Checking-In: Elder Suicide, Injured Soldier Pensions, Financial Advice & Shadowing Politicians

Our Friday host, Rick MacInnes-Rae joined Anna Maria in studio to check in on your thoughts of the week.

Elder Suicide: Evelyn Burns-Weinrib is 80 years old. She is an active volunteer and has a lively mind. But she told us on Tuesday, that two and a half years ago she tried to take her own life. She told us that she felt she had nothing to live for and that she planned her suicide for some time.

Evelyn's story of her despair touched many listeners.

Kimberly Fraser-Fargo shared this from Ajax, Ontario:

I have elderly family members - one of whom lives alone in her mid-nineties. She, like your guest, does not like asking for help. I think that was a key note in your conversation - allowing ourselves, at any age, to ask for help if needed.

Sharon Gold works at a seniors centre and writes from Toronto:

"It was a huge realization to hear how Evelyn had spent years planning. Makes me wonder if something within that time could have turned things around. My eyes will be forever open to be looking for the people who are not so easily identified."

War on Science: In October we spoke with Chris Turner about his new book -- The War on Science: Muzzled Scientists and Willful Blindness in Stephen Harper's Canada. During that interview we heard from Ted Shepherd, an atmospheric physicist who left Canada to work in England -- where he says he feels more supported. Conservative commentator Tim Powers, who was also part of the conversation with Chris Turner, responded.

Well that's one scientist, and he has a certain view and hearing one scientist saying that is not helpful ... but I would say, talk to other scientists in the field of cold ocean research. There are nine universities in Canada that are doing that ... some of the best cold ocean research scientists in the world want to come to Canada to study that. Talk to the people at Dalhousie in brain research. There are many in that field who want to come there. So for every scientist who, you know, has a perspective on this not being a country to work, there are others who have a perspective on it being a country to work in.

Dr. Roger Croll was listening that morning. He is a neuroscientist at Dalhousie University who does brain research. And after that comment by Tim Powers, he and others at Dalhousie sent us a letter. Roger Croll worries about the direction of scientific research in this country. He joined us from Halifax.

Pensions Denied to Injured Soldiers: Corporal Glen Kirkland was seriously injured while serving with the Canadian military in Afghanistan. He wanted to continue working with the Canadian Forces, but he says he was pushed out of the organization, one year short of qualifying for a pension. Ten years of service are required to qualify for a pension.

His story prompted Nancy Borsk of Ottawa to send this:

This is especially disgusting after listening to Senators Duffy and Wallin whine about how they "have no medical coverage" after disgracing themselves. I am ashamed government feels more obligation towards politicians than looking after our armed forces.

Here's another thought from Tim Taylor of Shawnigan lake, BC who writes:

" The story was heartbreaking. The rules for wounded in service CF members needs to change. The lump sum payments to our vets need to stop. They need to be granted pensions or employment found for those who can work."

Shadowing Politicians: It may be one of the most turbulent weeks in memory in federal politics, but that didn't stop a group of 60 young people from storming Parliament Hill for a day of job shadowing.

The idea behind the Boys & Girls Club's "Youth in Office" program is to give young people some real world experience of what it's like to work in politics. Three lucky young people spent Tuesday shadowing the most powerful politicians in the land. Then we invited them into our Ottawa studio.

Abigail Popp-Skaliski was shadowing Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Angelina Simon was paired up with NDP leader Thomas Mulcair.
And Fahd al-Hattab spent the day with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade Special: Friday on The Current, we heard some tough talk about personal finances from author and common-sense money advisor Gail Vaz-Oxlade. Gail knows her money, and she heard how easy it was for some people to become overwhelmed by debt.

To that, Anne Frost of Toronto sent this:

Anyone who has borrowed money for school is re-calibrated for life to assume that debt is normal. This IS normal for the first world now, "economic growth" depends on it. We need to bring the word "afford" back into circulation!

A lot of listeners appreciated Gail's advice. On Facebook, Eleanor Perry Morisette posted this:

Gail Vaz-Oxlade, you rock. We have tried your jar system and it works! Our finances are ok, we are retired and the RRSP money we saved helps us travel. Gail's advice for getting out of debt was straight forward. You either have to increase your income, or reduce your spending.

And we had lots of people share their financial woes. Katie in Montreal sent us this:

"I really wish I could find the kind of help that Gail provides. I'm 29 years old, thankfully employed with a decent salary but am a hundred thousand dollars in debt, the majority of which is student debt. Even with my salary, most of my income is going to minimum debt repayment."

And finally ... Nathan Harpelle shared this story with us:

" When my wife and I were dating, she said, "I can't marry you if you have debt." I had about fifteen thousand in personal debt. My credit cards and line of credit were pretty much maxed. She had just recovered from personal bankruptcy caused by a previous marriage. So, I handed everything over to her and after 18 months I had zero debt. She's the money manager because she gets the job done."

Love and money don't always go so well together ... and we explore that more with Gail in Part Three of our show.

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This segment was produced by The Current's Kristin Nelson.