Last Mountain Times June 18 2018

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4 Monday, June 18, 2018 • Last Mountain Times CPP’s perpetual head start Private pensions face regulatory burdens that the Canada Pension Plan does not In 2016, in fulfillment of a campaign promise, the federal government reached an agreement with the provinces to expand the Canada Pension Plan. Consequently, mandatory CPP contributions from working Canadians will increase steadily between January 2019 and 2025. Expansion proponents have used many faulty claims to justify the changes, including the claim that CPP is a lower cost pension due to its greater efficiency. They argue that CPP’s large assets allow plan administrators to keep costs of running the plan down, relative to other pensions. But that argument ignores a key reason why CPP may be able to keep costs comparatively low. CPP is exempt from many of the regulations and rules governing private pension plans in Canada. These regulations can increase the transparency and accountability of private plans, but also inevitably increase costs for plan administrators. By avoiding the regulations, CPP avoids these additional costs. That’s not necessarily a good thing for Canadians because it means less transparency and accountability. In addition, CPP’s makeup and offerings to beneficiaries are quite rigid compared to private plans, which tend to offer more options and flexibility. This flexibility comes at an additional cost. The lax regulatory burden and vanilla nature of CPP give it an artificial cost advantage over other pensions and individual registered accounts such as registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs). Consider some examples of how the regulations governing CPP differ from other pensions. Private plans are subject to more disclosure and customer-related regulations. For instance, they must provide regular financial statements to clients and comply with anti-money laundering laws - sometimes known as “know your customer” laws. CPP does not. Because CPP is a federally-constituted entity, it’s not subject to any provincial regulations. Nor is it subject to the jurisdiction of any regulations by industry organizations. Private plans, depending on the province, incur filing and administrative fees from constantly filing reports with their provincial pension superintendent. Further, there are almost no laws allowing for CPP to be CONTINUES on PAGE 6 EDITORIALS, LETTERS & OPINIONS Racial tension on the decline, harmony on the rise Across North America, the statistics clearly show that multiculturalism is a growing fact, right down to the family unit We’re often told that Canada and the U.S. are racist societies. But amidst all the demands from minority advocates and hand-wringing among ‘social justice’ champions, the reality is quite different. In fact, in Canada and the United States, racial intolerance has declined remarkably. There are clear indications in recent Canadian surveys of substantial racial tolerance and acceptance. For example, in a survey on immigration, there has been a turn in public opinion between 2005 and 2015 against too much immigration. While in 2015, 46 per cent of Canadians said there was too much immigration, only 41 per cent said that there were too many visible minorities immigrating. Canadians were less concerned about visible minorities immigrating than about the level of immigration generally. And this was also true for all surveys between 1995 and 2015. In another survey, respondents were asked: “Visible minorities now comprise 16 per cent of Canada’s population. How would you characterize that proportion?” Only nine per cent of respondents said the proportion was too large. An absolute majority of respondents in this Canadian survey said it “Doesn’t matter” what percentage of Canadians are visible minorities. In the U.S., whites’ attitudes about blacks have changed markedly over the decades. In 1940, only 31 per cent of Americans approved of whites going to school with blacks. By 1995, the proportion who approved was 96 per cent. Similarily, American whites’ attitude toward intermarriage with blacks went from four per cent approval in 1958 to 86 per cent approval in 2007. Further surveys show that whites’ attitudes toward blacks have moved strongly toward tolerance and acceptance. At the same time, Americans reject racial preferences and affirmative action, and blacks’ support for affirmative action has plummeted. How does the decline of prejudice and discrimination, and the increase in tolerance and acceptance manifest in people’s lives? Let’s consider acceptance in the most intimate of relationships, through mixed race marriages. In Canada, many visible minorities marry in mixed unions. Japanese-Canadians marry outside their group 78.7 per cent of the time. Individuals with ancestry