Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, November 16, 2012 — This week, Federal, Provincial and Territorial (F/P/T) Ministers Responsible for Seniors examined the opportunities and challenges facing Canada’s seniors. At the meeting, in addition to exchanging ideas on promoting the well-being of Canada’s seniors, Ministers reviewed recent collaborative work and agreed on priorities for the year to come.

Canadians are living longer, healthier, active and rewarding lives, with an increasing number of seniors choosing to remain in their own homes or communities. Ministers discussed ways to further improve seniors’ access to information and ongoing participation within their own communities and recognized that housing, accommodation and living arrangements are important issues for a growing seniors’ population.

“Our Government values the contributions that seniors continue to make to this country and is working hard to improve their lives on many fronts,” said the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and federal co-chair of the meeting. “The progress achieved at this Seniors’ Ministers meeting builds on the collaborative work undertaken by all governments and provides some very tangible resources that support seniors in staying active, informed and engaged as contributing members of their communities.”

“Nova Scotia remains committed to providing seniors with programs and services that support their own efforts to live healthier, safer and more affordable lives” said the Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse, Minister of Seniors for the Province of Nova Scotia and meeting co-chair. “By listening to seniors and working together with our partners, we will make sure seniors have supports in place that respond to their changing needs.”

Ministers also explored options to encourage Canadians to plan for their future, stay engaged within their communities, access the information and services available to them, and to learn more about the role technology plays in facilitating these objectives. Ministers also discussed ways to support older workers who are also caregivers.

Ministers agreed to move forward on the following priority areas: supporting the active participation of seniors, particularly older workers, who are balancing both work and elder care responsibilities; assisting seniors in planning for “aging in place” including living arrangements; and improving Canadians’ access to needed information through technology.

Ministers were pleased to approve several age-friendly resources, including a guide for employers to support a diverse and inclusive workforce by engaging older workers in the workplace, and an information pamphlet to help seniors and near seniors plan for aging in place[1]. F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Seniors will reconvene in the Northwest Territories in 2013 to review progress and identify new priority areas to help meet the needs of seniors.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

Mark Wall
Office of the Minister of State (Seniors)
613-617-7993

Toby Koffman
Nova Scotia Department of Seniors
902-483-5847
koffmatg@gov.ns.ca

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

[1] While Québec shares the concerns of other governments regarding population aging it does not subscribe to, or take part in, integrated pan-Canadian approaches in this field and intends to fully assume its responsibilities for seniors in Québec.

Filed under: News, Seniors