TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian
Seniors on P.E.I. are in desperate need of assistance with their basic needs and are panicking about their future, said the new president of the P.E.I. Senior Citizens’ Federation Friday.
Eric Hammill, a retired farmer and former provincial agriculture minister, who was recently named federation president, held a press conference Friday to make known the many hardships facing Island seniors — hardships he says are not being addressed.
“It’s a well-known fact that we have not been getting our voice out. The concerns of seniors have not been addressed and we intend to change that,’’ Hammill said.
So on Friday afternoon, together with representatives of the federation from across the province, Hammill went point by point through the many difficulties Island seniors have quietly been living with.
The biggest concern is the skyrocketing price of fuel, he said.
“The rising cost of living has people panicking about their future,’’ Hammill told reporters.
“Some seniors are forced to choose between food, heat, medication and transportation — these are basic needs.’’
At this time last year, it cost $702 for 200 gallons of home heating oil. Today, the same amount costs over $1,000, he noted.
It is forcing many of P.E.I.’s older citizens to simply keep the furnace off, said Anna MacDonald from West Point.
“I know people who keep their houses pretty cool. I don’t take my coat off when I go in their homes.’’
Joyce McCardle of Summerside said she’s seen the same thing.
“I know one man who’s living by himself — when you go into his home you can see your breath.’’
Jim Fraser said rising electricity rates are also a burden.
“When you get that slip in the mail telling you that your rates are going up again, and you know they’re going to be up again and again — if there’s a single person living in a house it can be pretty desperate when you’ve only got a pension.’’
It doesn’t stop at utility costs. Seniors are faced with higher costs for medications that, in most cases, are vital to their well-being, Hammill said. And when they must pay dispensing fees and travel to and from the pharmacy monthly for their drugs, the dollar figure continues to rise.
Stan Warwick, the Queens County representative for the federation, volunteers every year at the tax centre. He said he’s shocked at the income levels he sees when seniors come in looking for help filling out their tax forms.
And many of them are still charged income tax.
“You have a lot of low-income Islanders who continue to pay income tax because the credits that they’re provided provincially aren’t indexed to the federal amount,’’ he said. “They always question, ‘How can I possibly owe income tax on $14,000 or $15,000 a year?’ But it is a reality.’’
The federation intends to be strongly vocal about seniors’ issues from now on, Hammill said. He met with Social Services and Senior’s Minister Doug Currie earlier this week, outlining resolutions passed at the federation’s recent annual meeting.
Hammill said Currie is willing to work with the federation to come up with proposals and ideas. Something must be done, he said.
“I think what you’re going to find this winter if something isn’t done, there’s going to be a lot of seniors who are going to be leaving their homes and going to apartments.’’
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