Prime Minister Harper announced to his billionaire friends in Davos his intention to make changes to Canada's retirement system. True to form, Stephen Harper circumvented the parliamentary process to make an announcement that would radically transform our social safety net.
I understand the frustration and despair of seniors about the cost of living and lack of support during the aging process. I also understand the fear of hundreds of thousands of seniors who are wondering what will happen to our pension system.
New Democrats are fighting tirelessly to protect our pension system so that persons with disabilities, seniors and all Canadians can retire with dignity and security. It is unacceptable for me to see this government spend billions in corporate tax reductions and then threaten to slash social programs.
It is high time we review our tax system so that everybody pays their fair share. The occupy movement brought this debate to the public stage. If we want to win in 2015 and put forward policies that would restore real social justice, we must give ourselves the means. We must, obviously, put an end to tax shelters, but we must also thoroughly review our tax system in order to regain real progressivity.
Meanwhile, New Democrats will continue pressuring the Conservative government to:
- increase the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan by progressively doubling the amount of benefits, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent of retirees' earnings;
- gradually increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement to which registration would be automatic;
- take measures to make prescription drugs more safe and affordable.
In closing, we learned that the Treasury Board President, Tony Clement, plans to cut between four and eight billion dollars in the next budget. This amount could represent more than 10 per cent of spending! Mobilization of all civil society actors will be necessary to make the government back down. Rest assured that I will be right there with you to fight against these regressive measures.
Alexandre Boulerice
MP for Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie
Treasury Board Critic
Original Article
Source: Rabble.ca
Author: Alexandre Boulerice
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