Vancouver Information and Newspaper

Archive for September, 2009

Young Canadians are saving less than their parents and grandparents did at the same age, with young men being the worst at sticking to a budget, according to the results of a new survey.

The TD Canada Trust study released Wednesday suggests 80 per cent of Canadians found saving money “too hard” and that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 were more interested in saving for a house than for retirement.

Among survey responses, 19 per cent 18-to 34-year-olds said they were saving 10 to 25 per cent of their total monthly income. That compared to 29 per cent of people over age 55 who said they saved that amount when they were younger.

Young adults blamed their lack of savings on not making enough money, while people 55 and older said the cost of living prevented them from saving more when they were young.

TD’s Carrie Russell said the results were disappointing and prove that saving money is not something that comes naturally to most.

“It has to be practised,” said Russell, a senior vice-president at the bank. “And the earlier you start the better off you will be.”

The survey found 54 per cent of 18-to 34-year-olds respondents said they have a rainy day fund, compared to 55 per cent of 35-to 54-year-olds and 63 per cent of those 55 and older.

However, 76 per cent of 18-to-34 year-olds considered themselves financially responsible, compared to 82 per cent of 35-to-54 year-olds and 86 per cent of those 55 plus.

Debt was said to be the biggest roadblock for young people trying to save more, in particular for men. Twenty-eight per cent of male respondents cited debt as the reason why they can’t save more, compared to 18 per cent of women.

Women were also better at sticking to a budget, the survey indicated.

The gap was greatest in the 35-to 54-year-old range, in which 43 per cent of women said they stuck to a monthly budget, compared to 28 per cent of men.

Russell said women – often cited as being big spenders – are better at budgeting because they have practise doing it at home with family finances.

“They often deal with that tradeoff on what to spend money on, and what not. It’s a daily decision,” she said.

Vancouver resident Jarleen Clohan, 23, said she is good at saving money, in part because she grew up watching her parents sometimes struggle with making ends meet.

Clohan said she does shop, like most women, but that her spending is “controlled.”

She saves money because she likes the “reassurance” of having a savings account.

Armin Barekat, 32, said he doesn’t feel the need to save too much money.

Barekat, who lives in Vancouver, said he has a secure job and a good credit rating. He is also confident he can borrow money if needed, and pay it back.

“Saving money is good, but I don’t worry about it,” he said.

Barekat is saving money for a down payment on a home, but hasn’t started saving yet for retirement.

“I am too young to think about that,” he said.

The survey suggested 23 per cent of Canadians in Barekat’s age group wanted to save for home. That figures rose to 25 per cent for those ages 35 to 54.

Looking back to their younger years, 19 per cent of people age 55 and over said they had saved for a home, while 25 per cent said they saved for retirement.

Besides providing fresh data on Canadian attitudes, such surveys are a popular promotional tool for Canadian companies, who use public opinion polls to gauge consumer thinking and to promote specific brands to ordinary Canadians.

Banks and mutual fund companies have long used such surveys to make consumers aware of financial products and services and to learn more about the public’s financial management habits.

The bank released the survey to help promote its Simply Save program, which allows customers to save a preset sum every time they use their debit card.

The survey of 1,000 men and women was conducted by Angus Reid Strategies in late July. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Young Canadians are saving less than their parents and grandparents did at the same age, with young men being the worst at sticking to a budget, according to the results of a new survey.

The TD Canada Trust study released Wednesday suggests 80 per cent of Canadians found saving money “too hard” and that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 were more interested in saving for a house than for retirement.

Among survey responses, 19 per cent 18-to 34-year-olds said they were saving 10 to 25 per cent of their total monthly income. That compared to 29 per cent of people over age 55 who said they saved that amount when they were younger.

Young adults blamed their lack of savings on not making enough money, while people 55 and older said the cost of living prevented them from saving more when they were young.

TD’s Carrie Russell said the results were disappointing and prove that saving money is not something that comes naturally to most.

“It has to be practised,” said Russell, a senior vice-president at the bank. “And the earlier you start the better off you will be.”

