She was 71 years old and lived on Old Age Security. She was divorced and the money she was getting from her former partner ended when he turned 65.
She tried to get GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement), but the bureaucratic process was ridiculously slow. She lived in Vancouver and was destitute, barely able to exist on the pittance she was getting. She committed suicide to end the angst and the pain of living in such a pinched and desperately unhappy manner.
I’ve heard other seniors say that if they could get MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) they might consider it – due to the fact their pension does not provide enough for them to live with dignity.
You may have heard about the Seniors Tin Cup movement. It is a group started in Vancouver by Sharon Elliott, followed by yours truly in Vernon in December – with neither of us knowing what the other was doing.
Sharon is not on the I nternet and I am. So, I ran with it. Sharon concentrates on provincial politicians. Together we are fierce.
My anger was building as I kept hearing stories of seniors who did not have enough to live with dignity due to the constant worry about finances. So, Sharon and I decided to organize more demonstrations.
A Member of Parliament makes $194,000 year. A senior who is reliant on government pensions is lucky if they earn as much as the poverty line, which is $25,252 year. Most of them are below this. Buying a cup of coffee or lunch requires budgeting. Their whole life is one big non-stop worrisome challenge when it comes to finances.
This creates anxiety, because they know if something goes wrong, they won’t be able to fix it. I know a lot of us can relate to this at the moment.
I would like to invite you to read our webpage www.seniorstincup.org. Pay particular attention to the letter from Seamus O’Regan Jr.’s office. The response came under his name but was written by Kristen Underwood, director general, Seniors and Pensions Policy Secretariat. Have a read of that and you’ll get an idea of the attitude. I guess there is a reason that the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., is the Minister of Labour and uh – oh yes – Seniors. It almost feels as though we are an afterthought.
Money is the biggest issue for seniors and added in are health challenges. Not everyone can afford physio, massage or medication in some cases. If seniors do have some energy left and try to work a bit, it can be clawed back from their GIS, so that the following year, they will live with even less money.
This is so disrespectful, disempowering and just plain wrong. It is almost like punishment. Naughty little senior, you earned too much, stay down below the poverty line.
Boomers have made change happen in the past. We demonstrated for civil rights, we took part in anti-war demonstrations, we fought for women’s rights and took part in boycotts.
We made changes happen then and we will do it again.
So, join us on Thursday, March 21, 10:45 a.m., at the Schubert Centre in Vernon for a demonstration for pensions to be raised to the level of the poverty line. Plan to carpool. We will be protesting in seven cities and towns across B.C., on the same day at the same time: Terrace, Kitimat, Prince George, Kamloops, Vernon, Vancouver, White Rock and Ladysmith. This isn’t just for us. It is for all generations who will follow us too.
What we can’t do alone, we can do together. Join us, there is power in numbers.
Carole Fawcett is a freelance writer, retired counsellor flower1@shaw.ca.
