To
the Minister of Finance, Roger Melanson
Dear Minister Melanson:
I was pleased to see you enjoying a meal
out with your family on Friday evening in Moncton. The restaurant serves
excellent food in a great atmosphere and I’m sure you selected a delightful
meal based on what you felt you could afford to spend. Prices in the menu are
well marked and the same for all the patrons.
Wouldn’t it have been a shock if the server
handed you the bill at the end of the evening and stated that since you earn
lots of money and have some savings, the management has decided to charge you
“a little bit more”, therefore they doubled the bill. Wouldn’t it be a shock if
everything you bought; your mortgage, car, gas, groceries, all suddenly cost
you twice as much because you can afford to pay “a little bit more”. And you
can’t escape, everywhere you go, anything you buy costs you “a little bit more”
because you can afford it. You wouldn’t know what to do, where to hide, you
would be in shock.
That’s how New Brunswick seniors feel.
Paying “a little bit more” is threatening the security of seniors. Those
seniors already in nursing homes are trapped. They can’t get away from the
government cash grab. Others are thinking of fleeing the province, abandoning
their roots, their families, their homes. Your policy to seize seniors assets
is wrong, it needs to be withdrawn. Seniors deserve respect not threats.
By the way out of respect of your privacy I
decided not to approach you to discuss this issue while you were enjoying your
meal with your family. I hope it was good and you had a good time.
Yours respectively
Gary Melanson
Woodstock, NB
