Several weeks ago I was astounded to find in my mail a federal government leaflet from Conservative MP Bob Zimmer with the bold headline "Our Conservative government continues to stand up for Canada's seniors."
For years I have worked with seniors in the community and can honestly say that under this Conservative government I have only seen a nasty-spirited clawing back of services so desperately needed by so many seniors in our midst.
One example is closure of the local Revenue Canada service office.
So many supports for seniors (Pharmacare medications coverage, Old Age Security pension, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters to name a few) depend on seniors keeping their taxes up to date. In the case of people with medical conditions (many seniors) this is not always possible and now with the closure of the local Revenue Canada office, it is no easy feat to sort out one's taxes once something goes awry.
Another example is the cutting of Service Canada personnel. This is the office that among other programs, administers the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security programs.
If ever you have a glitch, problem or something you need to talk about with respect to your pension, good luck getting through on the 1-800 number.
Even the people at the local Service Canada office, as helpful and obliging as they are, have to call in to some centralized office for assistance. When seniors have problems with their pensions that needs sorting out, they can lose their housing and be unable to pay the basic costs of living including food, utilities and medications.
And then there is the closure of the local Veterans office and the pending cancellation of door to door mail delivery.
This list does not even begin to address the ruthless cutbacks to health transfer payments and the many impacts on seniors' well-being there.
This Conservative government policies have been mean-spirited to the majority of seniors and other vulnerable members of society out there.
The exorbitant travel expenses by Dick Harris are hard to take when one sees firsthand the tragic impacts of these cutbacks on people's lives, so too the disrespectful failure of the local Conservative candidates to attend some of the all candidates' forums where voters are asking these important and pointed questions about these serious issues.
If we again vote Conservative in these ridings, we will get what we deserve.
Mary MacDonald
Prince George
