Math whiz spots way to give without cost
Former public works commissioner says others need federal cash more than him
Retired engineer Patrick Martin calls himself a math geek. Certainly he’s a public-spirited one. He served three terms on Westmount’s city council, all 12 years as public works commissioner, and people know him as someone who cares about his community.
Now he has devised a plan that could generate millions of dollars for charitable causes — without anyone being out of pocket.
On May 12, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a one-time non-taxable payment of $300 to seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension; the goal is to help compensate them for increased expenses many have had during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Low-income seniors who qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement on top of the OAS pension will get an additional $200, for a total of $500.)
“No Canadian should have to choose between putting food on the table, filling their prescriptions or paying their bills,” the prime minister said, adding “too many seniors are facing significant health, economic and social challenges due to COVID -19. They helped shape this country and now they need our help.”
On Thursday, Daniel Pollak, press secretary to federal seniors minister Deb Schulte, said the payments “will be automatically delivered as soon as possible, within weeks,” and will help 6.7 million seniors.
“There are people who desperately need the help,” said Martin, 73.
But neither he nor his wife, Jane, is among them.
Both receive the OAS pension. “And we have enough.”
To them, the $300 is “money we don’t need,” he said.
Indeed, critics of the aid package said it gives too much to people who don’t need it.
If anything, Martin says, he has been spending less during the pandemic, not more. No haircuts, for one — he joked that with his long hair and the bandana he dons for infrequent forays to buy groceries, he looks quite wild — and no restaurant meals. Instead of spending several dollars for a beer in a restaurant, “I’m having one for $1.50 in my backyard.”
A trip he and his wife usually take in May was cancelled. Their annual fall visit to their daughter and her family in California “probably won’t happen” this year. The tennis club to which he belongs has reduced fees this season because, with the clubhouse closed and only singles games permitted, it’s offering fewer services.
“It’s money I’m not spending. So I feel undeserving of the $300,” Martin said. “Keeping it doesn’t feel right to me.”
“My first thought was to donate it to a charity — ideally something linked to COVID-19.
“Then I did the math geek thing.” He determined that if he gives $300 to a charitable organization, he’ll get a tax credit for about half that amount. But if he makes a charitable donation of about $600, then next March he’ll get back roughly $300 as a tax credit. Add that to the $300 gift from the government and “giving that money away wouldn’t cost anything.”
It’s money I’m not spending. So I feel undeserving of the $300. Keeping it doesn’t feel right to me.
His wife will also receive $300. If she, too, makes the same donation, “that means $1,200 from the family goes to charity and you’re not at all out of pocket.”
Martin estimates that about 2,000 of Westmount’s 20,000 residents are in the same situation and he wants to encourage them to do the same thing. “If each couple gives $1,200, you have created over $1 million of charitable contributions.”
Elsewhere in Montreal, he figures, there are at least 10,000 people 65 or older who don’t need the money either. “If all were to buy into my plan, it would generate $6 million for charitable causes.”
Martin has been contacting former Loyola High School classmates and thinks there could be dozens of fellow tennis club members in a similar situation to his.
“I am counting on people to step up and do something.”