Harmonized tax and pensioners
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Updated: September 16, 2009 1:26 PM
An open letter to Finance Minister Hansen re: Proposed Harmonized Tax.
For much of my career I was, similar to you, your colleagues and business associates, a well-compensated executive. Like you, I enjoyed a generous travel and entertainment account. Complimentary car, gas, insurance, home/cell phones, medical/dental coverage, TV cable/Internet coverage and magazines, necessary to keep up with the news, and at times even non-contributory pension fund had I remained in one company long enough – and often wife-accompanied conventions. (Vacations?)
In other words, a few extra tax dollars added onto any of these expenses would have practically no impact on my family’s standard of living.
Well, not quite accurate because we often benefited financially from such generous “reimbursements.”
Circumstances change. I am now aged 68, long retired with medical problems, living on a couple of small pensions, plus OAP.
Expenses once generously written off through employment now come straight out of limited pension income – every item carefully reviewed as either necessary, or luxury.
“Luxury” items now include car maintenance with a few extra litres of gas to enjoy an occasional short trip, basic cable TV, basic Internet, basic phone, an occasional evening of fine dining at Wendy’s or McDonald’s, reduced dental treatment – provided I drive 100 kms to UBC’s dental college, and membership in a fitness club. The list of supposed “luxuries” for a pensioner seems almost endless when trying to reconcile income/expenses.
Question, Mr. Minister: Please advise how your government’s proposed Harmonized Tax is going to benefit me and fellow pensioners/low income earners.
You can count on my vote if I like your answer. Alternatively…?
Tony Jones
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