Buying baby a new pair of shoes...

Given that seniors have been left out of this forthcoming Ontario election altogether (except as cash cows) I thought that I would take a moment to summarize just what has been awarded to children (and their parents) in 2014 alone.*

*Bear in mind that this is in addition to the billions that have already been earmarked for child benefits without even mentioning education.

1.   More money for kids – In her aborted 2014 budget, Kathleen Wynne proposed tying Ontario Child Benefit to inflation; allowing more kids to access dental service and school nutrition programs; and increasing social assistance. In addition, she proposed a hike in child-care/personal support workers wages and minimum wage. But not one red cent for senior

Dalton McGuinty never saw a child he couldn’t spend money on, and it appears Kathleen Wynne is her master’s apprentice.

And in his last budget, Jim Flaherty (former Minister of Finance) opened up the piggy bank to buy baby a new pair of shoes—i.e. Kardashian’s:-

2.   Eligible dependent: If you’re a single parent raising kids, you can qualify for a $10,320 credit that becomes a tax savings of around $1,500. The credit is designed to give lone parents a tax break similar to what married couples get.

3.   Children’s arts credit: Got a budding da Vinci in your brood? Creativity pays! You’re eligible for a$500 per child credit for a variety of artistic, cultural, recreational and developmental activities. So now you can afford to buy little Sophie some paper and an easel, rather than have her do her own interpretation of the Sistine Chapel on your walls.

4.   Education tax credit: Full-time and part-time students are eligible for a basic credit, and since they usually don’t have big incomes, most of the credit ($5,000 minus the amount the student claimed on her tax return) can be transferred to parents. The rules apply to tuition, textbook and other education expenses (sadly, though, you cannot claim for all the beer your student consumed while at weekend “study sessions”).

5.   Transit pass credit: Tired of your kids borrowing the car and returning it with an empty gas tank and a few extra dents? Tell ’em to take the bus from now on! Monthly and yearly passes for your dependent children up to age 19 can be claimed. Passes for streetcars, subways, commuter trains and local ferries count too. (Just don’t try to claim ferry fare if you live in a land-locked city.)

6.   Universal Child Care Benefit: Here’s some more cash you may qualify for: $100 per month per child under the age of 6. The benefit is designed to help families “as they try to balance work and family life,” say the feds, “by supporting their child care choices through direct financial support.” You know what would really help us balance work and children? Less of each, and more cash. Hey, we can dream.

7.   First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit: Not everyone can be like The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe (and besides, have you seen the price of shoes these days?). So here’s what to do if you need more space now that kids are here (or on the way): if this is your first home purchase, claim the $5,000 non-refundable tax credit.

8.   Children’s fitness credit: There’s only one Sidney Crosby, but who’s to say your little hockey whiz can’t be the next NHL superstar? Signing your under-16 kids up for organized physical activity such as hockey qualifies you for a credit of up to $500 in costs per child. The feds created this break to promote physical fitness and reduce future health care costs. Your bigger incentive? A cut of the next multi-million-dollar Sidney Crosby-like salary!

9.   Family caregiver tax credit: We’re keeping our fingers crossed that you never need to apply for this one. It provides a $2,000 non-refundable credit for parents who provide ongoing care for their minor child with a physical or mental illness. You’ll need to provide a letter from a medical doctor stating when the impairment began and how long it is expected to last.

10.                Child tax credit: For every child you have under age 18 (19 in Saskatchewan) the federal government allows a credit. It varies by year; in 2012, it was $2,191. Remember, though, that it’s a credit, not a straight deduction. Do the math and you’ll see that it translates into a tax savings of about $329 per kid – or about what you spend on tutors so Sandy can get through math at school without the help of his iPhone.

11.                Child care expenses: This deduction covers costs such as daycare, summer camps, sitters, after-school programs and boarding schools. It can even include the expense of advertising to find child care. You can claim for a child up to 16, as long as the person providing the care isn’t a blood relative (i.e. you can’t pay your spouse to look after your own children, even though he may want danger pay for spending the day cooped up with them in the 

12.                Canadian Child Tax Benefit: Yep, the feds actually pay us for reproducing. This tax-free monthly payment arrives in your bank account every month until your offspring turn 18. The basic benefit is $1,433 ($119.41 a month) but the size of the cheque you get depends on your income, what province you live in, and the number of kids you have. At that rate, not even Octomom would get rich.

13.                Adoption tax credit: If you incur out of pocket expenses while adopting a child, you’re eligible for a tax credit. Costs of up to $11,440 per child can be covered. If the child has special needs you can claim the full amount; otherwise, how much you save depends on how much you spend. Whatever the amount, the real benefit comes from giving someone a new family life – and that’s priceless.