The survey found 54 per cent of 18-to 34-year-olds respondents said they have a rainy day fund, compared to 55 per cent of 35-to 54-year-olds and 63 per cent of those 55 and older.

However, 76 per cent of 18-to-34 year-olds considered themselves financially responsible, compared to 82 per cent of 35-to-54 year-olds and 86 per cent of those 55 plus.

Debt was said to be the biggest roadblock for young people trying to save more, in particular for men. Twenty-eight per cent of male respondents cited debt as the reason why they can’t save more, compared to 18 per cent of women.

Women were also better at sticking to a budget, the survey indicated.

The gap was greatest in the 35-to 54-year-old range, in which 43 per cent of women said they stuck to a monthly budget, compared to 28 per cent of men.

Russell said women – often cited as being big spenders – are better at budgeting because they have practise doing it at home with family finances.

“They often deal with that tradeoff on what to spend money on, and what not. It’s a daily decision,” she said.

Vancouver resident Jarleen Clohan, 23, said she is good at saving money, in part because she grew up watching her parents sometimes struggle with making ends meet.

Clohan said she does shop, like most women, but that her spending is “controlled.”

She saves money because she likes the “reassurance” of having a savings account.

Armin Barekat, 32, said he doesn’t feel the need to save too much money.

Barekat, who lives in Vancouver, said he has a secure job and a good credit rating. He is also confident he can borrow money if needed, and pay it back.

“Saving money is good, but I don’t worry about it,” he said.

Barekat is saving money for a down payment on a home, but hasn’t started saving yet for retirement.

“I am too young to think about that,” he said.

The survey suggested 23 per cent of Canadians in Barekat’s age group wanted to save for home. That figures rose to 25 per cent for those ages 35 to 54.

Looking back to their younger years, 19 per cent of people age 55 and over said they had saved for a home, while 25 per cent said they saved for retirement.

Besides providing fresh data on Canadian attitudes, such surveys are a popular promotional tool for Canadian companies, who use public opinion polls to gauge consumer thinking and to promote specific brands to ordinary Canadians.

Banks and mutual fund companies have long used such surveys to make consumers aware of financial products and services and to learn more about the public’s financial management habits.

The bank released the survey to help promote its Simply Save program, which allows customers to save a preset sum every time they use their debit card.

The survey of 1,000 men and women was conducted by Angus Reid Strategies in late July. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Young Canadians are saving less than their parents and grandparents did at the same age, with young men being the worst at sticking to a budget, according to the results of a new survey.

The TD Canada Trust study released Wednesday suggests 80 per cent of Canadians found saving money “too hard” and that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 were more interested in saving for a house than for retirement.

Among survey responses, 19 per cent 18-to 34-year-olds said they were saving 10 to 25 per cent of their total monthly income. That compared to 29 per cent of people over age 55 who said they saved that amount when they were younger.

Young adults blamed their lack of savings on not making enough money, while people 55 and older said the cost of living prevented them from saving more when they were young.

TD’s Carrie Russell said the results were disappointing and prove that saving money is not something that comes naturally to most.

“It has to be practised,” said Russell, a senior vice-president at the bank. “And the earlier you start the better off you will be.”

The survey found 54 per cent of 18-to 34-year-olds respondents said they have a rainy day fund, compared to 55 per cent of 35-to 54-year-olds and 63 per cent of those 55 and older.

However, 76 per cent of 18-to-34 year-olds considered themselves financially responsible, compared to 82 per cent of 35-to-54 year-olds and 86 per cent of those 55 plus.

Debt was said to be the biggest roadblock for young people trying to save more, in particular for men. Twenty-eight per cent of male respondents cited debt as the reason why they can’t save more, compared to 18 per cent of women.

Women were also better at sticking to a budget, the survey indicated.

The gap was greatest in the 35-to 54-year-old range, in which 43 per cent of women said they stuck to a monthly budget, compared to 28 per cent of men.

