The province’s Seniors’ Advocate is urging the federal government to include seniors in any proposed $250 rebate this spring.
The federal government originally proposed to issue that rebate cheque in April for working Canadians who earn less than $150,000, along with a temporary GST holiday on necessary items starting in mid-December.
The NDP refused to support the rebate unless all Canadians, including seniors are included, and the federal Liberals indicated it was going back to the drawing board.
Seniors’ Advocate Susan Walsh says the median income for seniors in Canada is $33,350, while in Newfoundland and Labrador it’s the lowest in the country at $27,800.
Walsh says seniors on fixed incomes are struggling to deal with rising costs, adding she’s written federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, as well as Labour/Seniors Minister Steven MacKinnon, urging them to include seniors in the $250 rebate.
