To the Editor:
One of the issues that candidates of Saskatchewan need to talk about is poverty. Inflation has increased by 3.1 per cent. Food costs have risen, as have gas prices, rent and other costs. If people are spending 60 to 65 per cent of their income on food, clothing and shelter, they are living below the poverty line. They have limited resources; families can't invest in health care, education, school supplies, transportation or recreation.
Which family can endure stressful situations and unpleasant tension? This can lead to domestic violence, juvenile delinquency and suicide.
If poverty isn't better controlled, crime will increase as will drug and alcohol abuse and even prostitution. That means more rapes, more murders and a rise in robberies in Yorkton.
We need more programs for low income families. People need job training. The need affordable housing. The rent in Yorkton is stupid. People have to work two jobs just to pay rent and on top of that, they have to take care of their needs and the needs of their family. There should be more programs and support networks in place. We also need more programs for teenagers who are living in a poverty environment. They need recreational programs. They need assistance to finish school and move on to college.
But what is Stephen Harper doing? Spending $20 million on a company to help provide budget cuts and balance Canada's books? What is Saskatchewan's premier doing? Cutting jobs, making it difficult for the average Canadian to get help? Premier Brad Wall takes jobs and incomes and the right to a successful, positive future, leaving people unemployed and fending for themselves.
If the Canadian government continues to ignore the problem of poverty then I will vote for NDP. They are making the issue of poverty a primary focus to better the lives of Canadians like you and I.
Stephen Harper is pestering me to give him $30 for his campaign. I live below the poverty line and I lost a mother to suicide because all she saw was poverty. Taxes are on the rise and so is the cost of living - why does Stephen Harper need $30 from a low income employee?
If Harper and Wall are bragging about success, how we've survived the recession and created more jobs, why is there poverty? Why should we vote Harper or Wall when they haven't really discussed low income houses, or lowering inflation? Can they just go on pretending everything is bright and cheery when there are so many problems?
Stacie Amber Mcleod, Yorkton, SK.
