Politically motivated report twists facts and attacks seniors

Yesterday the Conservatives attempted to undermine the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the Auditor General by releasing their own contradictory report on the changes to old age security.

"Arms length auditors with no political motivation have been unequivocally clear. The Conservatives did not need to cut OAS and GIS. They are sustainable," said NDP Pensions Critic Irene Mathyssen. "This report is an underhanded attempt to justify an unnecessary and unpopular cut to the OAS."

The government report attempts to suggest that independent bodies failed to take future recessions into account.

"The Conservatives are putting seniors and the poor on the hook for potential recessions of the future," said Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, NDP Critic for Seniors. "The Conservatives have to stop blaming Canada’s aging population for this government unaccountable and ill-advised fiscal decisions. They’re trying to balance the budget on the back of those can least afford it."

The report released by Finance Canada also suggested that Canadians were retiring at 65 because of the financial incentives available, ignoring the reality that many are forced to retire for any number of reasons.

"This is an insult to hard working Canadians and, in particular, to those whose circumstances dictate their ability to work," said Mathyssen.

Nothing in this report is new information. The statistics and figures were all available to independent auditors.