In early 2014, shocking statistics showed that in one of the richest provinces (Alberta) and cities (Calgary) there were 33,000 Income Support program (excluding AISH) recipients of all ages. In January 2017, there were 54,374 recipients. In January 2018, there were 57,003 recipients. Makeup of claimants includes individuals at 69 per cent, lone-parent families at 24 per cent, couples with children at five per cent, and couples alone at three per cent. Totals do not say how many are turned away and do not include those who are on the verge of poverty. Reader comments on statistics gaslight by blaming NDP and immigrants. May 3, 2018, Bob Lee's Cochrane Eagle opinion letter gaslights as part of the family majority by using bias and financial illiteracy regarding singles finances to tell singles they only need small spaces and one tank of gas per month. He implies families have to pay so much more than single retirees. Sorry, singles and lone parent retirees are forced by the married majority to pay more taxes because they can’t pension split. So, apparently, while your children have their own bedrooms, it is OK for singles to live in spaces as small as 150 sq. ft. with only a microwave, bar fridge, bar sink, and no stove, bathtub, laundry or storage space. And, apparently, as evidenced in Whistler, B.C., housing crisis it is okay for singles to earn a decent living, but have no place to live. One person earning $2,800 after taxes has lived in a camper van for four years. Styrofoam cutouts are wedged into the windows to keep out the cold. Or, in a shared house, a single bedroom was advertised for two female tenants at $780 per person. Illegal short term rental greed has replaced housing designated for staff. Just speak the truth! Over 90 per cent of Alberta Income Support recipients as minorities are singles and poor lone parent families! Families gaslight by saying it is expensive to raise children covering only 20 to 25 years. Housing covering 60 to 80 years, especially rental, is biggest lifetime expense regardless of marital status or children. House ownership is separating Canadians into ‘haves’ versus ‘have nots’. Conservatives, financially illiterate, gaslighters and married never talk about low income or cost of living scales like Market Basket Measure (MBM). Example: if single person household has value of 1.0, lone parent, one child or two adult household has value of 1.4, one adult, two children 1.7 and two adult, two children 2.0. It costs more for singles to live than couples without children. Just one example of MBM not applied is 2015 Federal Conservatives proposed targeted federal tax relief benefit for single senior to $20,360 ($1,697 per month) and senior couple $40,720 ($3,393 per month). Using simple math, $1,000 rent and food per month is barely covered for singles, but is amply covered for senior couples. Application of MBM of 1.4 for couples would equal $28,504 ($2,375 per month), not $40,720. Cost of living for couples is not twice that of singles. Trump has also given double tax relief for couples. For 2018, net income limit is $75,910 for singles and $151,820 for couples. Applying MBM of 1.4 or $106,274 net income limit for couples ensures tax fairness. Conservatives who tout individual responsibility, implement tax avoidance programs privileging upper middle class and wealthy married or coupled households with and without children like pension splitting, TFSAs with no limits, OAS clawback targeting only top two percent, and tax loophole programs. They financially and socially discriminate against minority singles and poor households who generally do not have the income to take full advantage of these programs. Wealthy never pay their fair share of taxes. The Canada Child Benefit, without taking into account net worth and assets, privileges wealthy parents who have low incomes, paid for houses, and high net worth and assets who then retire early. May 3, 2018, Paige Harrison opinion letter thankfully recognizes widowed person, now homeless ‘single’ (doesn’t say she is age 65), who is begging for money because she can’t get on FCSS. Singles, including poor lone parent households, are not stupid and deserve to feel righteously angered. They know as minority populations. they are not respected in financial formulas to the same level as married or coupled households with and without children. Personal responsibility with social justice imbalance can lead to selfishness and greed. Personal responsibility with balanced social justice changes “me” to “we.” Less gaslighting and more financial and public policy formulas based on MBM, and including net worth and assets, on all benefits and taxation without political bias would ensure financial fairness for all Canadians. Lin Gackle
