LET'S BRING THEM HOME!

Letter to the Editor, Telegraph-Journal 1 December 2007

Self-sufficiency in New Brunswick by 2026! A population increase of 100,000 people by that time, and 5,000 new immigrants by the year 2015.
In the Speech from the Throne we heard, "Our growing economic strength will help retain our family and friends in our home province and make New Brunswick a more attractive place to return to or to settle in as new residents." Ah, there's one of the keys.
Over the years, many New Brunswickers have headed to other parts of Canada by choice or by circumstance. Now they are approaching retirement age. Let's bring them home!
The fastest growing population group in Canada are those who are age 65 and over. Between now and 2026, the number of seniors is expected to double to almost 8 million, one in every five Canadians. These seniors are healthier, better educated, more active, and more aware than at any time in our history.
New Brunswick is a wonderful place in which to retire. In previous years, when people considered this, they feared that a need for long-term care would drain them of the resources they had spent their whole lives working for. Often they decided to remain where there was no risk of that.
Now that the province of New Brunswick treats the residents of long-term facilities much more fairly, many more Canadians will make the decision to return. Those who consider returning home to retire will bring their pensions and investment incomes with them. They will be spending, not saving for a rainy day. They will have a positive impact on the economy of the province; we know seniors are taxed till their last breath on every cent of income. But even more important, seniors bring a wealth of experience and a willingness to work for the good of New Brunswick. Our message to the provincial government: send out a clear welcome to retirees across Canada.
Let's bring them home!
WAYNE AND BARB HARRIGAN
Riverview