The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is applauding the federal government for passing into law provisions banning prisoners like Clifford Olson from receiving Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) entitlements while in jail. CTF Federal Director Kevin Gaudet says, "the Harper government and Minister Finley moved quickly with support of opposition parties to end this injustice and deserve credit for that."
In late March Peter Worthington of the Toronto Sun revealed that serial child murderer Clifford Olson was receiving $1,169 per month in OAS and GIS payments courtesy of the Canadian taxpayer. In response the CTF launched a petition campaign to oppose such payments for prisoners. In only six weeks the petition gained over 46,000 signatures. The CTF delivered the petition to Parliament Hill and Human Resources Minister Diane Finley who committed to bringing in a law ending the entitlement payments for prisoners. The CTF also appeared as a witness at the House of Commons and Senate committees which reviewed the bill. The CTF appeared alongside Sharon Rosenfeld co-founder of Victims of Violence and mother of one of Olson's victims, who also deserves credit for her work on the bill.
Effective January 1st, 2012 federal prisoners will no longer receive OAS and GIS.
