Dear Editor:
This letter has been written about the future of pensions here in Canada, the Canada Pension Plan and other items near and dear to our hearts.
This is also about the Conservative Party, which dictates rather than governs co-operatively – a political party that has no place in the Canadian way of life.
This is a party that makes statements and promises only to break those promises with complete disregard for the majority and I do not mean the “majority government” they won in the last election, but the majority of citizens across this country,
Many excellent comments are being made in the House of Commons – even though the opposition will get nowhere there – but if they have in and keep making them, perhaps some will make a difference.
I’m also hoping some of us may learn to listen and think because these changes being proposed by Prime Minister Harper and his government in relation to Old Age Security affects us all.
Over the years, small and large improvements have come about, with an amount of effort which most of us can not recall or happened far before our time. It must not be thrown out with smug complacency.
If you increase the time for pension eligibility, you increase the wait for those entering the job market as young people will be taxpayers for decades to come.
Members of Parliament must listen to all their voters, not just the ones who may have for them or the party or leader and if they don’t, seniors, students, working people and the “occupy” movement may all speak up and act forcefully.
MPs and senators may be well-off financially and have the prospect of having even better pensions, but even they have friends and relatives who may need to lean on them in tough times.
In the final analysis, they have to live in their communities.
I say we should all join forces and not political parties and throw the bums out.
Buryl Black
Osoyoos, B.C.
