That the Council of General Synod approve the Pension Committee's recommendation that the Additional Voluntary Contributions provision of the plan be removed effective January 1, 2003 and approve the following amendments to Regulation 14 RETIREMENT SAVINGS FUND (Additional Voluntary Contributions).
Bold indicates addition, underline indicates deletion. [In electronic database bold indicated by pointed brackets i.e. and underline indicated by curly brackets i.e. {}]
14.1 Additional contributions may be made by or on behalf of a Member in Active Service, providing that the total contributions made by the Member shall not exceed the maximum amount permitted under the Income Tax Act (Canada).
That the Council of General Synod approve the recommendation of the Administrative Unit of the Continuing Education Plan to amend Regulation 3.a)iii) by adding "but restricted to $1,000.00 once every three years commencing January 1, 2004" after the word "software".
Regulation 3.a)iii) will now read:
3. a)iii) the purchase of computer hardware or software but restricted to $1,000.00 once every three years commencing January 1, 2004. CARRIED #09-11-02
The Rev. Jagdutt Singh presented the report of the Partners in Mission Committee and read the eight items presented for action. As all dealt with the Middle East, they were presented as one motion. It was the consensus of the meeting that this very complex motion be separated.
(Items one to five were voted on initially. Items six to eight were referred, rewritten, renumbered and voted on later in the meeting. All are recorded below.)
Text
That this Council of General Synod:
1. Affirm the work of the Middle East Working Group (MEWG) of Inter Church Action for Development, Relief and Justice (ICA) and further encourage the MEWG to continue to standing in solidarity with Palestinian people and to speak prophetically for justice in the Middle East. CARRIED #07-03-01
3. Call on the Government of Canada to implore the Government of Israel to recognize its accountability under the 4th Geneva Convention as an occupying power over Gaza and the West Bank and to heed the required restraint that it must exercise in these areas. CARRIED #10-03-01
5. Further request the Government of Canada to urge the Government of Israel to acknowledge the return of refugees as a basic human right, reflected in UN Charters and Resolutions and in international law, and to negotiate in good faith ways by which this right may be accorded to Palestinian refugees. CARRIED #39-03-01
6. Direct the Partners in Mission Committee and the Faith, Worship and Ministry Committee, to the extent that their budgets allow, to gather or produce for Anglican dioceses and parishes, resources for prayer, study and action that underline the biblical, theological, interfaith, historical and political contexts of the Middle East and that help facilitate dialogue with Christian, Jewish and Muslim neighbours. CARRIED #40-03-01
Encourage Anglicans throughout the Church to remain in dialogue with Jewish and Muslim communities and make every effort to be in solidarity with justice seeking groups within those faith communities. CARRIED #41-03-01
That the Council of General Synod dissociate itself from certain statements that have been made by Mr. James Sweeny, referred to in the Pension committee's Report #010-02-02-05, questioning the actions and integrity of the Pension Committee, the Trustees and the Director of Pensions, and that COGS reaffirms its continued trust and confidence in the integrity of the Director, the Pension Committee and Trustees in their actions which flowed from the November 2001 meeting which were taken in the best interests of the Plan members.
The resolution was voted upon with Mr. James Sweeny declaring a conflict of interest. CARRIED #07-11-02
Archbishop Thomas Morgan presented the report of the Pension Committee and advised Council that Ms. Jenny Mason, Director of Pensions, had announced plans to retire at the end of 2003. He expressed gratitude to Ms. Mason for her work and for her support of the committee.
It was determined that the editorial changes outlined in the Pension Committee Report "For Action - 1.1 Canon VIII Amendments" had already been made, thus no need for the motion.
Text
That the Council of General Synod approve the Pension Committee's recommendation that "the 5-year average earnings formula" used to determine the actuarial bonus addition, as a result of the 1999 Actuarial Valuation, be redefined; and that the accrued pensions of those members affected by this change be adjusted accordingly; and that Section 7(ii) of Schedule A, which is appended to the Regulations of the General Synod Pension Plan, be amended effective January 1, 2002. CARRIED #21-05-02
Notes
The resolution (indicating actual wording changes/additions/deletions, etc.) and rationale is attached as Appendix C.
(In all amendments, bold [in electronic database bold indicated by pointed brackets i.e. ] indicates addition and underline indicates deletion [in electronic database underline indicated by curly brackets i.e. {}].)
APPENDIX C
In Section 7 of Schedule A, deletion subsection (ii) and replace it with the following wording:
{(ii) 2.0% of the Member's average annual Salary during the 5 years ended December 31, 1999 (excluding any portion of that 5-year period as determined by the Trustees in their sole discretion during which the Member was on unpaid leave) multiplied by one-twelfth of the number of complete months prior to December 31, 1999 in respect of which Contributions have been paid on the Member's behalf (including months of Back Service purchased pursuant to Regulation 12);}
That the Council of General Synod approve an amendment to Regulation 9.6(a); and approve a new Regulation 19 effective January 1, 2001. CARRIED #22-05-02
Notes
The resolution (indicating actual wording changes/additions/deletions, etc.) and rationale is attached as Appendix D.
APPENDIX D
(In all amendments, bold [in electronic database bold indicated by pointed brackets i.e. ] indicates addition and underline indicates deletion [in electronic database underline indicated by curly brackets i.e. {}].)
In Regulation 9.6(a), change Regulation "1.3" to "1.4". Regulation 9.6(a) will now read:
(a) in which the individual on whose behalf the allowance is payable ceases to be a Child pursuant to Regulation {1.3} , or
Rationale
This amendment is required as the cross-reference is incorrect.
New Regulation 19 would read as follows:
This Regulation is required to comply with the new Quebec Supplemental Pension Plans Act which came into effect on January 1, 2001.
[N.B. The first resolution of the 8-10 November 2003 CoGS Minutes [#01-11-02] re Approval of the Minutes of the May 2002 meeting renumbered Pages 17 and 18 of the Pensions Committee Report as follows: 1.2 Actuarial Valuation - General Synod Pension Plan; 1.3 Regulation Changes - General Synod Pension Plan; 1.4 Regulation Changes - Lay Retirement Plan.]