AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors With taxation, politicians should ‘do no harm’

Glacier Media

If our federal and provincial governments spent as much time supporting low-income seniors as they do designing new ways to inflict more hardship in their lives, there would be more elders leading longer independent lives and fewer ending their days in long-term care

And when one government initiative actually cancels the good work done by another, seniors pay the price The result is perpetual poverty for low-income elders, with no hope of ever getting ahead

Seniors received their federal Old Age Security payments on Jan 27, a five-week stretch from the last payment on Dec 21, putting a severe strain on older men and women already hurting from record-breaking inflation

This inhumanity from Ottawa is easily averted by implementing a more reasonable schedule of payments

Unfortunately, it is always the most vulnerable people directly affected by these ill-conceived decisions who are hurt the most

It is preposterous and beyond comprehension that some programs are acting against and sabotaging others, nullifying their positive impacts to senior citizens, all within the confines of one bureaucracy, the Canada Revenue Agency.

I recently received a form letter from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp about the “onetime top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit” initiative that is administered by Canada Revenue Agency

The $500 payment “aims to help lower-income renters with the cost of rent,” but only if their income is $20,000 or lower (for singles) But here is the deal-breaker: The ruthless actions of the same CRA ensure that I do not qualify

Since 2018, the CRA has been demanding that low-income seniors declare anti-poverty benefits and subsidies as “income” on their tax returns. Each year, they add more to the list seemingly hellbent on making seniors’ lives as hard as possible.

First of all, it was the B C bus pass subsidy, then they added the B C Seniors’ Supplement Last year, I learned that the CRA wanted me to declare my housing subsidy, B C Housing’s Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) grant

These amounts are not taxable, but I end up losing a lot more: they falsely raise my income, disquali- fying me from the incometested $500 housing benefit that I desperately need. Using one housing subsidy to cancel another one? Seniors are merely pawns in this Machiavellian conflict of interest within the CRA Supplements and subsidies are not “income” streams as opposed to employment or pensions and should be exempt from any declaration on income tax.They ensure that elders are housed and have transportation.

Manipulating them to take things away from seniors, keeping us impoverished and in need, is unconscionable and cruel Anything that is incometested is under the axe The destructive fallout of these new CRA tax policies goes far and wide I have already lost my entire B C Tax Credit, enough for a week of food.

Other valuable and beneficial programs that are suddenly inaccessible to seniors are private housing programs that offer subsidies based on income and legal assistance programs for financially eligible low-income citizens The human cost of these ruthless tax policies is terrible.

The physicians’ credo, “Do no harm,” should inform government programs for seniors.

All legislation and pol- icies that cause unnecessary hardship to elders should be axed. But only a public inquiry and investigation into the activities of all branches within Canada Revenue Agency and their associations with B C government ministries will hold politicians accountable to the elders they serve.

The people who implement public policies that affect seniors’ lives must be held responsible for any negative consequences to those precious lives

Doreen Marion Gee is a seniors’ advocate who lives onVancouver Island.

Obituaries

Obituaries

SIMS,

February 19, 1945 - February 7th, 2023

E ven was born n Reading, England, February 19, 1945 He was named after his Dad Elven who was k l ed n the Second World War, five months before he was born He and h s mother came to Canada when Elven was two They first vis ted Man toba, farm country where his Dad grew up They then sett ed in New Westm nster, B C , where Elven ived the rest of his ife

E ven was always busy with many pro ects He oved h s flower garden and was an artist, pa nt ng beautifu mountain scenes and landscapes He oved music, the symphony and azz He was good at fixing th ngs and carpentry n h s home Where he had lived from the age of two unti h s passing H s l fe work was w th the Land Tit es Office in New Westm nster, where several of his co-workers became lasting friends A very smart man He was always nterested in other peop e and the th ngs happen ng n the r da ly ives He was so very kind and car ng He was very c ose to h s dog Kobo, who sadly passed away from cancer

In later years he gallantly fought severa i lnesses and passed away February 7th 2023 12 days shy of h s 78th birthday

He s survived by h s wife Lea, sister and brothern-laws; Joan and Lance, Jim, John and Gwen and severa wonderful nieces and nephews

We w l miss him and h s wonderful smile very much!

A memorial serv ce for E ven w ll be he d on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 11:30am at Hoy Trnity Cathedra, 514 Carnarvon St, New Westm nster, with unch to fol ow in the r ha l Internment for Elven’s ashes w l be March 21, 2023 at 1:00pm at Boal Chape Memorial Gardens, 1505 Lilooet Rd, North Vancouver, BC

RYAN (nee Jones), Marilyn

August 3, 1944 February 5, 2023

Marilyn passed away in Burnaby, where she lived her whole life. Predeceased by her husband, John, and son in law, Tom. Survived by her two children, Angela and Johnny (Meghan); grandchildren John, Alex and Keira; and two sisters, Priscilla and Larraine.

Celebration of Life: Saturday, February 25,

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