I would not have thought such things (reduction in benefits due to age) could happen in Canada. Such overt discrimination is illegal here in the states, although there are always other passive-aggressive ways to push somebody out, for whatever reason and whatever your age. Aren't there protections in place there?
The only protection I have is that I cant be let go because of my age unless I can no longer perform my duties as assigned
Herb mentioned fairness. The government is not fair and does not check up on what is actually happening in situations it creates. When my first husband died, I turned down the benefits he would get from the navy as he was discharged honorably after only three months in. I got plenty to get by from SSI for our three month old daughter; Supposedly she was to get payments till 18 and then through college if she went. Later they did away with payments through college. I have always been able to live on nothing so I saved up for her schooling. Later they took away from everything over $2000 savings from people with SSI. I have a mentally challenged daughter who got SSI. She had a cleaning job pt. Her company was bought out and all the special people were let go. Company got around it by saying they wanted to hire their own people. Well we brought her home to live with us. The government then said there were too many living under one roof on SS. So I sent her to live by her older sister in another state. Government said she had too much in savings so they were going to take away her Medicaid. You need a lawyer just to find out what fair is.
My ex-sister in law worked for the Social Security Administration. My mother went to her for help when my father died and she still had a minor child living at home. What a nightmare. Even after getting the inside help, SSA came back years later trying to recapture over paid benefits! And as you know, there are legal firms that specialize in representing people who are fighting denial of the SS Disability applications. These government programs can never be properly created to address the real need of individual situations, can they? Some people craft their lives around forever being on the dole, while others do the right thing and end up having support withdrawn. Regarding your daughter's cleaning job: that stuff infuriates me. I've worked with some special needs folks (high-functioning Downs syndrome people.) There was no good reason to put those folks on the street. The new owners are going to be forever saddled with a high turnover rate and low-performing staff implicit in that type of work because they were too short-sighted to keep the loyal hard-workers they already had, all while scratching their heads trying to figure out how to fix it. And there's the always the intangible long-term benefit to be had by doing the right thing.
I was a Materials Coordinator for a Senior Healthcare Company for 4 1/2 years. Along with keeping our warehouse inventory in good shape, I would also assisted the Buyer with buying items for the warehouse. IOW, I didn't have the title, but was a Jr. Buyer. Best job I'd ever had, with the best pay I'd ever had. Had my own office, computer, phone and filing cabinet. I was extremely glad to finally get out of the old Shipping, Receiving, Stockroom and Warehouse jobs. Lots of computer work that I loved. I was 52, when I started with the company.
As far as I'm told, by Seniors that live in 55+ Communities, they absolutely love it. They said, "Seniors don't make the noise, especially at night, that the young generations can. All have something in common. It's just not as "wild and wicked" as other communities/apartment complexes are." Wife and I can believe this............from past/present experience living amount young folks.
Can the MRO legally cut your benefits when you turned 7o. Was there no option for you to continue? This would bring a law suit in the US. Employee Benefits.
Herb's, Lon. He thinks that youth should be allowed to reside at 55+ communities. Wife and I say, "absolutely not!".
Well, for almost five years, my wife was getting full SS along with her job salary. The company she worked for didn't know about the SS. For medical insurance, she kept her Medicare A/B and supplement. She told them that she was on my medical insurance, of which, obviously she wasn't because I was already retired and on SS Early Retirement. So, see, a prospective employee can lie to a company and get completely away with it and be hired.
When I said "No, I m not entitled..." I wasn't talking at having more rights because my education but as a person. Nobody is above / beneath other person.