It is our responsibility as Canadians to make sure that the seniors who built this country can age with dignity and security. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the local organizations that support our seniors by empowering them and contributing to their health and well-being.
Today, on behalf of Canada's Minister for Seniors, Seamus O'Regan Jr., Dr. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, announced an investment of $342,046 to fund 14 community-based projects to support seniors in Yukon. He made the announcement while visting the Centre de la francophonie Community Centre in Whitehorse. This funding was awarded through the 2022-23 New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) call for proposals for community-based projects. The Association franco-yukonnaise will use NHSP funds to support seniors who participate in the planning of a radio play and on developing a workshop on financial abuse.
As part of the 2022-23 NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects, organizations were invited to apply for funding that created opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities and reflect the national priorities:
- supporting healthy aging through engaging social, physical and artistic activities;
- preventing senior abuse such as through financial literacy training, fraud prevention training and digital literacy sessions;
- celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion by promoting intergenerational mentoring, serving vulnerable groups and holding peer support sessions; and
- helping the majority of seniors who want to age in their own homes to do so by providing practical supports.
Today's announcement builds on the Government's commitment to helping seniors age with dignity and choice, including the new Canadian Dental Care Plan and the Retirement Hub on Canada.ca. The Canadian Dental Care Plan will become available to eligible low-income seniors by the end of 2023, because no Canadian should have to choose between their smile or their heating bill. After opening the Plan last year for eligible kids under 12, this year's expansion will include low-income seniors, as well as persons with disabilities and uninsured Canadians under 18. The Retirement Hub on Canada.ca is the new one-stop shop for retirement planning, and is already helping Canadians plan for a secure and dignified retirement with simple applications, benefit estimators, quizzes and checklists. By removing barriers and making services easier to access, the Retirement Hub is making it easier for seniors to retire on their terms.
