Harper's War on poverty

Actually, that's a typo.

Should read "Heartless Harper's War on the poor - and seniors." (emphasis mine)

Low-income Canadian seniors could be driven into poverty next summer when they find out Ottawa has cut their federal income support. Some are poised to lose a key part of their monthly income because of a new policy approved by the federal government without public notice, according to internal guidelines obtained by The Globe and Mail.
 
So if a low income senior - who acted responsibly and put money into an RRSP over the years so they would be able to care for themselves - takes out a few thousand for say, medical costs, the funeral of a spouse, to fix a heater, that withdrawal is treated as income making it appear that they are making more that year than they actually did, and they no longer qualify for GIS payments.

I have to sign off now since I'm trying not to use foul language as much on my blog.  But this is so, so obscene.

Update:   Finley announced in the House today the change is on hold, for review because she was "very concerned" by what had been reported.  Sure Diane, except you can't pretend that you had no idea of the impact this would have on seniors -

“I think it’s immoral,” said Gerard Lee, who worked on benefits files for the federal government as a Service Canada client services officer in Corner Brook, Nfld., before retiring this year. Mr. Lee wrote to Human Resources Minister Diane Finley in August saying it was “grossly unfair” of the government to make the change without any public notice or effort to inform seniors.  In a written response last month, Ms. Finley defended the change and said the courts had urged Ottawa to clear up the rules in this area. 

So why the change of whatever it is Diane has in place of a heart?  Probably this - 

Ms. Finley’s office had more to say Thursday when informed The Globe would be writing a story on the issue.“The Minister has instructed the department to urgently review this policy,” said Ryan Sparrow, Ms. Finley’s director of communications. Mr. Lee later said the minister’s pledge was “excellent” news.

Damn those media folks, eh, Diane?

Update on update: we have Gerry Byrne, Liberal, to thank for Finley's sorta heart transplant.  Nice going, Gerry!  Finley still tried to act like this was all news to her, though.

Maybe it’s a Zen thing

Buddhists say "be thankful for your enemies because they help teach patience and caring."

Because it's damn hard to account for this (emphasis mine)-

The poll (which has the CONs in the lead) suggests that Conservatives continue to garner support among seniors, men, those born in Canada and those with middle levels of socioeconomic status. Meanwhile, Liberals continue to get support from the university-educated, non-Canadian born and Ontario residents.

It must be because the CONs have done such a bang-up job improving the lives of seniors, right?

The number of seniors living below the low-income cutoff, Statistics Canada’s basic measure of poverty, jumped nearly 25 per cent between 2007 and 2008, to 250,000 from 204,000, according to figures released on Wednesday by Campaign 2000. It’s the largest increase among any group, and as the first cohort of baby boomers turns 65 next year, could place increased pressure on families supporting elderly parents.

 
Oh...I guess it isn't that...

Maybe the CONs have made plans to fight this devastating trend.

The Harper government has rejected all 74 recommendations in a sweeping Senate report to combat homelessness and poverty.  The official Conservative response this week to the 300-page report was a 20-page list of existing programs and a promise to take the committee’s recommendations "under advisement" in the future.
 
Not that either.

Must be all those great senior appointments.  Yeah, that must be it.