In Debate: Speaking Out Against the HST! (part 3)

Hansard Record, House of Commons, December 8, 2009

Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP):

Madam Speaker, before I ask a question of my colleague, I want to read a letter from one of my constituents, Carole Lalonde, from Elliot Lake.

She says:

Hope U are fighting for us NOT to have HST in Ontario. It may help the Ontario gov't, but it sure would NOT help us, the seniors, and lower income people. This is going to cost us an additional 8% on so much, and our income stays the same. I don't hear of any plans to increase our pensions, and we could sure use it. Everyone gets a raise except the ones that need it the most.

My colleague spoke about pensions and she spoke quite eloquently about the needs of women. Could she maybe speak a little more on that and respond to the fact that too many seniors live in poverty,

especially single women seniors, and why we would not move forward on legislation right now to increase the pensions of seniors as opposed to taxing them more on something they cannot even afford right now?

Ms. Irene Mathyssen:

Madam Speaker, the committee for the Status of Women has been looking at women who are seniors and their pensions. We have found, very clear, that a lot of women who had to leave the workforce or who were never able to enter the paid workforce live in poverty. We do not have a pension system that is adequate.

When I get correspondence from my constituents, it is elderly women who are saying that they cannot afford rent, or food or any of the necessities. They want to know how they will pay 8% more. The answer is, they cannot afford to pay 8% more. Someone in the House, across the aisle, simply does not care.

Join the fight against the HST, visit: blockthehst.ca