| Policy Issue 1 |
Effects |
| Governments supporting
the apparent demands of the world economy |
Less social spending.
More incentives for business investment.
Many seniors - especially those on fixed incomes - do not have opportunities to
reap the benefits of economic growth. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 2 |
Effects |
|---|
|
Federal government’s decision to cut transfer payments to the
provinces | Less general interest in
social programs.
No federal influence on how transfer money was spent.
Less money for provinces to spend on social programs.
Less money apparently available by provinces
for health and social services. Much-needed services were
lost.
Reduced emphasis on social programs for seniors. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 3 |
Effects |
| Federal government’s emphasis on
eliminating the budget deficit, and creating and defending a
budget surplus |
Growing emphasis on federal
finances re: the future needs of baby boomers, and economic
growth. Reduced federal interest in the
present needs of seniors.
Seniors feel left out. |
What needs to be done? |
| Policy Issue 4 |
Effects |
| Federal government taxing OAS |
Reduces universality of seniors pensions.
Begins at $53,200 income level, so it is not a big
hardship, but sets a dangerous precedent. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 5 |
Effects |
| Tax minimums for federal income tax |
Few people are exempt from paying income tax.
Seniors who are barely getting by are paying income taxes. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 6 |
Effects |
| OAS and GIS fully indexed |
Pensions rise quarterly to match raises in inflation.
Maintains buying power of OAS and GIS. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 7 |
Effects |
| "Tax bracket creep" (indexing OAS pension that is
taxable below the rate of inflation) allowed by federal and provincial
governments |
Saved federal money. More tax money for governments.
Increase in the proportion of income tax paid by the poor.
Reduced amounts of money going to OAS.
Seniors were gradually taxed more and more each year.
Reduced the buying power of OAS.
Seniors who could not afford increases in their cost of living had less
overall money to spend. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 8 |
Effects |
| GST rebates and Ontario Tax Credits |
GST rebates provided quarterly to lower income people.
Ontario Tax Credits result in residents of Ontario paying lower income
taxes and/or receiving tax refunds.
Helpful to seniors, especially to lower income seniors.
Helpful to seniors, especially to lower income seniors. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 9 |
Effects |
| Governments are increasingly privatising public services
with few or no regulations |
Few cost restraints are in place.
Little quality control.
Markets can charge more and deliver less.
Seniors on fixed incomes fall behind. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 10 |
Effects |
| Ownership of most media by wealthy people |
Editorial bias toward distributing national wealth to the
well-to-do, and to those who contribute to economic growth.
Seniors voice is seldom heard.
It is difficult for seniors to have their views represented. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 11 |
Effects |
| Federal government support for saving for the future and
for people being self-sufficient in the senior years |
RRSP and CPP contributions are strongly encouraged
There is an erroneous belief that current CPP benefits to seniors are a drain on working people.
There is an erroneous belief that current CPP, OAS, and GIS benefits mean
that these benefits will not be there when "baby boomers" are 65. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 12 |
Effects |
| OAS and GIS maximums low |
Maximum OAS and GIS for singles are currently $919.89 a month
or $11,038.68 a year
Toronto seniors relying solely or heavily on OAS and GIS are
well below the 1997 "poverty line" for Toronto: $17,571 for single
people.
Toronto seniors relying solely or heavily on OAS and GIS, and who rent have
little money for necessities.
Toronto seniors relying solely or heavily on OAS and GIS, and who have
costs related to disabilities or medical problems have little money for these
needs. |
What needs to be done?
|
