(OTTAWA) - Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (Saanich – Gulf Islands) stressed the importance of the Green Party’s National Seniors Strategy and called for a Guaranteed Liveable Income, a National Dementia Strategy, Pharmacare, and Homecare in Sidney, B.C. today.
“Our plan would ensure that seniors can afford to stay in their homes, access quality healthcare, and enjoy a high quality of life,” said May. “Many seniors on fixed incomes are particularly vulnerable and the Green Party recognizes the unique needs of our aging population. We will work collaboratively with other parties in the next government to improve seniors’ quality of life.”
“The percentage of seniors living in poverty has increased from 4.7 percent in 2007, to 5.8 percent in 2008. We cannot be complacent about the economic struggles of seniors,” continued May.
Developed and implemented through the Green Party’s proposed Council of Canadian Governments, the Green Party’s National Seniors Strategy will:
• Implement a Guaranteed Livable Income that supplements pensions to ensure no Canadian lives in poverty;
• Create a national Pharmacare Program so that all seniors can afford to fill their prescriptions;
• Create a National Housing Plan with affordable and predictable home care;
• Create a National Dementia Strategy, which includes more long-term care beds in neighborhood facilities and improved supports for family members;
• Support a national “Aging in Place” approach to ensure every Canadian can live in their own home and community safely and comfortably;
• Increase the Canada Health Transfer to account for the age of a province’s population, so they can afford to provide health care with a demographic that is weighted with seniors;
• Amend and expand the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP/QPP), phasing in over 5 to 7 years a doubling of the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE); and gradually increasing the maximum CPP benefit from 25% of the YMPE to 40%;
• Promote intergenerational programs to develop relationships that have proven benefits for all;
• Increase convenient and safe public transportation to support independent living;
• Provide access to home equity to support day-to-day living expenses; and
• Address the Supreme Court’s decision to allow physician assisted death.
Daniel Green, Health Critic and candidate (Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs) continued: “The Green Party will help foster age-friendly communities, where seniors are safe, financially secure, and their housing and transportation needs are met.”
“The Green Party’s National Seniors Strategy is the best plan to ensure Canadian seniors have the support and services they need to live dignified quality lives. In the next Parliament, Green MPs will work with other parties to make sure seniors issues are a priority,” concluded Green.
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca
Or
Kirsten Strom
Executive Assistant to Director of Communications
t: 613.562.4916 (200)
Toll Free 1.866.868.3447
kirsten.strom@greenparty.ca