To: M. Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development

To: M. Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development

Cc: Janice Charette, Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Social Development Canada

Deborah Turnbull, CME

Dear Hon. Monte Solberg:

I am writing you on behalf of the Canadian Association of International Development Consultants, a non-profit, volunteer run, professional association incorporated in 1993 to:

• Foster excellence in international development consulting
• Promote the collective professional interests of international development consultants
• Provide a forum for members to exchange professional information and engage in professional development.

We directly represent some 500 professionals nationwide who are individual or corporate members of CAIDC, including many of Canada’s development consulting firms, and reach some 500 more via our list-serve. All our members are Canadian citizens and tax payers who provide services internationally and many export their services by working for the International Finance Institutions, the UN, international Non-Government Organizations, and other bi-lateral and multilateral institutions. These professionalsare proud to be on the front lines representing Canada and Canadian values overseas.

Recently our members have raised significant concerns over the challengesof making application for the Old Age Security payments to which they are entitled as lifelong citizens and long term residents of Canada. The experience related to our Association describes an extremely detailed, lengthy and complex process of having to establish proof of residency in Canada and/or employment by a Canadian organization (including, for example, the government’s own Canadian International Development Agency) during periods of overseas residence. Some examples of the type of detailed proof required by the current process includes: certified photocopies of every page of every passport held by the applicant (which could amount to several hundred pages during a long term career in development); plane or bus tickets, possibly dating back several decades; documents from US or Canadian immigration authorities.

We also understand that Employment Insurance contributions may be considered a sufficient qualification, but not CPP contributions. This places at a disadvantage many of our members, who are independent consultants, self employed and who do not therefore contribute or receive benefits from this program. Most have, however, continued to make contributions to CPP (and in many cases also paid Canadian taxes) even when employed overseas.

The government certainly has individual records of citizenship and tax (including CPP) payment histories, and these should be sufficient to establish eligibility under the regulations attending to the covering Acts.

We believe our members should not be experiencing a significant hidden penalty in the form of an excessive burden of proof based on their choice of career as they near the end of their careers in overseas service on behalf of Canada. We urge you to seriously examine the requirements imposed by the current system and to consider options for using information available elsewhere in the interests of reducing the burden on both professionals in the development field and the government of Canada.

CAIDC would be prepared to work with the appropriate authorities to explore opportunities to reduce the current burden and simplify application processes for citizens who have worked overseas during their professional careers. Please do not hesitate to contact CAIDC if you require further information to carry this matter forward.

Sincerely