14.                Addendum: Having seemingly run out of children and causes in Canada, today (May 30, 2014) Harper pledged $3.5 billion for programs aimed at improving maternal and newborn health in developing countries.

The funding promise was made on the second of a three-day international conference on the subject and is a continuation of funds previously committed as part of the Millenium Development Goals - a pact among eight developed countries to tackle global challenges including access to clean drinking water, combating HIV/AIDS, as well as high numbers of preventable deaths among women and children.

Does anyone, Anyone, know how many of our tax dollars are going to children for one cause or another?

Where have all the seniors gone?...

That's the question I'd like to ask the three parties in the upcoming Ontario election.

So far, the only mention of seniors in this campaign has been from "Mighty-Mo" Hudak who proudly announced that if elected he would axe the “healthy homes renovation tax credit” that pays senior citizens up to $1,500 to improve bathrooms and stairs to enable them to remain in their houses longer, i.e. out of costly long-term care facilities.

Meanwhile, Wynne is proudly promising to spend $29B on public transit in Metro Toronto--on top of the billions-upon-billions that have already been spent, and for which I and everyone living outside the Greater Toronto Area are paying for but never use.

Equally proudly, Andrea Howarth is promising to spend $100M on daycare. This, on top of the billions already spent on what has become known as the 'Baby Industry,' and for which I will never have any use either in practical terms or attitudinally.

Nonetheless, you'd think that in consideration of the fact that seniors have a vote and generally use it, there'd be some recognition that they exist beyond being  'cash cows.' Perhaps it's time we seniors gave these three wanna-bes a lesson in practical politics. 'Grey Power' is still alive and well, and will be June 12th.

Make no mistake about it!

Oh, Great! ... Hudak would put skilled immigrants on the fast track to live and work in the province while targeting students, seniors, teachers for budget cuts!

According to the Toronto Sun Newspaper, Hudak's Progressive Conservatives would speed up the citizenship application process for "talented" individuals in Ontario universities. 

"If there's a top student at University of Toronto from India who is at the head of the engineering program, I want to offer her an accelerated path to citizenship to live in this country, to get a good job here," Hudak said Tuesday.

 "If there's a top student at medical school at Queen's University from China, let's offer an accelerated path to make this the new home and work in our medical system. Let's say Ontario's actually open again for the best and the brightest in our schools to make them permanent residents and then citizens of this great country."

Meanwhile he is proposing to increase the current 20-student class-size cap (up to Grade 3) to 23 children, and from grades 4 to 8, the cap average would jump from 24.5 students to 26 and in high school classes would rise from 22 to 24.

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne’s promised raises for Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario members and early childhood education educators would also be cancelled.

In addition, the Liberals’ 30 per cent tuition grant for most Ontario college and university students would be eliminated.

And, as for seniors, the people who for the most part built this country, the “healthy homes renovation tax credit” that pays senior citizens up to $1,500 to improve bathrooms and stairs to enable them to remain in their houses longer — and out of costly long-term care facilities — would be axed.

However, Hudak isn’t all cuts. As part of his so-called “Million Jobs Plan,” he is proposing a reduction in the corporate profit tax—e.g. banks, oil companies, auto manufacturers, etc.—from 11.5% to 8%. (For comparison, I pay 18% tax on my income.)

 As most of you will recognize this is the old ‘Trickle-Down’ theory of job creation. Broadly speaking, this is a model of how it works—or most often not:-

We can't win for losing...

If we vote for Kathleen Wynne we get a continuation of McGuinty's mess, plus her do nothing budget (see: http://gerry-stopthebull.blogspot.ca/2014/05/could-kathleen-wynne-possibly-be-dalton.html for my comments on this.) About the only thing acceptable about it was the vague promise to reduce auto insurance premiums ('sometime'), but like tomorrow, it never came.

If we cast our vote for Andrea Howarth we get hit with another $100M expenditure on day care, which for a single, senior citizen is hardly a reason to jump for joy. (Does anyone, Anyone, know how much we spend in aggregate on child welfare--from 'pecker-cheques', to athletic grants and cultural incentives??)

And now we are told that Tim Hudak, who so far has failed to come up with one innovative idea beyond reducing the corporate tax from 11% to 8% ( I pay 18%) in order to create a million jobs right after he fires 100,000 civil servants!

So who would be affected if Hudak made good on his pledge? Well, according to Kaylie Tiessen, economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Ontario office, and Kayle Hatt , research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, just about everone--whether they wanted to or not, i.e.

