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More tax troubles

Seniors won't be able to afford the basic necessities under the incoming B.C. Liberal harmonized sales tax, said an advocate for the elderly.

"The bottom line is many seniors, living on a fixed income - who thought they retired in the middle class - are now struggling to pay for their housing, to pay for their medication and to pay for their food," said 72-year-old Sylvia MacLeay, president of the Council of Senior Citizens' Organizations of B.C.

The shotgun marriage of the PST and GST, blessed by Premier Gordon Campbell last month, will tack on a seven per cent to the price of utility bills, variety of groceries, over-the-counter drugs such as vitamins and dietary supplements, and restaurant meals.

"Seniors like to eat out ... often several times a week ... and now with this tax the prices of restaurant meals are going to go up," MacLeay said.

MacLeay is concerned the federal Conservative government will fail to index Canada Pension Plan premiums to adjust for increasing costs.

"Harmonizing taxes may be good for some big businesses, but I don't think it's good for seniors and I don't think it's good for most other ordinary people either," she said.

Dharm Makwana reports for Vancouver 24 hours

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