Honourable Alice Wong highlights government's work to tackle issues facing seniors in Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), highlighted the Government of Canada's work to tackle issues facing seniors in Canada in a speech delivered during her visit to the Richmond Hill Mon Sheong Care Complex.

In her remarks, Minister Wong highlighted the re-aligning of a number of programs and activities to create awareness and address the impact of the social isolation of seniors, and also outlined supports and initiatives to help caregivers.

She also discussed how the Government is providing over $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors and pensioners, implementing pension income splitting and introducing the largest top-up to the Guaranteed Income Supplement in several years. These changes to income security programs have given older Canadians more choice and flexibility in regards to life, work and retirement.

Quick Facts

• The Government is committed to supporting and promoting seniors' health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.
• In September, the Government of Canada released the Government of Canada Action for Seniors report, a comprehensive information resource highlighting federal programs and services, which can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers at Canada.ca/Seniors.
• Today, 1 in 7 Canadians is aged 65 or over. By 2036, nearly 1 in 4 Canadians will be a senior.
• Over the last decade in Canada, life expectancy at age 65 increased by 2 years, approximately twice the rate of growth observed over each of the previous decades since 1929.

Quotes

"Canadian seniors have played a central part in building this country. They have earned our respect and admiration, and they deserve our support to help them enjoy the best quality of life possible. That's why our Government provides more than $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors and pensioners across Canada, which has led to one of the lowest rates of poverty among seniors in the world."
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

"I'm proud of our Government's accomplishments in supporting seniors in communities across Canada. I would like to acknowledge the Mon Sheong Care Complex's outstanding contribution to our shared goal of promoting seniors' health and well-being by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed."
– Costas Menegakis, Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill