Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

June 19, 2015 – Vancouver, British Columbia and Edmonton, Alberta – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and the Honourable Kevin Sorenson, Minister of State (Finance), officially launched today a faster and easier online application for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). It allows retirees to complete and submit their CPP retirement pension application entirely online in just a few clicks, replacing the online process which required claimants to complete a long and cumbersome application online, and print and mail a signed signature page.

This is part of the Harper Government’s efforts to continually improve Canadians’ access to the benefits and services they need.

Quick Facts

• The My CPP Retirement online application, available within My Service Canada Account, is a complete and secure end-to-end self-serve online process that allows clients to quickly and easily apply for their CPP retirement pension.
• It uses existing departmental information that Service Canada already has on file (i.e. name, address and telephone number) to pre-populate the fields, streamlining and accelerating the application process and creating efficiencies for the Department and Canadians.
• It is recommended that claimants apply 6 months before they want their retirement pension to begin; however, not more than 12 months ahead of time.
• Both the Canadian Retirement Income Calculator and the CPP Statement of Contributions are tools that can help claimants determine the best time to start their retirement pension and get an estimate of how much they might receive.
• Clients can still apply by completing the paper application form or by visiting a Service Canada Centre.
• In fiscal year 2014–15, Service Canada processed approximately 280,000 new CPP retirement pension applications.

Quotes

“The Harper Government is committed to providing modern, accessible and convenient online services to Canadians while generating administrative efficiencies through process automation. This new online application makes applying for the CPP retirement pension easier for Canadians.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“Our Government is taking major steps to simplify and modernize the CPP application process. Now, more than ever, Canadians can access benefits online in a timely and secure manner.”

– The Honourable Kevin Sorenson, Minister of States (Finance)

Associated Links

Canada Pension Plan Retirement Pension

My Service Canada Account

Canadian Retirement Income Calculator

Personal Access Code

Seniors.gc.ca

June 15, 2015 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today announced New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) funding worth $25,000 to HelpAge Canada for their Seen Your Citizen? project. Minister Wong also marked World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).

Seen Your Citizen? is a community-based project dedicated to supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors. This project aims to raise awareness of agism and stereotyping among generations.

To mark the 10th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Government of Canada is proud to recognize the work being done here and around the world to raise awareness of elder abuse and help seniors protect themselves from its many forms.

The Government of Canada continues to address elder abuse by supporting a range of measures that help protect seniors from all forms of abuse. The New Horizons for Seniors Program seeks to expand awareness of elder abuse by funding community-based projects.

Through a new NHSP call for proposals for pan-Canadian projects the Government also aims to reduce the social isolation of seniors, which may impact up to 30 percent of Canadian seniors. Social isolation can increase vulnerability and put Canadian seniors at risk of elder abuse.

Quick facts

• June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It was first launched by the World Health Organization and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse in 2006 to bring attention to the abuse and neglect that some older adults experience and how abuse can be prevented. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011.
• The annual NHSP Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects is open until July 10, 2015. Through the call, organizations are being invited to apply for funding of up to $25,000 for projects that help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues.
• The NHSP Call for Proposals for Pan-Canadian Projects is also open until July 10, 2015. Pan Canadian projects that receive funding will focus on addressing social isolation among seniors in Canada.
• Since 2006, the NHSP has funded nearly 15,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, representing a total Government of Canada investment of $350 million.
• Since 2006, $2.8 billion in annual tax relief has been provided to seniors and pensioners.
• For a wide range of information for seniors, including details on elder abuse awareness, please visit Canada.ca/Seniors.
• The Government of Canada released the Government of Canada – Action for Seniors report in September 2014. The report is a new information resource highlighting federal programs and services that can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers. It was created in collaboration with more than 22 federal departments and agencies. The report can be found on Canada.ca/Seniors.
• Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to improve Canadians’ lives. To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
• The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17.
• The proposed enhancements to the UCCB would provide $160 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $60 per month for each child aged 6 through 17.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is committed to protecting seniors from elder abuse in all its forms. Eye-opening and perspective-changing activities conducted by organizations such as the HelpAge Canada will help foster a revitalized appreciation of the important role seniors play in our communities and a renewed respect for what they have achieved.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“Everywhere across Canada the message is the same: Social isolation of seniors is becoming a deep concern. It renders seniors more vulnerable. HelpAge Canada is dedicated to addressing it. We are pleased to have received support from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for the Seen Your Citizen? project that fights agism and helps seniors share their life experience.”