Statistics Canada indicates there were 88,483 Ontario public servants in the general government category in 2012, the most recent year of data available.

This includes the core public service, agencies, boards and commissions (such as Metrolinx, the Ontario Municipal Board, the Niagara Falls Bridge authority and several hundred other organizations), provincial police and judicial employees.

Certainly, not every job in the provincial government would be axed. That means the job cuts would have to reach into the broader public sector and impact service areas such as public education and health care. At his press conference last Friday, Hudak confirmed that teachers would be on the chopping block saying, “Will it mean fewer teachers? It does.”

Eliminating 100,000 jobs would amount to 15.3 per cent of Ontario’s provincial public servants — 1.5 per cent of the total jobs in Ontario.

Using that multiplier, we estimate the impact of cutting 100,000 good jobs out of Ontario’s economy would result in the loss of an additional 50,000 private sector jobs — because those who used to be employed in the public sector would no longer have the money they need to participate in the local economy, go to movies, eat at local restaurants and shop in local stores.

And this is a conservative estimate. Others have estimated private sector job losses to be as high as 67,000.

[To read the entire article, go to: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/05/18/tim_hudaks_public_sector_cuts_more_extreme_than_harris_years.html.]

And not even seniors are going to be spared when "Mighty-Mo" swings his ax. The “healthy homes renovation tax credit” that pays senior citizens up to $1,500 to improve bathrooms and stairs to enable them to remain in their houses longer — and out of costly long-term care facilities — would be axed.

The cry used to be "Lord protect me from the Huns," then it was "the Norsemen," and now it's the "Three horsepersons of the Apocalypse."

A pox on all their house, I say!

Still don't believe insurance companies are out-of-control? Take a look at this case:

Huge medical bill rejected by travel insurance company

Two seniors say they are “devastated” after their travel medical insurance policy was cancelled, leaving them on the hook for almost $105,000US ($114,000Cdn) for a five-day hospital stay in Arizona.

“It means two or three years of living,” John McShane said. “We can’t pay it.”

They say they have purchased travel medical insurance from the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) for years but an error interpreting a question about prescription drugs was enough to render their coverage void.

They say they filled out the insurance declaration as truthfully as they were able but an honest mistake left them without medical insurance after the expense had already been incurred.

In December, 2012, Donna McShane developed a severe cough while the couple were staying in Arizona.

A local doctor recommended she be admitted to hospital pending approval from the McShanes’ insurer.

In reviewing the claim, AMA Insurance requested Donna McShane’s medical records, including office and physician’s notes, tests results, consultant’s notes, admitting histories and physical examinations, emergency department records and hospitalization and discharge summaries going back to 2007.

In January 2014, AMA told McShane her claim was rejected because she had answered “no” when asked if she had “taken and/or been prescribed six or more prescription medications” in the last four months.

AMA said her medical records showed nine prescriptions.

AMA refunded McShane $953.26 Cdn for the premiums she had paid.

[To read the whole story, go to: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/huge-medical-bill-rejected-travel-insurance-company-120000753.html.]

Stop the bull: My experience is that in 2012 I paid just over $1200 dollars to Royal Bank Insurance for travel insurance. In 2013 I was quoted over $1900 for the same coverage with no change in my age category or health. That is a 63% increase in one year!

Yet governments, both federal and provincial, refuse to do anything about it. Neither did Wynne rush to do anything about auto insurance in Ontario.

Why are governments afraid to tackle predatory insurance companies beyond being "very concerned?"

Ask your Ontario candidate to explain this!

When, Oh When are governments going to do something about out-of-control insurance companies?...

We need insurance reform: The sorry state of Ontario’s auto insurance should be a major election issue


BY ALAN SHANOFF ,TORONTO SUN

[Alan Shanoff is a lawyer, having been called to the Bar in 1978. He has worked in a large Bay Street firm and as a sole practitioner. He was Sun Media's lawyer from 1991 until 2007. He currently teaches media law at Humber College.]

There’s no shortage of issues for Ontario’s June 12 election: Out of control hydro prices, the sad state of the economy, pension reform, transit funding and, of course, all the Liberal scandals.

Once again, the issue of auto insurance reform is likely to be left at the curb with no party championing those injured in auto accidents.

It’s a pity as the state of Ontario’s auto insurance cries out for reforms to protect accident victims.

1. Since the reforms of 2010, approximately 80% of all accident victims have been slotted into a new minor injury category in which they are limited to a maximum of $3,500 (and in many cases, $2,200) in medical/rehabilitation benefits.

