Letters to the editor

This is about the alarming rate of  grandparents on fixed incomes barely surviving in this tough economy, and through various circumstances have had to take and raise their grandchildren on there own in an effort to keep the family together.

These grand kids are of many different age groups, from kids to teenagers, and the grandparents try, to the best of their abilities and financial considerations, try to raise them as good and honest kids in the best possible way they can.

My son, who recently died, was born in Kelowna General Hospital. My granddaughter, who is a twelve years old, was born in Kelowna General Hospital.

My son was 38 years old when he died and unfortunately there is no mother.

I am 70 years old and my wife is 62.

When we applied for any type of financial assistance through both the Canadian Legion, which my son was a member of for nineteen years, and he also was a twelve year veteran of the Canadian Merchant Service, we heard nothing.

The federal government gave us $230 per month, and called it a Survivors Benefit and that money is taxable, the province told us that there were no programmes or assistance for grandparents, no matter what there financial situation is, but foster parents get over a thousand dollars a month per child plus clothing allowances.

Please tell me how does this make any sense? Do we not, as grandparents raising our kids, have that same rights and obligation that you give to foster parents?

Thomas James McLuskey