Russell said women – often cited as being big spenders – are better at budgeting because they have practise doing it at home with family finances.

“They often deal with that tradeoff on what to spend money on, and what not. It’s a daily decision,” she said.

Vancouver resident Jarleen Clohan, 23, said she is good at saving money, in part because she grew up watching her parents sometimes struggle with making ends meet.

Clohan said she does shop, like most women, but that her spending is “controlled.”

She saves money because she likes the “reassurance” of having a savings account.

Armin Barekat, 32, said he doesn’t feel the need to save too much money.

Barekat, who lives in Vancouver, said he has a secure job and a good credit rating. He is also confident he can borrow money if needed, and pay it back.

“Saving money is good, but I don’t worry about it,” he said.

Barekat is saving money for a down payment on a home, but hasn’t started saving yet for retirement.

“I am too young to think about that,” he said.

The survey suggested 23 per cent of Canadians in Barekat’s age group wanted to save for home. That figures rose to 25 per cent for those ages 35 to 54.

Looking back to their younger years, 19 per cent of people age 55 and over said they had saved for a home, while 25 per cent said they saved for retirement.

Besides providing fresh data on Canadian attitudes, such surveys are a popular promotional tool for Canadian companies, who use public opinion polls to gauge consumer thinking and to promote specific brands to ordinary Canadians.

Banks and mutual fund companies have long used such surveys to make consumers aware of financial products and services and to learn more about the public’s financial management habits.

The bank released the survey to help promote its Simply Save program, which allows customers to save a preset sum every time they use their debit card.

The survey of 1,000 men and women was conducted by Angus Reid Strategies in late July. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

HALIFAX, N.S. – A bishop based in Nova Scotia has been charged with possessing and importing child pornography, just weeks after his diocese reached a $15-million settlement with people who said they were abused by priests as children.

Raymond Lahey, 69, resigned from his post with the Roman Catholic diocese of Antigonish on the weekend before news of the charges became public knowledge on Wednesday.

Police say Lahey was sent for a secondary examination at the Ottawa airport as he was returning from a foreign country on Sept. 15.

Ottawa police said in a news release that border services searched his laptop and “found images … that were of concern.”

The laptop and other media devices were seized by border guards.

“The forensic examination of the computer and media later revealed child pornography,” the release says.

He was released at the airport pending further investigations and police say a warrant was issued for the arrest of Lahey when charges were laid on Friday.

Anthony Mancini, the Archbishop of Halifax, said he spoke briefly with Lahey on his cellphone earlier Wednesday after learning of the charges through the media, but he doesn’t know where he is.

Father Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Antigonish, said he learned of the charges from the media reports.

“I’m sad, I’m shocked,” he said from Frenchvale, N.S., where he is the parish priest. “I think I’m mostly concerned about our people, about our priests, about our diocese.”

Abbass said he had learned a couple of days before Lahey issued his letter of resignation that he was considering stepping down, but knew nothing more about the personal reasons the bishop cited.

He said he didn’t know where Lahey was when he tendered his resignation, saying only that he had been away on meetings “for last week or so.”

In August, the bishop announced a $15 million class action settlement involving sexual abuse in the Antigonish diocese that dated back to 1950. Lahey was not implicated in the case and had been in the diocese for only the last six years.

A notice Saturday from Mancini said that Pope Benedict had accepted Lahey’s resignation “for personal reasons.”

Lahey, a native of Newfoundland and Labrador who once served as a professor of theology at Memorial University in St. John’s, informed his parishioners in a letter the same day that he’d resigned “to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”

John McKiggan, the Halifax lawyer, who represents the alleged victims in the class-action suit, said he was stunned when he learned of the charges on the news.

“Like many people I expect, I am very surprised,” he said.

McKiggan said the settlement, which was announced Aug. 7, won’t be affected by the charges because it had been approved by the court, and the diocese – not Lahey – was named in the suit.

Ronald Martin, whose brother wrote a suicide note in 2002 that led to charges of sex crimes against a priest from the diocese, filed the class-action lawsuit last year against the Roman Catholic diocese.

