James Ross Fulton
New Democratic Party
Mr. Jim Fulton (Skeena):
Madam Speaker, for several years my New Democrat colleague from New Westminster-Burnaby and I have been writing to the ministers responsible for the status of women and health and welfare about a heart-breaking case.
Helen Davis was married for 33 years and had eight children with her husband. She divorced him when he became a physically and mentally abusive alcoholic, but later she moved back in with her former husband to take care of him when he developed cancer. She has been denied a CPP survivor's pension because the government says she did not live with her ex-spouse for one full year before his death.
Survivor's benefits should be prorated to correspond to the number of years the couple has spent together. That this woman is forced to live in poverty after so many years of service to her family and to Canada is outrageous and an insult to women, particularly homemakers and seniors.
I urge the government to change this unfair policy now.
Subtopic: CANADA PENSION PLAN