Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question, but I would like to answer the member's question by reading from the letter once again.
Mr. Crewdson, who is from St. John's, said, “I acknowledge that the sum of money will be the same, but it can be handled better, budgeted better”. This is a budgeting issue, quite frankly.
Would I love to double the amount that seniors are receiving? Of course, I would, in a flash, in a minute. However, it is not in the budget. I would love to make the amendment to do so. However, right now I want to move at this level, which is to say that I think there is a way the government could accept this particular measure as a modest way of improving the lifestyles of our seniors over the age of 65.
As a matter of fact, the member for Edmonton—Leduc brought forward a motion, which the government vehemently supported, regarding financial literacy. This is an example of a good measure toward financial literacy. It would allow better budgeting in this nation, and the administrative costs would not be that significant in order for us to provide that benefit of better budgeting.
I would love to bring all of these people above the poverty line. However, right now I want to focus on this because I think it is a modest measure which I hope the government would see as a common-sense thing to do.