According to the Ontario Rehab Alliance, an association representing over 4,000 health care professionals, the minor injury category was designed to cover those with simple, uncomplicated whiplash-type injuries, but insurance company adjusters are placing many with joint dislocations and tears to tendons and ligaments into this category, resulting in denials of treatment. ~ More.

Shanoff has listed eight examples of how insurance companies have either been 'gifted' by the Ontario government--primarily Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne--or arbitrarily changed the rules, but why? To hear the auto insurance companies cry poor mouth you'd think they were on the brink of bankruptcy. 'Not so,' says Shanoff, i.e.:

8. In 2012, the latest year for which figures are available, Ontario’s car insurers collected $3.78 billion in accident benefits premiums but paid out only $1.67 billion in claims and adjustment expenses.

These numbers come from the General Insurance Statistical Agency, the non-profit agency that tracks information on behalf of provincial insurance regulators. That means insurers have a gross profit margin of 56% on accident benefits coverage, not including the investment income earned on prepaid premiums. That’s not surprising since they are paying out a maximum of $3,500 in accident benefits for most injured in auto accidents.

To read Shanoff's full opinion, go to "We need insurance reform," Toronto Sun.

What is it about Insurance companies that seem to have most governments afraid to tackle them in any meaningful way? Indeed, at times one would think governments were the facilitators in ripping off not only consumers, but also victims. 

In the 2013 budget, Kathleen Wynne and Fiance Minister Charles Sousa agreed to call for a reduction of 15% in auto insurance premiums, but put it off until 2015 to implement it. Why? Moreover, auto insurance is n't even on the list of campaign promises by either the Conservatives or the NDP. Why?

Do yourself a favour and demand answers from your riding candidates. 

The whole Insurance company rip-off mess (including auto insurance) stinks!

Tell your local candidate to 'Stop the Bull'!

Want an example of banks as legalized crooks?...

I had $68 in US currency left over from my trip, so I went to a bank (Bank of Montreal) to exchange it. The bank then gave me $72 CAN (or $1.05 per U.S. dollar). This, in spite of today's published exchange rate being $1.08 U.S.

They gave me some flimsy excuse that the published exchange rate only applied if you were buying thousands in U.S. Currency--which is a lot of B.S.

Now, when I purchased it in U.S.A. I paid the equivalent of $78 U.S., so the BMO made $6.00 on that transaction for just handing the money across the counter!

Any wonder why banks make billions in profit every quarter?

Something positive to write about ... And celebrate

Remembering 'Victory in Europe' 69 years ago today and National Day of Honour Tomorrow.

It is both an amazing and proud fact that more than 1.1 million Canadians and 41% of Canadian men fought during the Second World War.

Could Kathleen Wynne possibly be Dalton McGuinty in drag?

Remember when Dalton McGuinty came to power in 2002 with a promise to reduce auto insurance rates by 10%? Once in office, however, he then politely asked the insurance companies--who had already raised their premiums by something like 30% over the preceding years--to 'pretty please' reduce their rates, and if they did he would give them lollipop incentive.

Well, here's what the 2014 Wynne budget had to say about exorbitant auto insurance rates:

• Auto Insurance
  The government is encouraging insurance companies to offer "usage-based" rates. That's it! No, "We are the government, the guardians of the people's interest, so reduce or relocate!' No ... Not even an enforcement of the 15% we were promised in the last budget.

Sound familiar?

Here are some other 'goodies' in the 2014 Wynne budget:

• Ontario Pension Plan
  New mandatory pension plan, like CPP, for more than 3 million working Ontarians (…For a fee, of course.)
• Jobs and Prosperity Fund
  $2.5-billion, 10-year fund to partner with business to promote job creation (…with no guarantee it will produce a single job.)
• Debt Retirement Charge will disappear from hydro bills on Jan. 1, 2016, for savings of almost $70 a year. However, the ‘Ontario Clean Energy Benefit’ will also disappear for a net loss of $110. (That’s a McGuinty-style benefit is ever I saw one.)
• Tobacco Taxes
  Up 1.6 cents per cigarette, jacking tax on a 200-cigarette carton to $27.95 from $24.70. (So, what else is new?)
• More money for kids - Tying Ontario Child Benefit to inflation, allowing more kids to access dental service and school nutrition programs, increase in social assistance. (Dalton McGuinty never saw a child he couldn’t spend money on, and it appears Kathleen Wynne is her master’s apprentice.)And even more money for kids - Hike in child-care workers/personal support worker wages and minimum wage. (…But not one red cent for seniors.)

So far I have been fairly lenient on Kathleen Wynne, realizing she inherited the office from possibly the worst premier since confederation, but she has proven herself to be no better. so:-

VOTE THE BUM OUT!