– Jacques Bertrand, Director General, HelpAge Canada

Associated Links

• Canada.ca/Seniors
• Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program
• Innoweave Seniors SI initiative
• National Seniors Council
• Canada.ca/taxsavings
• Economic Action Plan 2015
• Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

June 11, 2015– Ottawa, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada

Today, the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), highlighted the Government of Canada’s work to tackle issues facing Canadians caring for family members, including seniors, at the Families in Canada Conference 2015. The conference, hosted by the Vanier Institute of the Family, is an important opportunity to converse with leaders from diverse professions, disciplines and backgrounds, all of whom bring their unique perspectives to discuss the issues and experiences faced by families today.

In her remarks, Minister Wong highlighted the measures the Government has taken to address the challenges that Canadians face in providing care for children, family members with disabilities or serious illnesses and injuries, and seniors, including those at end of life. Minister Wong highlighted the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan as well as the report released by the Employer Panel for Caregivers earlier this year. The report illustrates best practices for employers to help their employees balance work and caregiving responsibilities.

Minister Wong also spoke about the recent launch of two calls for proposals for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. These calls provide opportunities for organizations to run projects that could address issues of care related to the social isolation of seniors.

The Government has proposed additional measures to help make life more affordable for Canadian families. The new measures include enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. Under the proposed enhancements to the UCCB, families would receive $160 per month (up to $1,920 per year) for each child under the age of 6, and $60 per month (up to $720 per year) for each child aged 6 through 17.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada recognizes the important role of unpaid family caregivers and offers them a variety of supports, including the Family Caregiver Tax Credit, Employment Insurance compassionate care benefits, the Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan and an Information for Caregivers portal on Canada.ca/Seniors.
• There are currently 6.1 million employed Canadians, or 35 percent of our workforce, providing care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, a physical or mental disability, or problems related to aging.
• Economic Action Plan 2015 proposes to provide an additional $37 million annually to extend Employment Insurance compassionate care benefits from six weeks to six months, which may be taken within an expanded period of 52 weeks (one year). This measure will come into effect on January 3, 2016.

Quote

“I would like to congratulate the Vanier Institute of the Family on hosting the Families in Canada Conference 2015 during their 50th anniversary year. It is with opportunities like these that we can come together to share our knowledge and experience in our efforts to better meet the needs of Canadian families.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

Associated Links

Information for Caregivers

Canada.ca/Seniors

When Work and Caregiving Collide: How Employers Can Support Their Employees Who Are Caregivers

New Horizons for Seniors Program

Family Tax Cut and the Universal Child Care Benefit

Employment Insurance compassionate care benefits

Canada Labour Code

10^th Annual NICE Knowledge Exchange

Toronto, Ontario

May 28, 2015

Thank you for that kind introduction.

It is an honour to be here with you again this year. And to share the same podium with such an impressive group of experts in the field of aging.

I would like to acknowledge my provincial counterpart who also joins us today, the Honourable Mario Sergio.

I would also like to congratulate NICE on hosting its 10^th Knowledge Exchange.

I wanted to take the opportunity today to talk briefly about some of the things that I have learned over the past 4 years as the Minister of State for Seniors. It has been a lesson for me in the importance of collaboration and working together.

Information

First, information; it is critical.

Very early on we heard from Canadians that many citizens are confused about what the different levels of government do, and are struggling to access needed, basic information.

In response, we developed the Information for Seniors and Information for Caregiver web portals which are located at Canada.ca/Seniors.

Using an interactive map of Canada, these two web portals provide links directly to federal, provincial and municipal programs and services.

This was done collaboratively with my colleagues, the Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Seniors in 2012, who I have had the pleasure of meeting with on four occasions over the past 4 years.