Martin wasn’t available for comment, but his wife would only say from their home in Sydney, N.S., that they were shocked by the news.

“He’s not doing so good,” said McKiggan, who had spoken with Martin. “I think like everyone, he is surprised and distressed.”

In his resignation letter, Lahey said: “I recognize that my resignation takes place at a time when the diocese is facing a variety of demanding challenges.

“While I will no longer be with you on this journey, I am confident that your faith and compassion will continue to sustain you as they have always done. … I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”

In the suit, Martin claimed that the diocese failed to protect children in its care when it became aware of the alleged abuse.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court certified the settlement on Sept. 10.

“This will bring another element of pain into the situation,” Abbass said. “We want to find some hope in the midst of all of this, but right now it’s just so overwhelming.”



Mancini has been appointed administrator of the diocese until Lahey’s successor is chosen and he scheduled a news conference for Thursday in Cape Breton.

When Lahey sent his letter to the Pope, Mancini said he expects it would have to contain some details about the cause for his resignation.

“He would certainly have had to indicate to the Pope the seriousness of his personal reasons,” Mancini said.

The class-action settlement is aimed at compensating anyone who was allegedly and known to have been sexually assaulted by a priest of the Catholic Episcopal Corp. of Antigonish since Jan. 1, 1950.

The $15-million settlement includes $12 million in damages, about $400,000 for counselling fees, and the remainder to legal and administrative costs.

The lawsuit claimed five priests were sexually assaulting children in their care between 1960 and 2008. Several were convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse.

When the settlement was announced in August, Lahey said the agreement is the first step in recognizing the alleged abuse of children as young as eight years old.

“I want to formally apologize to every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were entitled instead to the trust and protection of priests of the church,” he told a news conference in Halifax.

“Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God. I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth.”

Chris Kealey, a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency, said people entering Canada may be sent for secondary screening based on information from ongoing investigations or based on “indicators” observed by border officials. He would not say why Lahey was selected.

Kealey also noted that no warrant is needed for border officials to search the contents of media devices or laptops.

“It’s considered part of your personal goods when you enter Canada,” he said.

The spokesman would not say where Lahey was travelling from when he arrived in Ottawa, citing both privacy and investigative issues.

- With files from Bruce Cheadle in Ottawa

HALIFAX, N.S. – A bishop based in Nova Scotia has been charged with possessing and importing child pornography, just weeks after his diocese reached a $15-million settlement with people who said they were abused by priests as children.

Raymond Lahey, 69, resigned from his post with the Roman Catholic diocese of Antigonish on the weekend before news of the charges became public knowledge on Wednesday.

Police say Lahey was sent for a secondary examination at the Ottawa airport as he was returning from a foreign country on Sept. 15.

Ottawa police said in a news release that border services searched his laptop and “found images … that were of concern.”

The laptop and other media devices were seized by border guards.

“The forensic examination of the computer and media later revealed child pornography,” the release says.

He was released at the airport pending further investigations and police say a warrant was issued for the arrest of Lahey when charges were laid on Friday.

Anthony Mancini, the Archbishop of Halifax, said he spoke briefly with Lahey on his cellphone earlier Wednesday after learning of the charges through the media, but he doesn’t know where he is.

Father Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Antigonish, said he learned of the charges from the media reports.

“I’m sad, I’m shocked,” he said from Frenchvale, N.S., where he is the parish priest. “I think I’m mostly concerned about our people, about our priests, about our diocese.”

Abbass said he had learned a couple of days before Lahey issued his letter of resignation that he was considering stepping down, but knew nothing more about the personal reasons the bishop cited.

He said he didn’t know where Lahey was when he tendered his resignation, saying only that he had been away on meetings “for last week or so.”

In August, the bishop announced a $15 million class action settlement involving sexual abuse in the Antigonish diocese that dated back to 1950. Lahey was not implicated in the case and had been in the diocese for only the last six years.

