Minister Tassi visits Newfoundland and Labrador, highlights Government of Canada's support for seniors

ST. JOHN'S, NL, April 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Seniors make significant and valuable contributions to their families, communities and workplaces. That is why the Government of Canada remains committed to providing Canadian seniors with greater security and a better quality of life.

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, wrapped up a successful two-day visit to Newfoundland and Labrador where she met with seniors and other key stakeholders to hear about issues important to older Canadians. During her discussions, the Minister encouraged seniors to stay active, engaged and informed, and highlighted a number of measures the Government of Canada is taking to improve their social and economic well-being.

Minister Tassi also had an opportunity to visit some of the 56 projects approved across Newfoundland and Labrador this year by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).This included a visit to Placentia Area Seniors for Seniors, which is receiving $25,000 in NHSP funding in 2019 for their project, Social and Active Lifestyles for Seniors. With NHSP support, the organization will purchase new exercise equipment, which will be used for new wellness exercise programs for seniors.

During her visit, Minister Tassi also highlighted how investments in Budget 2019 would help support Canadian seniors' active participation in society, and build on efforts to strengthen the retirement security of Canadians so they can enjoy a secure and dignified retirement after a lifetime of hard work. Through Budget 2019, the Government proposes to:

• Make retirement more financially secure for seniors who wish to work by enhancing the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) earnings exemption so they can take home more of their hard-earned income.
• Ensure Canadian workers receive the full value of their pension by proactively enrolling Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributors who are 70 years old or older and who have not yet applied to receive their retirement pension.
• Enhance the security of workplace pensions through new measures that better protect pensions in the event of corporate insolvency, giving Canadians greater peace of mind when it comes to their retirement.
• Promote the inclusion and full participation of vulnerable seniors in society by increasing funding to the New Horizons for Seniors Program, supporting projects that provide new equipment for seniors' centres, offer financial literacy classes, create volunteer opportunities and prevent elder abuse and social isolation.
• Work with partners to move forward on the creation of a national pharmacare plan. This would include a Canadian Drug Agency that would assess the effectiveness of new prescription drugs and negotiate drug prices on behalf of Canada's drug plans; and establishing a national strategy for high-cost drugs for rare diseases to help Canadians get better access to the effective treatments that they need.
•  Implement Canada's first National Dementia Strategy to improve the lives of Canadians with dementia, as well as their families and caregivers.

With these new measures, Budget 2019 builds on the Government's record of strengthening the retirement security of Canadians so that they can worry less about making ends meet and enjoy the secure and dignified retirement they deserve. 

Quote

"The Government of Canada deeply values the contributions seniors make to our country. As one of the fastest?aging provinces in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador has an abundance of knowledge, skills and experience to offer. Through Budget 2019, we are taking more steps to strengthen seniors' connections with their communities, provide support to those who choose to stay in the workforce and ensure they have access to the benefits they are entitled to so they can stay active and involved throughout their retirement years."

? The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors

Quick Facts

• Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada. By 2030, the number of seniors will reach 9.6 million, representing close to one quarter of Canada's population.
• Budget 2019 proposed an investment of $100 million over five years, and $20 million per year ongoing, for the New Horizons for Seniors Program to support projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving their health and well-being.
• The NHSP is a federal grants and contributions program whose goal is to support projects that help improve the well-being and quality of life of seniors and foster social inclusion and engagement of older Canadians in all aspects of society.
• Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding, and up to $5,000 in new small grant funding is available for organizations that have not received funding within the last five years.
• Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance.

Related Documents

Backgrounder: New Horizons for Seniors Program
Backgrounder: A secure and dignified retirement for Canadians
Backgrounder: Moving forward on implementing national pharmacare

Associated Links

New Horizons for Seniors Program ? Engaging seniors, strengthening communities
Programs and services for seniors
Investing in the Middle Class: Budget 2019

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada