Sometimes–like the anchorman who went crazy in Broadcast News found out–enough really is enough.
That’s how a couple of women in St. John’s, Newfoundland were feeling a while back.
Mary Martin is 74 and Mary Moylan is 76.
Like a lot of their friends, they are still working because they lack enough dough to retire and were not all that happy about it.
Martin told CBC News: “We’re the forgotten generation.” (Gary Locke/CBC)
Martin works as a home-support worker and Moylan works as an accountant.
That’s better than a lot of friends are doing, serving hamburgers at a McDonald’s.
(An 80-year-old friend works as a housekeeper in the retirement home where she lives.)
Martin’s income from the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement is $1,600 a month.
The poverty rate varies across Canada, but Statistics Canada lists the rate at $35,000 minimum income in St. John’s.
Mary Moylan says the federal government relies on seniors to keep quiet about national issues such as poverty. (Gary Locke/CBC)
Do the math.
Martin and Moylan are not the only seniors struggling.
Bottom line: life is a slog for those living only on government funding.
So Martin and Moylan decided to try to so something about it.
They formed a group called SOS–Support our Seniors.
Thursday afternoon, SOS held its first-ever meeting.
I caught up with Martin several hours before the meeting.
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