A notice Saturday from Mancini said that Pope Benedict had accepted Lahey’s resignation “for personal reasons.”

Lahey, a native of Newfoundland and Labrador who once served as a professor of theology at Memorial University in St. John’s, informed his parishioners in a letter the same day that he’d resigned “to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”

John McKiggan, the Halifax lawyer, who represents the alleged victims in the class-action suit, said he was stunned when he learned of the charges on the news.

“Like many people I expect, I am very surprised,” he said.

McKiggan said the settlement, which was announced Aug. 7, won’t be affected by the charges because it had been approved by the court, and the diocese – not Lahey – was named in the suit.

Ronald Martin, whose brother wrote a suicide note in 2002 that led to charges of sex crimes against a priest from the diocese, filed the class-action lawsuit last year against the Roman Catholic diocese.

Martin wasn’t available for comment, but his wife would only say from their home in Sydney, N.S., that they were shocked by the news.

“He’s not doing so good,” said McKiggan, who had spoken with Martin. “I think like everyone, he is surprised and distressed.”

In his resignation letter, Lahey said: “I recognize that my resignation takes place at a time when the diocese is facing a variety of demanding challenges.

“While I will no longer be with you on this journey, I am confident that your faith and compassion will continue to sustain you as they have always done. … I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”

In the suit, Martin claimed that the diocese failed to protect children in its care when it became aware of the alleged abuse.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court certified the settlement on Sept. 10.

“This will bring another element of pain into the situation,” Abbass said. “We want to find some hope in the midst of all of this, but right now it’s just so overwhelming.”



Mancini has been appointed administrator of the diocese until Lahey’s successor is chosen and he scheduled a news conference for Thursday in Cape Breton.

When Lahey sent his letter to the Pope, Mancini said he expects it would have to contain some details about the cause for his resignation.

“He would certainly have had to indicate to the Pope the seriousness of his personal reasons,” Mancini said.

The class-action settlement is aimed at compensating anyone who was allegedly and known to have been sexually assaulted by a priest of the Catholic Episcopal Corp. of Antigonish since Jan. 1, 1950.

The $15-million settlement includes $12 million in damages, about $400,000 for counselling fees, and the remainder to legal and administrative costs.

The lawsuit claimed five priests were sexually assaulting children in their care between 1960 and 2008. Several were convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse.

When the settlement was announced in August, Lahey said the agreement is the first step in recognizing the alleged abuse of children as young as eight years old.

“I want to formally apologize to every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were entitled instead to the trust and protection of priests of the church,” he told a news conference in Halifax.

“Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God. I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth.”

Chris Kealey, a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency, said people entering Canada may be sent for secondary screening based on information from ongoing investigations or based on “indicators” observed by border officials. He would not say why Lahey was selected.

Kealey also noted that no warrant is needed for border officials to search the contents of media devices or laptops.

“It’s considered part of your personal goods when you enter Canada,” he said.

The spokesman would not say where Lahey was travelling from when he arrived in Ottawa, citing both privacy and investigative issues.

- With files from Bruce Cheadle in Ottawa

HALIFAX, N.S. – A bishop based in Nova Scotia has been charged with possessing and importing child pornography, just weeks after his diocese reached a $15-million settlement with people who said they were abused by priests as children.

Raymond Lahey, 69, resigned from his post with the Roman Catholic diocese of Antigonish on the weekend before news of the charges became public knowledge on Wednesday.

Police say Lahey was sent for a secondary examination at the Ottawa airport as he was returning from a foreign country on Sept. 15.

Ottawa police said in a news release that border services searched his laptop and “found images … that were of concern.”

The laptop and other media devices were seized by border guards.

“The forensic examination of the computer and media later revealed child pornography,” the release says.

He was released at the airport pending further investigations and police say a warrant was issued for the arrest of Lahey when charges were laid on Friday.

Anthony Mancini, the Archbishop of Halifax, said he spoke briefly with Lahey on his cellphone earlier Wednesday after learning of the charges through the media, but he doesn’t know where he is.

