Question Period Note: NATIONAL SENIORS STRATEGY

Many seniors stakeholders have been advocating for the development of a national seniors strategy.

• The Government of Canada is committed to seniors and ensuring they are able to engage in all aspects of society.

• The Government has provided leadership and made investments in many areas important to seniors, such as income security, housing, accessibility and caregiving. We further committed in our platform to actions related to income security, pharmacare, elder abuse and health care.

• I know that there have been calls from stakeholders for a national seniors strategy. Indeed, the government has asked the National Seniors Council to provide advice on whether a national strategy could be useful in strengthening the Government of Canada’s attention to seniors well-being, and if so, in what way. I look forward to their advice.

In 2017, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) undertook a study on ‘how the government can support vulnerable seniors today while preparing for the diverse and growing seniors’ population of tomorrow’ and issued a report, Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Life for Canadian Seniors, which called for a national seniors strategy (recommendation 25). The Committee heard from over 50 organizations and individuals and received 35 written submissions.

Various national stakeholders have been actively campaigning for the development of a national seniors strategy. For example, the Alliance for a National Seniors Strategy (more than 70 organizations representing health providers, patients and community stakeholders led by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), including the National Institute on Ageing) is strongly advocating for a national seniors strategy through the CMA’s “Demand a Plan” initiative. While these calls emphasize health care elements, other aspects called for by stakeholders include: addressing ageism; elder abuse; social isolation; income security; housing; transportation; and age-friendly environments.

CARP, an Association of those aged 50 and older, released a policy platform document entitled “The Faces of Canada’s Seniors: Making Canada the Best Place to Age” on October 9, 2018. The CARP platform calls for a National Seniors Strategy that embraces the human potential for all older Canadians. This includes a fully funded National Dementia Strategy, an age-inclusive lens on policy development, and funding to support research, education, programs and policy development for Canada’s seniors.

Regarding the development of a national seniors strategy, the government asked the National Seniors Council to consider the federal and provincial initiatives underway and provide advice on any gaps, and thus potential areas of focus for a national seniors strategy. The National Seniors Council is mandated to advise the federal government on issues important to the well-being of seniors and, in developing this advice, to consult with Canadians and be informed by evidence.

Addressing the issues seniors face is not only about the action of governments. Meaningful contributions are needed from a broad coalition of stakeholders. The Government looks forward to continuing to work with provinces, territories and other key stakeholders to support Canada’s seniors of today and tomorrow.

KEY FACTS

• Internationally, Canada has one of the lowest low-income rates for seniors, below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) average of 12.5%. Using the OECD’s measure (LIM), low-income among Canadian seniors was 9% in 2017.