in two or more visible minority groups marry outside their category 64.9 per cent of the time. Members of smaller groups of visible minorities marry outside 52.4 per cent of the time. Canadians with Latin American backgrounds marry out 48.2 per cent of the time. Black Canadians marry non-blacks 40.2 per cent of the time. Filipino Canadians, Arab Canadians, Korean Canadians and Southeast Asian Canadians marry out in the 20 per cent range, with West Asian Canadians and Chinese Canadians just below. South Asian Canadians marry out 13 per cent of the time. The relatively low level of outside marriage among Chinese and South Asian Canadians is probably influenced by two factors, one cultural and the other demographic. Chinese and South Asian cultures emphasize extended, multi-generational families and arranged marriages. The demographic factor is that Chinese and South Asian Canadians are the two largest cultural groups among Canadian visible minorities, the former having 351,640 married couples, the latter 407,510 married couples. In-marriage reflects that these groups densely populate some locations, limiting access to outsiders, and that there’s a wide range of choice within each group for selecting marriage partners. In 1991, 2.6 per cent of all Canadian marriages were mixed; in 2001, 3.1 per cent were mixed; and in 2011, 4.6 per cent were mixed. The demographic factor here would be that there are many more Canadians who aren’t members of a visible minority than members of visible minorities. In the United States, interracial marriages have increased substantially. In 1967, three per cent of all marriages were interracial. By 2015, 17 per cent of all marriages were interracial. The increased attitudinal racial tolerance and acceptance in recent decades is manifested in the major increase in interracial marriages. As anthropologist Lisa Edelsward has suggested, the apparent increase in racial conflict may well be a result of the increased equality of the races and the jockeying for influence. The conflict is difficult to deal with but the increased equality brings us closer to fulfilling our ideals. Even with the apparent increase in conflict encouraged by a small numbers of activists, we should not lose sight of the mostly positive race relations we have in North America. -Philip Carl Salzman is professor of anthropology at McGill University. www.troymedia.com Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer
Humboldt Broncos bus collision update The investigation into the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy continues, and the Saskatchewan RCMP provided an and update last week. “Our Collision Reconstruction Team and Major Crimes Unit continue to methodically analyze the data and evidence gathered. Once completed, the analysis will be peer-reviewed in order to validate the findings and conclusions. Investigators are also preparing for Crown consultation at the conclusion of the investigation which occurs in many serious, sensitive, and complex investigations.” “Investigations, by their very nature, are dynamic. What investigators learn today can influence what action they need to take tomorrow. Based on that, we are not able to provide an estimate as to when the investigation might be complete. We are all anxious to learn the results of this investigation to assist in understanding what led to this terrible tragedy,” said Supt. Derek Williams, Officer in Charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes, “We are committed to sharing the outcome of the investigation as soon as we can.” Suspicious items located/destroyed At approximately 1:00 a.m. on June 14, members from the Swift Current Municipal RCMP Detachment received a report of an item resembling a pipe bomb in the 400 block of Herbert Street East in Swift Current. Members immediately secured the scene and located three suspicious items in the middle of a parking lot, well away from any structures. The Saskatchewan RCMP Explosive Disposal Unit attended to assist and as a precaution, destroyed the items at the scene. No additional suspicious items were located in the area. Swift Current RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in furthering this investigation. In particular, anyone who may have witnessed any SPORTS RCMP REPORT Monday, June 18, 2018 • Last Mountain Times suspicious vehicles or activity in the area is asked to contact Swift Current Municipal detachment at #306-778-4870. Break and enter at Meath Park water treatment facility Smeaton RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance regarding a break, enter and theft at the water treatment facility in Meath Park. At approximately midnight on Monday, June 4, 2018, someone gained entry to the facility by cutting a lock on the main door. The individuals rummaged through a number of desks and cabinets, but nothing of