Question Period Note: AGE WELL AT HOME INITIATIVE IN QUEBEC

What amounts are directed to Quebec for the Age Well at Home initiative? Why are seniors-serving organizations losing their funding?

The Government of Canada has a long history of working in collaboration with the Government of Quebec on programming for seniors-serving organizations to help improve seniors’ quality of life.

In the context of the Age Well at Home initiative, the Government of Canada is respecting the Government of Quebec’s decision not to approve projects under the Age Well at Home initiative that fall under the provincial M-30 legislation.

Moving forward, the Government of Canada will fund projects in Quebec that are not subject to M-30 and able to accept federal funding. We anticipate that all the funds allocated for projects in Quebec for this year and next year will be invested in these projects.

We are looking forward to working with these seniors-serving organizations to help seniors age in place by providing practical supports that will be provided by volunteers mobilized through the project.

If Pressed (transfer amount to Quebec)

Transferring funds from the Age Well at Home initiative to Quebec was not a feasible option.

Age Well at Home is a grants and contributions initiative of very short duration.

The initiative serves as a national experiment to identify lessons learned by testing various approaches across the country to mobilizing volunteers.

Seniors-serving organizations invested significant efforts in developing their funding applications when the Government of Canada launched Calls for Proposals in June 2022.

We are looking forward to work with Quebec-based organizations who were successful in the funding call and that are able to accept federal funds.

The Age Well at Home initiative is a federal grants and contributions initiative that advances the Government commitment to assist organizations to provide practical supports to help seniors age in place. The initiative pilots new approaches and supports existing projects led by seniors-serving organizations through two funding streams:

the In-Home Support Pilot Projects stream funds local projects that are testing the extent to which volunteers can be mobilized to provide in-home practical supports (e.g., help with meal preparation, light housekeeping, yard work or transportation) to low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors and helping seniors navigate and access eligible services provided by other local organizations; and,

the Scaling Up for Seniors stream funds regional or national projects that are expanding services that have already demonstrated results in helping seniors age at home.

The Government of Canada has committed $90 million to the initiative, with funding ending in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Seniors-serving organizations had the opportunity to apply to two competitive funding processes, one for each stream, in June 2022.

Age Well at Home will complement provinces and territories' efforts to help seniors by mobilizing seniors-serving organizations and volunteers. Provinces and territories spend most of their home and continuing care dollars on home health and personal care. As part of personal care, they are able to provide limited assistance with meal preparation and light housework. Very few involve volunteers in providing these services. A few jurisdictions provide a limited range of other practical supports such as running errands or yard work. Income-adjusted user fees often apply.

None