April 25, 2019 Quebec City, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
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 Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development was in Quebec City, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, where he announced an investment of more than $8.1 million in funding through the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program (NSHP) for 540 community-based projects across Quebec that will improve the well-being of seniors. The goal of these projects is to reduce social isolation among seniors by keeping them active, engaged and informed.
The Minister made the announcement while visiting Centre des loisirs St-Sacrement, which is receiving $25,000 in NHSP funding for their project, Developing Healthy Lifestyle Habits Collective Kitchen. The funding will allow the organization to purchase equipment to create a collective kitchen for seniors where they can learn to prepare meals and build relationships in the community.
While in Quebec, Minister Duclos 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.
"Seniors in our communities have worked hard to support their families, build strong communities and grow our economy. Their knowledge, skills and experience are the cornerstones our economy and country were built on. With the support of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is providing a wide range of opportunities for seniors in Quebec, and particularly in Quebec City, to participate in meaningful activities that nurture their personal growth and foster community vitality."
- The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
"Seniors are the pillars of our communities. By supporting community-based projects like these, we are taking action to ensure that seniors in Quebec have a strong and active presence, are encouraged to remain involved in their communities and that they receive the recognition, respect and support that they deserve."
- The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors
Quick facts
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