Canada.ca/Seniors also provides links to the United Way’s excellent 211 information service in those provinces where it is currently available. 211 is an information referral service available online or via telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in over 100 languages, and provides information to citizens from all levels of government as well as a variety of community organizations. I highly recommend this excellent resource.

Social Isolation

In 2014, I was pleased to appoint Professor Andrew Wister as Chair of the National Seniors Council.

In November of last year, the National Seniors Council released its report entitled “Report on the Social Isolation of Seniors”. This report was particularly significant in bringing to light the issue of social isolation among Canada’s seniors.

Social isolation can be defined as “a low quantity and quality of contact with others”. Social isolation is different than loneliness, which is the subjective perception of a lack of interaction or contact with others. Rather, a situation of social isolation involves few social contacts and few social roles, as well as the absence of mutually rewarding relationships.

The impact of social isolation on seniors is very troubling. Some of the key findings of the report illustrate the unique challenges and risks that social isolation can place upon seniors.

Social isolation can cause a lack of social cohesion and risks the permanent loss of the valuable social contributions that seniors make to their communities.

Socially isolated seniors are more likely to be at risk of harms such as elder abuse, including financial abuse and fraud.

They are also more likely to experience mental health challenges such as depression, social anxiety, loneliness and addictions. Social isolation is correlated to dementia, as well.

On the other hand, it is clear that quality contact with a community or a network of support can have a profound impact on the livelihood, mental and physical health and well-being of seniors as well as the prosperity of local communities.

The report of the National Seniors Council identified a number of measures that may help to reduce the social isolation of seniors. These include public awareness, the promotion and improved accessibility of information, services and programs for seniors, and continued research into this complex issue.

And a final recommendation from the Council’s 2014 report was for the Federal Government to assist with the collective capacity-building of organizations to address the social isolation of seniors with social innovation.

This report has in turn led us to consider how the New Horizons for Seniors Program might support the work of a wide variety of organizations in attempting to address this complex issue.

I am pleased to announce that the new theme for the Pan-Canadian New Horizons for Seniors program is social isolation. The call-for-proposals will be launched tomorrow, together with the call-for-proposals for Community-Based grants. You are most welcome to join me tomorrow at 11:00AM at the Mon Sheong Home for the Aged on D’Arcy Street for the launch.

Over the next 5 years, the Pan-Canadian New Horizons stream will focus upon reducing the social isolation of seniors, not in theory, but in the real lives of seniors in Canadian communities.

Collaboration and innovation are at the core of what we are aiming for. As such, the Government will be partnering with the McConnell Family Foundation of Canada, and their Innoweave initiative to help build partnerships, and spur innovative ideas among organizations that apply.

Successful applicants must demonstrate an ability to plan and work collaboratively with other organizations in a particular region or community.

For information on the application process please visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

Caregiving

Over the past four years I have also found that supporting caregivers is a matter that goes hand-in-hand with supporting seniors.

Last June I launched the Canadian Employer Panel for Caregivers. The panel consisted of representatives from small, medium and large size businesses across the country, including Johnson & Johnson, Ernst & Young and Home Depot.

The annual cost of lost productivity to Canadian employers due to caregiving responsibilities is estimated at $1.3 billion dollars annually.

The Panel found that of the estimated 6 million Canadians that provide unpaid, informal care while working, most were providing care to seniors, and most were themselves over the age of 45.

Many of the same people who provide essential care for seniors are also some of the best and brightest participants in the labour force, often possessing deep company and industry knowledge.

The Panel discovered that while many employers across Canada are aware of caregiving responsibilities among their employee base, few are aware of the magnitude of their caregiving responsibilities.

A danger for the labour force is that some employed caregivers may elect to leave work early to provide care to a loved one, typically an aging parent.

The Panel’s work culminated in the release of an excellent report titled, “When Work and Caregiving Collide – How Employers can Support their Employees who are Caregiving”, in January of this year. The report contains their findings, with practical resources that companies of all sizes can use in assessing the business impact of caregiving and how flexible workplace practices can help them retain their best and brightest talent.

