Poverty, homelessness and unaffordable prescription medicine were three areas North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney touched on at a recent seniors’ town hall.
Blaney told the meeting she is increasingly hearing stories of seniors who are having to make tough financial decisions between purchasing food and medicine or paying monthly bills.
Blaney organized the Powell River meeting, the 10th of 11 held in the riding in recent weeks, in order to gather information from communities as she prepares to help her federal New Democratic Party colleagues develop a national senior strategy.
“Predictions are that by 2036 more than one third of the population will be seniors,” she said. “We need a national strategy.”
With the downloading on municipal governments to provide social well-being programs, Blaney explained that a national strategy would encourage all levels of government to see “what we can do to make sure the lives of seniors are cared for more effectively.”
The early afternoon meeting on Thursday, January 19, brought close to 70 people out. Blaney made a presentation outlining changes she wants to see in the coming years.
She said she was pleased to see the federal government return the eligibility age for the old-age income supplement back to 65 from 67 and the $900 annual increase to the guaranteed income supplement.
Blaney said she was upset that the federal government has not come through with its promise of delivering $3 billion to home palliative care. She said the federal government, when pressed on the issue, said it increased health care transfers to the provinces and territories, money the federal government cannot hold provincial governments to account over or ensure the funds go to the intended purpose.
Blaney said there needs to be fundamental changes to the way health care is delivered in order to meet the needs of Canada’s aging population. Those changes, she said, include the way health care is delivered to ensure timely and immediate access to doctors and specialists, making prescription medication affordable through bulk buying, increasing investment in neurological research and having a national Alzheimer’s disease strategy.
For seniors’ housing, Blaney said she would like to see an investment in affordable housing targeted for low-income seniors, flexible housing so couples can stay together in care and investment into renovating homes to meet seniors’ needs.