Father Paul Abbass, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Antigonish, said he learned of the charges from the media reports.

“I’m sad, I’m shocked,” he said from Frenchvale, N.S., where he is the parish priest. “I think I’m mostly concerned about our people, about our priests, about our diocese.”

Abbass said he had learned a couple of days before Lahey issued his letter of resignation that he was considering stepping down, but knew nothing more about the personal reasons the bishop cited.

He said he didn’t know where Lahey was when he tendered his resignation, saying only that he had been away on meetings “for last week or so.”

In August, the bishop announced a $15 million class action settlement involving sexual abuse in the Antigonish diocese that dated back to 1950. Lahey was not implicated in the case and had been in the diocese for only the last six years.

A notice Saturday from Mancini said that Pope Benedict had accepted Lahey’s resignation “for personal reasons.”

Lahey, a native of Newfoundland and Labrador who once served as a professor of theology at Memorial University in St. John’s, informed his parishioners in a letter the same day that he’d resigned “to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”

John McKiggan, the Halifax lawyer, who represents the alleged victims in the class-action suit, said he was stunned when he learned of the charges on the news.

“Like many people I expect, I am very surprised,” he said.

McKiggan said the settlement, which was announced Aug. 7, won’t be affected by the charges because it had been approved by the court, and the diocese – not Lahey – was named in the suit.

Ronald Martin, whose brother wrote a suicide note in 2002 that led to charges of sex crimes against a priest from the diocese, filed the class-action lawsuit last year against the Roman Catholic diocese.

Martin wasn’t available for comment, but his wife would only say from their home in Sydney, N.S., that they were shocked by the news.

“He’s not doing so good,” said McKiggan, who had spoken with Martin. “I think like everyone, he is surprised and distressed.”

In his resignation letter, Lahey said: “I recognize that my resignation takes place at a time when the diocese is facing a variety of demanding challenges.

“While I will no longer be with you on this journey, I am confident that your faith and compassion will continue to sustain you as they have always done. … I have already left the diocese to take some much-needed time for personal renewal.”

In the suit, Martin claimed that the diocese failed to protect children in its care when it became aware of the alleged abuse.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court certified the settlement on Sept. 10.

“This will bring another element of pain into the situation,” Abbass said. “We want to find some hope in the midst of all of this, but right now it’s just so overwhelming.”



Mancini has been appointed administrator of the diocese until Lahey’s successor is chosen and he scheduled a news conference for Thursday in Cape Breton.

When Lahey sent his letter to the Pope, Mancini said he expects it would have to contain some details about the cause for his resignation.

“He would certainly have had to indicate to the Pope the seriousness of his personal reasons,” Mancini said.

The class-action settlement is aimed at compensating anyone who was allegedly and known to have been sexually assaulted by a priest of the Catholic Episcopal Corp. of Antigonish since Jan. 1, 1950.

The $15-million settlement includes $12 million in damages, about $400,000 for counselling fees, and the remainder to legal and administrative costs.

The lawsuit claimed five priests were sexually assaulting children in their care between 1960 and 2008. Several were convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse.

When the settlement was announced in August, Lahey said the agreement is the first step in recognizing the alleged abuse of children as young as eight years old.

“I want to formally apologize to every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were entitled instead to the trust and protection of priests of the church,” he told a news conference in Halifax.

“Sexual abuse, indeed any abuse, is wrong. It is a crime and it is a serious sin in the eyes of God. I want to assure you that for some time our diocese, like others throughout Canada, have been taking steps to protect children and youth.”

Chris Kealey, a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency, said people entering Canada may be sent for secondary screening based on information from ongoing investigations or based on “indicators” observed by border officials. He would not say why Lahey was selected.

Kealey also noted that no warrant is needed for border officials to search the contents of media devices or laptops.

“It’s considered part of your personal goods when you enter Canada,” he said.

The spokesman would not say where Lahey was travelling from when he arrived in Ottawa, citing both privacy and investigative issues.

- With files from Bruce Cheadle in Ottawa