Seniors and Homelessness

I would also like to comment briefly on the issue of seniors and homelessness.

Homelessness among the elderly is troubling, particularly for those with mental illness or impairment, who may be incapable of applying for Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and  Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). On the front lines of servicing this community are municipalities and charitable or non-profit organizations.

In January, 2015, the Government announced that municipalities and charitable or non-profit organizations may apply to administer CPP and OAS/GIS benefits on behalf of a senior who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and who is suffering from some degree of mental impairment or incapability.

Friends, it is a sad irony that these most vulnerable seniors may not have the benefit of the CPP, OAS and GIS benefits to which they are entitled by law – benefits that could make a tremendous difference in their lives.

I sincerely hope that those cities and organizations working on the front lines of outreach and service delivery collaborate with us towards this common objective. We are trying hard to reach out to relevant municipalities and organizations and I would note that we have an information booth today which is devoted largely to this initiative.

Seniors Policy

Finally, I want to comment briefly on the nature of seniors as an area of public policy analysis.

Seniors policy is inherently interdisciplinary.

Issues affecting Canadian seniors fall within the scope of many federal departments and agencies.

While the Office of the Minister of State is located within Employment and Social Development Canada – part of my job is to work collaboratively with other Federal Cabinet Ministers – most of them in much larger departments – with respect to issues affecting Canada’s seniors.

I have found that to do the work of Seniors Policy, one of the basic requirements is to bring together information and perspectives from across the whole of government relevant to seniors and assess it holistically.

Sometimes this work requires mediating complex relationships that exist within and between these larger departments and agencies across government. This can be a difficult task for public officials working the area of Seniors Policy. Depending on the issue, the relevant expertise and policy authorities may reside in another department altogether. This presents challenges and calls for collaborative approaches to doing the work of Seniors Policy.

Last year we published the Government of Canada: Action for Seniors report. The premise of this report was simple. Gather together, in one document, the various activities of the Federal Government that pertain, in one way or another, to seniors. We are very pleased with the result.

Employment and Social Development Canada chairs an interdepartmental committee which brings together 22 Federal departments and agencies and serves as a focal point for the wide range of disciplines affected by seniors’ issues. It was the work of that table that allowed us to produce the Action for Seniors report.

The Report has been warmly received by Canadians. But – separate from the report itself – I would add that the process of producing the report was helpful for us as it provided a focal point for a comprehensive examination of seniors policy federally.

So, the lesson I learned is that seniors policy is interdisciplinary, comprised of many sources from across government, and that to address seniors issues, effort is required to bring together and assess all of the relevant inputs within government. This is not an easy task, but in my view, it is an essential one.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share some of these observations with you.

It is always such a pleasure to be here at NICE. I look forward to the rest of the morning. Thank you very much.

May 28, 2015– Toronto, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today highlighted the Government of Canada’s work to tackle issues facing seniors in Canada at the 10th annual NICE Knowledge Exchange Conference. This conference, hosted by the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), provides an important opportunity for members of the community, clinicians, academics, students and business leaders to come together to exchange ideas, present insights and innovations, and promote concrete solutions to help address seniors’ issues.

In her remarks, Minister Wong highlighted the 2015-2016 New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Call for Proposals (CFP) for Pan-Canadian projects, which will be launched on May 29, 2015. Through this CFP, organizations will be invited to apply for funding for projects that will help prevent and reduce social isolation among seniors using collaborative, partnership-based approaches and with an emphasis on results.

The annual CFP for community-based projects under the NHSP will be launched on the same day.

Minister Wong also spoke of a number of programs and activities that help support seniors and address the issue of social isolation. These include the publishing of a National Seniors Council’s report on social isolation and the Council’s ongoing work that will include a focus on examining ways to encourage local communities to reach out to socially isolated seniors. The social isolation of seniors is also one of the priorities to be examined this year by the Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors.

Minister Wong also discussed how the Government is providing over $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors and pensioners, implementing pension income splitting and introducing a new Home Accessibility Tax Credit for seniors and persons with disabilities to help with the costs of ensuring their homes remain safe, secure and accessible. These changes to income security programs have given older Canadians more choice and flexibility in regard to life, work and retirement.

