October 29, 2018 Mississauga, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Seniors play an important role in our families, communities and workplaces. They helped build Canada and continue to contribute to its success.
Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, spoke at the Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario (OACAO) Aging Well Conference, which brought together expert leaders and volunteers in community-based supports and networks for older adults.
At the event, Minister Tassi outlined the various initiatives undertaken by the Government of Canada that demonstrate that the health and well-being of seniors are a top priority.
Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which has funded 21,600 community-based projects since 2004, the Government of Canada is encouraging seniors to get active in their communities. The wide range of projects have a similar goal: to fight senior isolation and encourage active participation in society.
The Government has also taken concrete action to improve income security for seniors including restoring the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) from 67 to 65 and increasing the GIS amount by about $1,000 per year for the most vulnerable single seniors.
Additionally, to help ensure that workers can achieve a safe, secure and dignified retirement, the Government worked with provinces to achieve a historic enhancement of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which begins in 2019. Enhanced benefits will grow over time as people work and contribute, and today's youngest workers will receive up to 50 percent more from the CPP when they retire.
Initiatives like these support the Government's overall commitment to improve the well-being of all Canadians and strengthen the middle class and those working hard to join it.
"I am pleased to participate in events that encourage active aging. There are many factors that play key roles in healthy aging, including physical activity and social inclusion. As the seniors population is rapidly growing, we all have to work together to ensure our policies better respond to their needs so that seniors from across Canada can lead healthy, active and independent lives."
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors
Quick facts
Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic group in Canada. By 2031, the number of seniors will reach almost 9 million people, representing close to one quarter of Canada's population.
Canadians' life expectancy is expected to continue rising—Canadian men and women born in 2030 will live on average to age 84 and 87, respectively.
