Policy options are limited in tough times

When times are tough for governments their policy options become very limited. So for our federal government, which is still nursing a $40 billion or so deficit for this fiscal year (following last year’s $60 billion shortfall), the current policy options are very limited. Our federal government must pick spending priorities that will give Canadians the most bang for our buck, or put another way; those that will provide greatest possible net benefit at the lowest possible cost.
Sometimes tackling big problems in a society costs a lot of money, and sometimes it doesn’t have to. For those of us who are baby boomers, ensuring that none of our parents live in poverty is a problem that can be solved fairly cheaply. $700 million is a lot of money to be sure, but is just 0.25% of all the money to be spent by the federal government in 2011-12. If that $700 million were divided among only seniors falling under the poverty line in Canada – about 567,000 whose income is less than $22,000 per year – then we could lift each and every one of them out of poverty.
Because of the modest cost associated with eliminating poverty among seniors in Canada, my New Democrat colleague from London-Fanshawe, Irene Mathyssen, tabled a motion before parliament on the matter this past. The wording of Irene’s motion was as follows; “That, in the opinion of this House, ending seniors’ poverty in Canada is fiscally feasible, and, therefore, the House calls on the government to take immediate steps to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement sufficiently to achieve that goal.”
Now, I am sure some of you are wondering exactly where our federal government could find $700 million when we are already running a $40 billion deficit. It is a valid question. Well, if we simply bought one less F-35 jet that would be enough to lift every senior out of poverty for two years. If we ended the corporate giveaways to big oil companies and banks by simply restoring their tax rate to 17.5% from 15%, then we would have more than enough money to lift every senior out of poverty in this country forever. The money is already there. We have it. The problem is that we are spending too much of it and on the wrong things.
There are many serious problems that we should be working on solving in society, but few would argue that ensuring that every Canadian senior has adequate food, shelter, and clothing should not be near the top. It is important for us to remember that almost everything we enjoy and benefit from today at a societal level is a product of the work performed by generations before us. Our parents and their neighbours fought wars, paid to build our public healthcare system from scratch, expanded our educational institutions, and contributed to the building of our country in countless other ways. The reward for this sacrifice should not be sub-standard housing, a poor diet, and unaffordable medication and health services in their golden years.
In a rare moment of agreement, each and every Member of Parliament present in the House of Commons voted in support of Irene’s motion. So it is now on the record that the Conservative majority government of Stephen Harper agrees with the New Democratic Party and Jack Layton – Canada should eliminate poverty among seniors in Canada if it is affordable. With it costing just $700 million to achieve this goal it is now Mr. Harper’s responsibility to deliver and eliminate poverty among seniors in Canada by increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement or by other measures, and as the Official Opposition it is the New Democrats job to make sure they deliver on this commitment over the next four years.
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One other unrelated side note this week! Each year since my first election I have sent out a piece of literature with a large Canadian flag printed on it so that we can “fly our flag” for free in our homes, campers, and businesses around Canada Day. Unfortunately this year, the postal strike will prevent us from getting this flag to our mail boxes prior to July 1st. It’s a bit unfortunate, but I hope you will still clip the flag and fly it proudly when it does finally arrive.