Select seniors getting left out in the cold

On May 6, the Liberal government released the federal budget, introducing a completely new system, contradicting the Old Age Security guidelines and creating two classes of seniors.

Below is an excerpt:

“7.2 An Economic Recovery that Includes Everyone

As Canada recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada is committed to building a more inclusive society that leaves no one behind.

• Budget 2021 proposes to meet the immediate needs of this group of seniors by providing a one-time payment of $500 in August 2021 to OAS pensioners who will be 75 or over as of June 2022.

• Budget 2021 then proposes to introduce legislation to increase regular OAS payments for pensioners 75 and over by 10 per cent on an ongoing basis as of July 2022."

This budget is not only flawed, it contradicts the Old Age Security Act which clearly states the age of an eligible senior is 65 and older — not 75. This budget implicitly excludes seniors aged 65 to 74, thereby violating the rights of these individuals.

It totally misses the mark and fails to provide a security benefit to all “eligible seniors,” as defined under the Old Age Security Act.

There are many vulnerable lower-income seniors aged 65 to 74 in need of assistance who are being excluded by the flawed policies of the Liberal government who vow to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.

Every Canadian should be outraged by the creation of such flawed policies which discriminate against this select group of vulnerable people it claims to be helping. This is a travesty. The criteria for eligibility should be income based, not aged based.

Why have we not heard from the opposition, or our elected member of Parliament Richard Cannings

All seniors matter!

Jeannine Mitran Oliver