allstream pensioners’ association（allstream退休人员协会）.docVIP

Allstream Pensioners’ Association Newsletter Website www.allstreamret.ca Toronto, Ontario ________________________ Volume 16, No. 3_______________________December 2007 Please see the “Regions” section which follows for details of Regional Christmas meetings being held in December President’s Message Hello again. Another year and I trust that most of us are still around and enjoying good health. For those who are no longer with us I extend, on behalf of your Board of Directors, condolences to the families. For those who are struggling with health problems best wishes for a positive outcome. It has been a year of some good news for us. The new tax rules permitting us to split private pension income with a spouse take effect in 2008; the achievement of full funding in the contributory plan and closing the gap in the non-contributory plan, and, for those of us who head south for the winter, a strong Canadian dollar. That last item though is a double edged sword as will be reported under Pensions.MTS/Allstream continues to assist us with meeting rooms, publishing our newsletter and prizes for the?golf tournaments.?BenefitsOur benefit programs appear to be working well for us. I have had only two complaints this year that could not be immediately remedied. One concerns denial of a claim for treatment out of the country and one concerns the processing of a claim. Both matters are presently being reviewed by Great West Life. Statistics provided by GWL show that in both health and dental areas in our age group we are right in there with the average?PensionsI recently met with representatives of MTS Allstream and the Unions for the active employees on the Pension Committee. MTS Allstream presented a report covering the first half of 2007. The Contributory fund remains slightly in surplus and the Non-contributory fund remains at 95%. The bottom line in both funds is down marginally from t