Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

On December 1, 2011, Alice Wong answered a question about seniors during question period. The following is a transcript:

[Translation]

Ms. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the government keeps going on and on about what it has already done in order to justify turning its back on seniors in desperate need.

Figures from the task force on financial literacy completely contradict what the Parliamentary Secretary just said. Every year, $1 billion in old age security benefits goes unclaimed. Furthermore, 70% of seniors who do not receive benefits have an income of less than $10,000. They are spending their golden years in poverty.

Is the government trying to save money at the expense of seniors, by refusing to pay them their pensions?

[English]

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government continues to take strong action to support seniors. Since 2006, our government has provided billions in annual tax relief for seniors and pensioners, removed hundreds of thousands of seniors from the tax roll completely, introduced the largest GIS increase in a quarter century, and made significant investment in affordable housing for low-income seniors.

What did the opposition do? It voted against all of these measures.

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