To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB would provide $160 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $60 per month for each child aged 6 through 17.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and promoting seniors’ health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.
• In September, the Government of Canada released the Government of Canada Action for Seniors report, a comprehensive information resource highlighting federal programs and services, which can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers at Canada.ca/Seniors.
• Today, 1 in 7 Canadians is aged 65 or over. By 2036, nearly 1 in 4 Canadians will be a senior.

Quote

“I would like to congratulate the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly on their 10th Annual Knowledge Exchange Conference and thank them for inviting me to participate again this year. It is opportunities like these, where such an impressive group of experts in the field of aging come together, that allow us to collaborate, share our knowledge and work together to ensure Canadian seniors are supported and stay active, engaged and informed.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

Associated Links

Canada.ca/Seniors

National Seniors Council

New Horizons for Seniors Program

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum

www.canada.ca/taxsavings

Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

Harper Government looking for hundreds of thousands of families not currently registered for the enhanced child care benefit

May 21, 2015– Richmond, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada

An estimated 12,800 families with children in Vancouver are eligible to receive money under the Harper Government’s proposed enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), but are at risk of not receiving the benefit unless they apply. The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today asked for help from the media and the public to encourage families to apply for the benefit.

The majority of families with children, approximately 3.8 million, are known and will automatically receive the enhanced UCCB or be contacted by the Government to confirm their information. However, many eligible families are not currently captured by the Government’s UCCB system and may miss out on receiving money that is owed to them unless they apply. In British Columbia, an estimated 23,500 families with approximately 41,000 children are not registered. In Vancouver, as many as 12,500 families are estimated to be missing from the Government’s registry. This represents potentially millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits in this year alone.

Under the proposed enhancements to the UCCB, families would receive almost $2,000 per year for each child under 6 and $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The new benefit amounts would be retroactive to January 1, 2015 and be reflected in monthly payments to families in July 2015. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB are expected to more than double the number of families that benefit from 1.6 million to more than 4 million.

If your family is not currently receiving the UCCB, has never received the UCCB, or has never applied for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and you still have children under 18 in your care, please go to www.canada.ca/taxsavings in order to find out how you can apply.

Quick Facts

• All families with children will benefit from the new Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, which includes the Family Tax Cut, and enhancements to the UCCB, Child Care Expense Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
• Combined with tax relief introduced by the Government of Canada since 2006, a typical family of four can receive up to $6,600 in tax relief and enhanced benefits in 2015.
• Low- and middle-income families will receive two-thirds of the overall benefits provided by the Government of Canada’s new family measures.
• The Family Tax Cut will eliminate or significantly reduce the difference in the federal tax payable by a one-earner couple relative to a two-earner couple with a similar family income.

Quotes

“Now that the Harper Government has balanced our budget, we are helping hard-working families balance theirs. That’s why we want to ensure that every family with children receives the enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit. If you’ve ‎got kids under 18, you qualify. It doesn’t matter how much you make or the type of child care you choose. Apply now so you can receive the money that is owed to you.”

– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

“Our Government is making life more affordable for hard-working families in British Columbia, and across the country, by enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit. More families will now be able to benefit and have more money in their pockets to spend on their priorities as a family.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond

Associated Link

www.canada.ca/taxsavings

Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

May 20, 2015– Vancouver, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada

The governments of Canada and British Columbia will provide over $582,000 in Canada Job Grant funding to Seaspan Shipyards to help 260 workers gain shipbuilding skills. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development; along with the Honourable Shirley Bond, British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour; and Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver.

This announcement brings the total number of workers being trained in British Columbia up to 6,800, thanks to funding provided through the Canada Job Grant. To date, over 1,280 employers have been approved for funding to train employees in British Columbia.

