Canada is not a money pit
Doug Stead
The Surrey Leader
October 6, 2009
Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla (Brampton-Springdale) recently introduced Bill C-428, as a private members bill to amend the Old Age Security Act.
Essentially she and all other MPs in Ottawa plan to reduce the residency requirement for entitlement to a life-long monthly pension, from 10 to three years.
This irresponsible betrayal of current and future generations of taxpayers is estimated to cost the better part of three-quarters of a billion dollars.
This stupidity will encourage the mass immigration of individuals with little or no capacity to be builders and net financial contributors to Canadian society. People in this age demographic will be encouraged to come to Canada by this generous handout and at the same time be eligible for full access to our already financially strained health care system.
Has MP Dhalla considered the consequences of her thinly veiled attempt at buying votes? Once a bill like this is passed it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get it rescinded. Think of the cost today and to future generations.
Liberal MP Dhalla and all her elected peers should realize that Canada is not a bottomless money pit. If there is any money available for such a hair-brained scheme, it should be used to improve the lives of Canadians who have worked to build this country not to encourage the immigration of old people who have nothing to contribute to our country.
That Bill C-428 has gotten as far as first reading in the House should be ringing alarm bells and raising questions: Is this part of a back-room deal buying MPs Votes in House of Commons?
Buying ethnic votes in the next election? Are Canadians MPs, of all stripes, so stupid or just afraid to say no lest the race card is played proffered? No doubt in my mind, all of the above.
Lets hope that some semblance of sanity prevails in Ottawa and that this bill never sees second reading.
