while the first Medicis foreign novel award to be made went to Italian author Luigi Malerba, 43, for his Jump of Death, translated into French by Jean Noel Schifano. Keep the Arctic clean, says CLC OTTAWA (CP) The Canadian Labor Congress has urged the government to take action to control pollution in Arctic waters and to provide adequate navigational and ice-breaking services there.

The executive council said Canada should introduce seaworthiness and pollution licences for ships entering Canadian water. It also called for government supervision and development of Arctic sea and land resources. reduces the number of persons in residual territories by half. "It is not difficult to call for independence for all," Hamil--ton said. "But to implement it is less easy.

"Individual small territories demand individual solutions." He said some territories might choose independence but others may "realize that a mace and some rules of procedure are themselves insufficient guarantee of orderly and lasting independence." "They may well be hesitant to venture out alone in a difficult world and who can blame them?" He specifically mentioned these territories: The Bahamas, in the Caribbean, population 170,000. It Proposal 'inadequate1 At least 14 killed in California storm Ottawa proposes Canada plan hike CP Wlreplioto tables white paper per cent of Canadians who need help, he said. The greatest number of these are working and received little help from the current welfare system. What they need is assistance in income development, Stanfield said. He specifically criticized the white paper's plans for the old age pension and family allowances.

The old age pension would be frozen at $80 monthly, with a supplement for the needy carrying it to $1,620 a year for single persons and $3,050 for couples. This would still be below the poverty line and it would still be taxable, Stanfield said. Furthermore, he doesn't see why pensioners have to wait until April 1 for increases. Stanfield said he does not object to the principle of selectivity increases only for the needy. The proposed family allowance system is "rather crude," he said.

It could have been a program of substantial help to the working poor. The government would have difficulty justifying the fact that it is taking $175 million but of family allowances, Stanfield said. the 127-country decolonization committee, many of whose members are former colonies, to grant independence to its remaining territories. The British government has frequently said that some of the colonies do not want independence, but, despite that, the pressure continues. Hamilton was not precise, saying only that between 30 and 40 former colonies have gained independence.

His figures did not include Rhodesia, which Britain still considers a colony but whose white-minority government has declared independence. Nor do they include Hong Kong, which eventually will return to China. He mentioned that Fiji is the most recent territory to achieve independence. That been paid in 1971 if there were no changes. There are about 1.7 million Canadians 65 or over receiving the basic old age pension of $79.58 a month.

Of these more than 800,000 in need now receive a supplement of a maximum of $31.83 a month. Under the white paper plan and the legislation announced last Friday, the basic pension will be increased to a flat $80 a month beginning Jan. 1, 1971. This is an increase of 42 cents a month over the 1970 level of $79.58. Under the present system which includes a maximum annual increase of two per cent for rises in living costs, the basic pension in 1971, would have been $81.17.

It was set at $75 in 1963 and an annual two-per-cent cost-of-living increase began in 1967. The cost-of-living increase will no longer apply unless a pensioner receives a supplement to the basic $80, in which case it will apply to the combined total of the basic pension and the supplement. The increases in the supplement will begin April 1, 1971, and will ensure that no couple then if no changes were made in the plan. Big increases were proposed for the disabled, widows and wives and children of disabled pensioners. From Jan.

1, 1973, a disabled contributor's pension would be increased to $80 from $27 and the percentage of his retirement pension increased to 100 from 75 per cent. Maximum disability pension payable under existing legislation in 1973 would be about $114 a month. The white paper proposals would increase this to $199 a month in 1973 and $249 a month in 1977. At present there is no benefit for the wife of a disabled pensioner. The white paper proposes such a benefit of $80 for wives under 65 with dependent children.

The benefit for a child of a disabled contributor would no longer be discontinued when the contributor reaches 65. Benefits for widows under C5 would be increased to $80 a month from $27 and the percentage of her husband's retirement pension, actual or calculated, boosted to 75 from For widows 65 and over, the pension would also be increased to $80 plus 75 per cent of her husband's retirement pension instead of. 60 as at present. Benefits for widows thus would increase in 1973 to $170 a month from $71 in that year without any plan changes. Quebec has its own pension plan which is closely tailored to and ties in with the Canada Pension Plan.

The white paper says discussions with Quebec will be "particularly important to maintain comparability between the Canada and Quebec plans." OTTAWA (CP) Conservative leader Robert Stanfield said today the government's white paper on social security is an "inadequate response" to the needs of Canadians in poverty. "We see here no effective broadening of the basis of security," Stanfield said in the Commons after Health and Welfare Minister John Munro tabled the white paper. The white paper offers "very little hope" to the 20 PITTS CASE DATE SET BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) -Ethel Pitts, 34, pleaded not guilty today to a charge of murder in the shooting death of her husband, B.C. Lions defensive halfback Ernie Pitts, 35.

