Yes, the CUs are and I assume it's $$$ that is driving it. The $$$ of the big banks. Same as Coops closing do to poor management... the big $$$ infilotrates the executives and... yaeh, conspiracy theory but the only other explanation is that the management is incompetent so????

As far as penalties go it USED to be the case that such penalties and fees for transfer of RRSPs and RIfs and the like were prohibited by law. Dunno if that has changed.