value was taken from them. However, a submersible pump and a number of water meters were stolen from the property. This temporarily impacted the town’s water supply. Anyone who may have seen something suspicious in the area late Monday, June 4 or early Tuesday, June 5 is asked to contact Smeaton RCMP at 306- 426-2630. To submit information anonymously, you can contact Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com. Farm fuel theft The Humboldt RCMP and Crime Stoppers are seeking assistance from the public in investigating two unsolved occurrences in the R.M of Humboldt. On May 28th Lanigan RCMP were dispatched to a fuel theft outside of Humboldt. Sometime between May 24th and May 28th, 2018, approximately 150 gallons of diesel were siphoned from a tractor parked 3 miles southeast of Humboldt in a rural location. Police are urging the public to lock all vehicles and fuel tanks whenever unattended. If you have information about these crimes please contact Humboldt RCMP at 306-682-2535. Argument may be over: LeBron best of all time Since Michael Jordan retired from the National Basketball Association for the third and final time in 2003, it was regarded as sacrilegious to suggest that His Airness was not the best NBA player of all time. Sure, it was debatable, with the likes of Cousy, West, Russell, Robertson, Bird, Magic and Chamberlain in the mix. But the consensus, surrounded by reverence, seemed to be that Jordan was the best ever. Now, however, the talk is veering down a different path. In fact, the argument may be over. Can we agree that the GOAT — the Greatest Of All Time — is LeBron James? The NBA’s current dominant player, James — a chiseled, athletic, 6-foot-8, 250-pounder and fourtime Most Valuable Player award winner — plays the game like he’s a man against boys. Virtually unstoppable when he decides he’s going to score, James put up 30-plus points in 12 of Cleveland’s 22 playoff games as his Cavaliers fell to the powerful Golden State Warriors in the Finals, capping a season when for a time it appeared as if the Cavs might miss the playoffs altogether. But riding James’ strong shoulders, they knocked off Indianapolis in the first round, surprised the Eastern Conference pennant-winning Toronto Raptors with a four-game sweep in the second round and then made it to the Finals by beating the Celtics in Game 7 on Boston’s parquet floor. James was Mr. Everything in that game, with 35 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. Making it to the NBA Finals is a tough task, but James has led his teams — the Cavs and Miami Heat — to eight consecutive Finals appearances. It’s unprecedented in the modern-day NBA. Jordan made it to the finals six times (not in consecutive years, though) and won all six. James has only three titles to his credit. James has few detractors, but many admirers. Said Coach Steve Kerr of the Warriors during the FROM THE SIDELINES BRUCE PENTON recent Finals: “They have a guy who’s playing basketball at a level I’m not sure anyone has ever seen before.” And there’s this from Dave Deckard of SB Nation: “James may be the best player of all time, but Jordan is the greatest winner of all time.” By the time King James is done, though, he may surpass Jordan’s six titles. Trying to beat Golden State with a weak supporting cast proved to be impossible, so as a free agent after this year, James is searching for a good landing spot. Houston? With James Harden and Chris Paul? Philly? With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons? A change of scenery might be just what James needs to give him a new lease on life, and another three or four NBA titles. RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “NHL prospect Carson Meyer was ‘freaking out’ when he discovered a 25-inch tapeworm that had been in his intestines for almost a year. Talk about gut-check time!” Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca - Bruce Penton Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer. For all your collision repairs, glass repairs, and replacements, contact – We do Light Mechanical LORNE’S Collision Center Raymore, SK. SGI Accredited. Call Lorne Huber at 306-746-5800 or 306-746-5805 Open Monday thru Friday NEW 306-731-1487 FOR 2018 OFFERING FULL SERVICE AND INSTALL. Water softeners, water purifiers, iron and manganese filters, taste and odor filters, water quality analysis, water, sewer and lift pumps, pressure systems and irrigation systems. Residential or commercial we have water treatment solutions for you! Advanced DENTURE CLINIC Kerry Rodgers, D.D. Denturist Tel: 525-5200 1-888-723-1110 Fax: 525-3271 Email: smile4me@sasktel.net 4306 Dewdney Avenue Regina, SK S4T 1A8 (Dewdney & Lewvan) 5 00074621
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Last Mountain Times June 18 2018

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