Editor, the Times

Stephen Harper's speech in Switzerland indicates the federal government is willing to open the Pandora's box of public pensions to seniors.

Does it make sense to have seniors wait until age 67 to receive the Canadian pension? Or will such a move stagnate spending and worsen youth employment?

Does it take us on an absolutely necessary trajectory? Or will it simply free up tax dollars for the present government to continue with tax cuts to large corporations, and to spend $40 billion on jet fighters - flawed as they may be (both the government and the jets).

The irony here is that the decision will be made by elected representatives with half-million-dollar expense accounts looking forward to annual six-figure retirement incomes - all funded by the same taxpayers who will now wait an extra two years for their own "allowance."

It may (almost) be worth the gamble to see the reaction of "conservative" voters to this move by our very "non-conservative" Conservatives.

Regina Dalton Abbotsford