Conservative announcement for Seniors.........

Conservative leader Stephen Harper today announced that a Conservative government will protect retirement security programs, including Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Canada Pension Plan. A Conservative government will also immediately double the pension income amount that seniors can deduct for registered pension plan or RRSP income from $1,000 to $2,000, gradually increasing to $2,500 over the next five years.

“We will protect our public pension programs and build on them by allowing seniors to keep more of their pension income tax free,” said Harper....

Harper also promised to improve services to seniors, to be monitored by a new national Seniors’ Council. This new body will underscore the importance of government officials treating seniors appropriately. The Seniors’ Council will be made up of representatives of national seniors organizations and individual seniors. In addition to monitoring the quality of government services to seniors, it will provide advice to the Minister Responsible for Seniors on government policy.

Harper also promised that a Conservative government would prevent other parties from taxing seniors’ retirement savings. “A Conservative government will never allow the Liberals to raid seniors’ nest eggs by taxing income trusts or imposing death taxes on inheritance,” said Harper.