05-28-2021, 06:18 PM
(05-28-2021, 04:44 PM)tomh009 Wrote: I don't think anyone is saying that $40K is rich. But it's above the cutoff, and if this is intended to support low-income families, there needs to be a cutoff somewhere. Same scenario would potentially apply whether the cutoff was $30K, $40K or $50K. And family/household income still does make more sense as a criterion than individual income. (They could have used the CRA definition but then the cutoff point might have needed to be lower in order to keep the expected costs same.)
Now, arguably a graduated reduction in discount would have been better, but that's a different argument.
In terms of dignity, an automated check would surely be better than having to show the GRT staff your pay stubs. At least in my opinion.
But the *Region* is saying you're rich if you're a family of 4 earning 40K.
As for transit support, it SHOULD be based on the CRA's definition, not their stupid made up definition. Who's the idiot that put that together? Hell, even OW and ODSP separates families living in the same household. You're 18, you are your own family now.
And to be frank, if they are THAT concerned about cutting costs, they can go f-themselves and stop giving those on the Sunshine list a discount! Why do those folks deserve a discount? That makes zero sense. In this region: you're living in poverty, but hey, we think you're rich (You're richer than you think®.) Meanwhile, if you're on the Sunshine list, you poor (literally) bastard, here's your discount, enjoy. Ass. Backwards. That is what it is.
And again, there is no way to do an automated check, not without consent and spreading your entire families SIN's to a group of strangers. SIN's only go to the CRA, your employer, your bank, and OW/ODSP. No one else, ever. Sorry, just not a good suggestion. I don't trust anyone else with my SIN, let alone clown organizations like the GRT & RoW. They really can't be trusted, at all.
I am sure people remember what KISS stands for: Keep it simple, silly (or stupid, as some say). Simple is: Your age is 65 or older, you get reduced rates. And a real reduced rate, $50. Wham. BAM! You're a high school student? $50. BOOM!
Another thing to consider: the low income cut-off in Ontario is $38,500 for a SINGLE PERSON. That's according to Doug Ford. He says it closer to $68,000 for a family. Nearly double according to the brainiacs in the region.
The "so-called poverty line for Canada" was roughly $37,500 (for a family of 4) in 2015. We're not even hitting that with this and in 6 years, prices have soared for everything.
All I am saying is the region is being petty, they broke a system that wasn't great and all that helpful to begin with, and they somehow made in substantially worse. And in the end, it might save them few thousand -- enough to ensure that the highest paid staff, councillors and regional chair get their raise without affecting the tax rate - and their own discounted transit pass (which is ridiculous).
Sorry...I still can't get over how they continue to give themselves a discount, that's why I keep brining it up. And I can't get over how low the cut-off is. At the very least, follow the rules of the CRA, or look at what the PC's did for Ontario regarding income tax. Follow one of those. It's like the intentionally made this to be a cash grab.