The announcement took place at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards. Seaspan, which employs over 2,000 people, is a diverse Canadian industrial marine enterprise primarily involved in coastal and deep sea transportation and bunkering, while offering the West Coast’s leading ship repair and shipbuilding services. As a result of Canada Job Grant funding, Seaspan Shipyards employees will benefit from state-of-the-art e-learning tools fundamental to the shipyard’s current and future training requirements under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, with a particular focus on machine-specific operations, docking processes, metal fabrication, steel forming, paint processes and rigging.

The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. By requiring employers to invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that leads to guaranteed jobs.

Under the Canada Job Grant in British Columbia, the Government of Canada provides two-thirds of total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees, and the British Columbia Government delivers the program. Employers are required to contribute the remaining one-third of these training costs, while small businesses have additional flexibility to make an in-kind contribution towards their share of the cost through wages paid to the training participant.

Quick Facts

• Seaspan will receive $582,946 to train 260 employees. The company will invest an additional $291,473 in this training.
• According to British Columbia’s Labour Market Outlook, by 2022, British Columbia is expecting one million job openings created by retirements and a growing economy.
• Of those million anticipated jobs, more than 78 percent will require some form of post-secondary education; including 44 percent which will need a college education or apprenticeship training.
• By 2017–18, over $38 million per year will be available for the Canada Job Grant in British Columbia.

Quotes

“The Canada Job Grant is taking skills training choices out of the hands of government and putting them where they belong: in the hands of employers and Canadians who want to work. By having employers directly involved in training decisions, the Canada Job Grant will lead to guaranteed jobs and will help businesses grow and succeed—and that is good news for the Canadian economy.”

– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

“A skilled workforce is fundamental to a strong economy. By helping employers invest in their workers, we are providing new and better job opportunities for people in Vancouver. Seaspan is a great example of how the Canada Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“Over the next decade, there will be more than one million job openings in B.C. driven by retirements and economic growth, 44 percent of which are expected to be in trades or technical occupations. We are taking steps now to meet the needs of a rapidly changing labour market and the Canada–B.C. Job Grant is a key program that will provide training for British Columbians so they can find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy.”

– The Honourable Shirley Bond, British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour

“Today’s announcement reaffirms Seaspan’s commitment to deliver on both of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy’s key objectives: to build new vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy; and to rebuild Canada’s shipbuilding and marine industrial sector. People with the right skills are critical to achieving both objectives, and the Canada Job Grant enables us to strengthen our knowledge, technical capability and production capacity to deliver ships made in Canada by Canadians.”

– Tony Matergio, Vice President and General Manager, Vancouver Shipyards

Associated Links

Canada Job Grant

Canada Job Grant (British Columbia)

May 8, 2015– Calgary, Alberta – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), highlighted the Government of Canada’s work to tackle issues facing seniors in Canada in a speech delivered at the Korean Canadian Seniors Conference. In her remarks, Minister Wong highlighted the re-aligning of a number of programs and activities to address the issue of social isolation of seniors—a growing issue that can have substantial impact on seniors’ lives.

A call for proposals (CFP) for pan-Canadian projects funded through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) will be launched on May 29, 2015. Using collaborative partnership approaches and with an emphasis on results, pan-Canadian projects funded through this call will be focusing on the reduction and prevention of social isolation of seniors.

The annual CFP for community-based projects under the NHSP will be launched on the same day.

Other activities include the recent report published by the National Seniors Council, and their ongoing work which includes a focus on examining ways to encourage local communities to reach out to socially isolated seniors. The social isolation of seniors is also one of the priorities to be examined this year by the Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors.

Minister Wong also discussed how the Government is providing over $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors and pensioners, implementing pension income splitting and introducing the new Home Accessibility Tax Credit for seniors and persons with disabilities to help with the costs of ensuring their homes remain safe, secure and accessible. These changes to income security programs have given older Canadians more choice and flexibility in regards to life, work and retirement.

To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB would provide $160 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $60 per month for each child aged 6 through 17.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and promoting seniors’ health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.
• In September, the Government of Canada released the Government of Canada Action for Seniors report, a comprehensive information resource highlighting federal programs and services, which can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers at Canada.ca/Seniors.
• Today, 1 in 7 Canadians is aged 65 or over. By 2036, nearly 1 in 4 Canadians will be a senior.

