Title: Is it time to end discounted TTC fares for seniors'
Category: Political
Posted By: shockedcanadian
Date: 2016-12-22 11:52:18
Canadian

   

The result of a poorly run city with plenty of crooks in the government. How about cutting city council making over $300,000 a year, or cops $130,000 for two years of college, or TTC drivers making $100k+ for driving a bus?

Typical Canadian solution, corner the market and punish those most vulnerable and many who are dependent of the state. Just the way socialists like it I suppose...

   

The most "vulnerable" demographic also happens to have the most money. Why don't we start subsidizing cab fares for CEO's as well, since they are "driving" the economy?

   

I prefer we simply cut the budgets of the police (which has grown at a faster rate than Apples stock price) and the TTC, problem solved.

   

Agree doubly there, senior discounts have really become a bit of a joke though imo. All things considered.

   

They paid their dues in life, they are in their sunset so why not allow them break? Not all seniors are wealthy, it's an absurd overstatement, most who have the money are driving anyways, others just like the social interaction or they are widowed without a pension. Some seniors need the money for food or to pay for heating which is outrageous.

You can judge a society by how they treat their most vulnerable in society. Police budgets booming while Toronto is the child poverty capital of Canada. Tells you all you need to know about the socialists in Canada. From the RCMP on down.

   

Wow, for once Tory and I agree, he has gone off the rails lately, but on this we agree, he even used the same words I did.

John Tory backs seniors TTC discount

Mayor says older residents have ‘paid their dues.’

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/1 ... count.html

   

I agree too, but that may be because I get senior discounts in 2 years.

   

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/seniors ... -1.2440714

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-in ... e28761394/

http://www.carp.ca/2014/12/11/600000-se ... e-poverty/

Sure there are some seniors who are well off but, there is a very large percentage that aren't.

One thing you have to remember is that most of the seniors money is locked in their homes and given the large increases to the services and property taxes in Canadian Cities alot of these people are deferring their property taxes just so they can keep a roof over their heads. This is a practice that allows them to keep a home but, at the end of their life or if they have to move the home is sold and the City gets their taxes with interest back in full which makes their total net worth one hell of alot less than you'd expect.

Another thing is fixed incomes vs the cost of living increases. Most seniors are on a fixed income and any cost increases take away directly from their income. So if you're 75 years old the purchasing ability of your income has dropped by approx 20% which is huge when you're on that fixed income and the increases to CPP and OAP are to say, laughable and in no way cover cost of living increases. Also, allow me to point out that even with indexing you still never keep up with inflation. So every senior is in a downward spiral and the only trick is whether you will have enough money or income to live on till you die or whether you'll go broke.

At least salaried employees have the "hope" of a pay raise no matter how unlikely that is. But, for alot of seniors there's not even that hope. You also have to remember that these Seniors payed taxes for their entire life so, giving them a subsidy to ride things like the TTC or BC Ferries is just a little thank you for what they did for their country.

BTW some seniors with money are also the ones who worked their way up the financial food chain. Most of them who have this money you talk about got lucky but, were smart enough not to go into vast amounts of debt so they could have the big house, the pickup truck, the luxury car, the vacation property, the boat and the RV all before they were 25 years old. So do they need a subsidy. No, but because there are a alot of them that do the only way you can stop giving money to well off people is to set everything up on an income scale which will cause innumerable suffering and a decline of living standards to those people who are on the borderline of where they draw line on income.

There is no simple answer to ending the subsidy's for seniors but if they do that then to be fair all subsidies should be stopped for everyone regardless of income.

   

Also... seniors that are well off must not use public transport much.

And discounts must also facilitate seniors getting out of the house.

   

Not a senior, eh!

   

   

Yeah, did a few improvements on the house so taxes will go up. Add in another damn Christie hosing on MSP premiums and car insurance (no transit at all here) plus inevitable Hydro & Gas increase... will be looking for part time work in 2017.
175 Km commute to the closest WalMart greeter job

On a happy note I now get 10% off at Fields for stale food and candy.