Posted on 03/04/2015 6:57:45 PM PST by rickmichaels
A new report is calling on municipal governments to scrap seniors' discounts.
The study, called No Seniors' Specials: Financing Municipal Services in Aging Communities, was commissioned by the national think-tank Institute for Research on Public Policy.
Economist Harry Kitchen Economist Harry Kitchen is the author of a recent study advising cities to get rid of seniors' discounts. (www.transportfutures.ca)
Many municipalities in Canada give discounts to seniors based solely on their age.
Those discounts for citizens aged 55 or older include lower bus fares, cheaper fitness classes and sometimes reduced property taxes.
Harry Kitchen, the report's author, says a lot of the seniors' discounts offered by municipalities are unfair because most seniors don't need them.
"A lot of these discounts and special programs were introduced back in the 1960s, 1970s when a vast percentage of the seniors were poor," said the professor emeritus in the department of economics at Ontario's Trent University.
"Forward that through to 2008 [to] 2010, the percentage of poor in the seniors groups is smaller than any other age group in the country."
Kitchen has no problem with private businesses offering seniors' discounts, such as cheaper restaurant meals or movies.
But he says municipalities giving a break to seniors are creating a situation where poorer younger people are subsidizing wealthier seniors.
"As soon as you start offering a discount, or a perk, based on age, you're inevitably going to be subsidizing some rich people, aren't you?" he said.
Kitchen says a common objection to his study's findings is that seniors are owed some help after spending their lifetimes working and paying taxes.
He refutes that argument, pointing out that the money paid to cities in user fees and property taxes is used to pay for services available to those people that year.
"Why should you ask someone else to pay for a service that you're currently using?" he asked.
Kitchen says income transfer programs are a better way for cities to help poor people, regardless of their age.
Governments are running out of “other people’s money”.
Yep. Bingo!!!
I ask myself the same question at the grocery store when a lard butt in front of me pulls out her EBT card.
Sounds like a typical Obama type idea.
Older people retire, depending on their government to take care of them through Social Security.
Since he came into office, Obama has given chump change to older people, probably the lowest Social Security increases over the course of 6 years in the history of the US.
Meanwhile, the Messiah makes every effort to cause prices to go up. Has milk every been this high? Beef? Chicken?
Gas is lower but certainly not due to Obama, he wants to add a new gas tax!
What a meanie. Wishing to strip away yet another method of making a senior’s life more livable. Thanks!
Vets don’t even get a discount for veteran’s plates in WA ....
Take my Senior Discount only from “My cold dead hands!”.
Come and get them!
I thought the eason for reducing senior’s taxes was to get them to vote in tax increases that did not affect them.
Hang the communist bastard from the nearest lamp post!!!
A Montréal-based think tank. Why am I not surprised?
When do we line up to skinned alive?
Sister, So true! Did she have her 4 chilins with her and with one in the oven?
“A Montréal-based think tank. Why am I not surprised?”
Like maple syrup, Canada’s evil oozes over the United States.
“I ask myself the same question at the grocery store when a lard butt in front of me pulls out her EBT card.”
and then proceeds to get in a brand new SUV with shelves in the back for all the free food paid for by others.
and then heads to their home much fancier than mine.
I’m fine with maple syrup. This is like corn syrup though.
Not to mention that Obama has kept interest rates at nothing which depletes the funds that old folks live off of.
Fair enough Mr Kitchen - no more senior discounts, no more EBT.
I’m a senior and have no problem with the elimination of the discounts.
.
“Many municipalities in Canada give discounts to seniors based solely on their age.”
? Is there another way to determine a ‘senior’?
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