Question Period Note: THE GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE ACTIONS AGAINST AGEISM A PRIORITY

What is the Government doing to act on ageism?

• The Government is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, promoting a positive image of older persons and working towards eliminating ageism and ageist stereotypes across all aspects of society.

• As a strong supporter of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, Canada is committed to changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing.

• To that end, the Government supports seniors-serving organizations to raise awareness about ageism by funding projects under the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

• In addition, the Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors has identified ageism and its social and economic impacts as a priority. In August 2022, the Forum launched a nation-wide consultation on ageism to learn more about the impacts of ageism on the Canadian population of seniors and older adults.

• The Canadian Coalition Against Ageism Campaign will advance dialogue on the issue of ageism. In support of this work, I have provided video remarks for the launch and inaugural strategy meeting of the Canadian Coalition Against Ageism Campaign.

Ageism

The Government is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, promoting a positive image of older persons and working towards eliminating ageism and ageist stereotypes across all aspects of society. As a strong supporter of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, Canada is committed to changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing.

To that end, the Government supports seniors-serving organizations to raise awareness about ageism by funding projects under the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The purpose of the program is to increase seniors’ social inclusion, which consequently raises awareness of ageism and helps combat it.

Furthermore, the National Seniors Council is working to identify measures to counteract ageism by shifting the public discourse. The National Seniors Council reports to the Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Health. The Council advises Ministers on matters related to the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors.

In addition, the Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors has identified ageism and its social and economic impacts as a priority. The Forum has released a report entitled The Social and Economic Impacts of Ageism, as well as a complementary case study on ageism during the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2022, the Forum launched a nation-wide consultation on ageism to learn more about the impacts of ageism on the Canadian population of seniors and older adults.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons

There is currently no legally binding United Nations (UN) human rights instrument that specifically and explicitly addresses the types of discrimination, human rights violations, and unique vulnerabilities that older persons often experience, nor is there articulation of States’ obligations to specifically protect and ensure the rights of older persons (in the same way as persons with disabilities or children, for example).

Among UN Member States, there are diverging views on the existence of gaps concerning the rights of older persons, as well as on whether a new, legally binding international instrument is the appropriate mechanism to address these gaps.

Canada is open to discussing the idea of a Convention on the rights of older persons, and is interested in hearing views of other countries and stakeholders. Canada looks forward to continuing to engage in the work of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA). Canada will also continue to engage the UN to think more broadly about how existing measures can be effective in protecting the rights of older persons.

The OEWGA was established by the UN General Assembly in 2010 to consider the existing international human rights framework applicable to older persons and to identify and address potential gaps, including the feasibility of further instruments and measures. Since 2011, the Government has been monitoring this issue and participating in the OEWGA to discuss what gaps exist within the UN human rights framework.

The Government of Canada actively engages in international initiatives aimed at strengthening the rights of older persons, such as the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWGA), the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

• Canada looks forward to continuing to engage in the work of the OEWGA to think more broadly about effective measures to protect the rights of older persons.

• Canada is open to discussing the idea of a Convention on the rights of older persons, and is interested in hearing views of other countries and stakeholders on the subject.