Mrs. Pitts will go to trial March 16. She is free on bail. The Adams County sheriff's office contends Pitts was shot on the porch of his home in this suburb of Denver as he attempted to enter the house Sept. 24.

them that dry up runny noses -and ease aching heads. "Carefully performed and fully controlled studies show that antihistamines (alone) neither shorten the duration or reduce the severity of the common cold," said Dr. Philip A. Norman, associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. As for aspirin, Dr.

William T. Beaver of Georgetown University in Washington indicated it works just as well buffered and APC available over the counter and, in standard doses, as well as codeine and similar prescription pain-killers. Beaver later told reporters that Americans shell out $200 million yearly on pills to soothe their aches and pains that are "no more effective" than simple aspirin. rain melted hillsides on to merous highways as holiday travellers started home. Missing were four persons who disappeared on a plane flight from Las Vegas, to Roseburg, and a young man apparently, drowned in a stormy sea.

The dead included two pilots killed in air crashes, five per-; sons in auto wrecks Saturday, four more persons in traffic accidents Sunday, a farm worker electrocuted by wind- downed power lines and a mother and her seven-year-old daughter drowned in a rain-gorged wash north of Los Angeles. The highway patrol said 95 persons were killed in Thanks- giving weekend traffic throughout the state, a record toll for a holiday period. The previous high was set during the July 4th weekend of 1964 -when 84 persons were killed Gilbert and Ellice in the Pacific, population 000. A new constitution giving increased powers to elected officials will come into effect -next year after an election. British Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean, population' 9,000.

They got a new constitu- -tioninl967. Cayman Islands, in the Ca. ribbean, population 9,000. At i new constitution is being con- sidered. Montserrat, small an island, population 12,000.

Its chief minister said recent- ly: "This island cannot sus- tain meaningful independence and its government and peo-" pie do not therefore seek it." Hamilton said that Montser-rat' attitude is representative of the altitude of many terri- TINY REMNANTS OF EMPIRE LOS ANGELES (AP) -Fourteen persons are dead and five missing in the wake of a 24-hour rainstorm which struck Southern California during the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend. The storm contributed to a California record holiday death toll of 95 traffic deaths. Eleven boy scouts, reported missing overnight after a flooding creek in Angeles National Forest separated them from a camping party 45 miles northeast of Los Angeles, were sighted early today by helicopter-borne rescuers and reported in good condition. Showers continued to snarl Los Angeles freeway traffic during the morning rush hours and the National Weather Service said Northern California also would get more hard rain by tonight.

Driven by high winds, the 'has a wide measure of self-government under an 18-month-old constitution and leaves defence and external affairs in the hands of the British. The constitution represents "virtually the last stage" before Bahamians precede to full self-government or independence. Solomon Islands, in the Pacific, population 150,000. Control of the islands' affairs progressively are being taken over by elected officials. The Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean, population 50,000.

Neither of the two parties that contested an election to the governing bodies two weeks ago campaigned for independence and the winning party was specifically opposed to it. OTTAWA (CP) The federal government Monday proposed increased contributions to and benefits from the Canada Pension Plan, beginning in 1973. Such action depends on approval by two-thirds of the provinces representing two-thirds of the population in effect, Quebec and Ontario and five other provinces. The proposal is contained in a white paper on income security tabled in the Commons. No change can be made in the Canada Pension Plan without proper notice to and approval by the provinces.

The government promised to begin consultation immediately. The white paper said the present $5,300 ceiling on pensionable earnings should be increased gradually to $7,800 in 1975. As a result, maximum annual contributions by employers and employees would rise to $129.60 in 1975 from $84.60 now and $88.20 in 1972. Self-employed persons pay twice these amounts. The plan is financed by contributions from employees and their employers and from self-employed persons.

The federal government makes no contribtion except as an employer. Employees contribute at the rate of 1.8 per cent on their earnings between $600 and $5,300 and this is matched by their employers. Self-employed persons pay the combined employee-employer rate, or 3.6 per cent. The white paper said the rate of contribution that is', 1.8 per cent should not have to be increased until after 1985. Maximum monthly retirement pension would be increased to $162 in 1977 from $123, the figure it would be 750 million people given their independence By STEPHEN SCOTT UNITED NATIONS (CP) Britain outlined last week just how much the sun has set on its once far-flung empire.

Since the UN was born 25 years ago between 30 and 40 colonies have gained independence. They have a total population of 750 million. Not counting Hong Kong and Rhodesia, Britain now has 16 "residual" territories, with a total population of less than one million and an average population fo 50,000 each. These territories can have independence whenever they ask for it. The picture was given by Michael Hamilton, British delegate on the General Assembly's decolonization committee.

"It is well known to the committee that more than 99 per cent of the mighty task of decolonization facing my country has been accomplished," Hamilton said. "Less than one per cent remains," He said each one of the 16 territories remaining has a special problem, mainly size and lack of resources, that makes independence difficult. But Britain has one "golden rule that our main guide to action must be the wishes of the people themselves." "It follows that we shall not delay independence for those territories which seek it. Neither shall we force independence upon those territories which do not seek it." Britain ever the years has been under heavy pressure in.