I am writing regarding the piece in The Guardian (Helping hand to elderly receives mixed reviews, May 14). Public policy experts say that the package for seniors “hands out too much money to people who don’t need it”.
Jack Mintz from Calgary’s School of Public Policy said, “This was a waste” as most seniors are already well protected due to their regular government payments … and many are on provincial drug plans and get covered.
This one-time $300 payment applies to seniors with incomes between $18,600 and $128,137. I would guess that quite a small percentage are in the upper level of that range. Seniors have many expenses that younger people don’t, and try living on OAS and CPP! Yes, many have some savings, but salaries were a lot lower when these savings were being accrued, and the cost of living has greatly increased, so how far will these savings go? And when they’re gone, then what? Try putting yourselves in their shoes.
It’s easy to say that seniors don’t need help when you don’t have to live in their shoes.
M.A. Gray,
Stratford
