The Editor,
Re. "Money in federal budget for Tri-Cities: MP Moore" (tricitynews.com, March 30).
The federal budget release illustrates the paradox and inequities of government's priorities.
Can you really stimulate our economy and create thousands of jobs by allowing Canadians to spend more money in cross border shopping in the United States? Makes total sense to me!
As for old age pension, if they get rid of the penny, seniors will have nothing to pinch in order to buy their next meal, let alone do any cross border shopping.
The average Canadian will have to labour for 47 years before he can collect a pension. At 67 years of age, we will be fortunate to have 10 healthy and enjoyable years left in us. The paradox is that a new Canadians can collect OAS after living here for only 10 years, even without making any contributions. This seems a little skewed.
Here's a really entertaining side show: The Governor General will now have to pay income tax. To ensure this will not put any undue stress on him and necessitate the need to pinch the non-existent pennies, his salary will be raised to cover this tax.
When my wife read this, she asked me: "Do they think we are idiots?" I replied: "They know we are idiots, that's how they get away with it."
Neil Swanson, Coquitlam
