The government and your money

Answer: The government does NOT pay refugees a monthly allowance of $1,890. This is a one-time payment, called a start-up allowance, to cover food, clothing and basic household needs. You can find details at Immigration Canada's website, www.cic.gc.ca.

Yes, refugees can get $580 a month in social assistance but only for a year or so. Seniors, on the other hand, start getting old age pension at 65 and keep getting it until death. In Ontario, seniors receive a basic guarantee of almost $1,200 a month – more than double what a refugee receives.

Let's hope this can be laid to rest. It's been circulating since the publication of an article in the Toronto Star last March. While pensions may be low, seniors shouldn't start e-mail campaigns to deprive other vulnerable people of their rights. (See the Star 's ombusdman's response here.)

Question: Charities depend on donations to survive. I've always given generously, but I feel the tax treatment is unfair since I can declare less than a third of what I give. My $3,000 donation in 2003 was reduced to $903 on my tax return. I have written to my member of Parliament, who passed my letter to Finance Minister Ralph Goodale. If this doesn't change, I'm debating the idea of discontinuing my generous habit. —A.H.

Answer: Putting pressure on MPs can help, especially if lots of people do the same. Here's a good argument: why isn't there equal treatment of charitable donations and political donations? Those who contribute $100 to a political party get a $75 federal tax credit. But those who give $100 to the Cancer Society get only $17 in tax credits. They earn a $29 credit for charitable donations over $200 a year.