Quotes

“Social isolation affects seniors’ economic, social, physical and mental well-being. It is an issue that is both pervasive and difficult to resolve. But it is also preventable. I am confident we can address the isolation of seniors through social innovation. Social innovation succeeds by combining resources from governments, businesses, community organizations and academics to generate new ideas and tools that address social problems in new ways.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“Seniors from all over Canada are participating in the Korean Canadian Seniors Conference to discuss the well-being of Korean Canadian seniors, their integration into Canadian society, and how they can help themselves and the next generation of Korean Canadians. We would like to thank Minister Wong for joining us today to speak about some of the issues facing seniors in Canada, like social isolation, and some of the ways these issues are being addressed.”

– Joe Cho, Coordinator/Chair of the Korean Canadian Seniors Conference

Associated Links

Canada.ca/Seniors

National Seniors Council

New Horizons for Seniors Program

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum

Tax Measures

Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

Backgrounder

The National Seniors Council

The National Seniors Council (NSC) advises on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, including the opportunities and challenges arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors population.

• The Council reports to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and the Minister of Health. The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council.

• NSC members include seniors, representatives of organizations that serve seniors and/or experts on seniors and aging.

The Government of Canada established the NSC in 2007 to provide advice on the overall well-being of seniors, both now and in the future.

For more information, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

NHSP funding is targeted to community-based projects, pan-Canadian projects and pilot projects that focus on issues such as social isolation and intergenerational learning.

Community-based Projects

Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program’s five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year per organization in grant funding. Over 1,850 projects were approved through the NHSP 2014–2015 call for proposals for community-based projects. The next such call will be launched on May 29, 2015.

Pan-Canadian Projects

Using collaborative partnership approaches and with an emphasis on results, pan-Canadian projects funded through the 2015–2016 call for proposals to be launched May 29, 2015, will be focusing on the reduction and prevention of social isolation of seniors. Successful projects will be up to three years in duration and valued up to $750,000.

Pilot Projects

Pilot project funding provides support to help address seniors’ isolation by establishing better social support networks and resources and initiating community intervention. It also supports intergenerational learning projects that help seniors develop new interests and share their knowledge and experience with others. In 2014, these pilot projects began to address social isolation and are receiving up to $100,000 in federal funding over a maximum of 24 months; 50 percent of which is being matched with funding from other sources.

For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors

The Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Ministers Responsible for Seniors was established in 1992 by F/P/T governments to advance issues of common concern. The forum focuses on concrete, collaborative projects and actions that will have an impact on the lives of seniors. The Ministers meet regularly to discuss issues of importance to seniors and to share information on seniors’ well-being from their respective jurisdictions.

For more information on the Forum, visit http://www.seniors.gc.ca/eng/working/fptf/index.shtml.

April 8, 2015 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced today that seniors in East Vancouver will soon have new opportunities to keep active, engaged and informed. The Government of Canada has approved 13 New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) community-based projects in East Vancouver, for a total of more than $226,000 in funding. These projects, approved through the NHSP’s 2014–2015 Call for Proposals, will make it possible for seniors to play a major role in a wide range of local programs and activities.

Minister Wong made this announcement today at Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, which is receiving $25,000 in NHSP funding for its Food Culture Share Project. The project aims to offer workshops and classes that will engage and educate senior participants from different cultural backgrounds about nutrition and sustainable food practices.

Other East Vancouver projects being funded focus on educational, recreational and outreach activities that promote seniors leadership and participation, as well as help provide guidance and support to community members from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Quick Facts

• Under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), up to $25,000 in grant funding can be provided to eligible organizations for community-based projects that are led or inspired by seniors.
• Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 13,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
• Economic Action Plan 2014 increased funding for the NHSP by $5 million per year, for a total of $50 million provided to this program annually.
• Since 2006, $2.8 billion in annual tax relief has been provided to seniors and pensioners.
• The Government of Canada launched the Government of Canada Action for Seniors report in September 2014. The report is a new information resource highlighting federal programs and services that can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers. It was created in collaboration with more than 22 federal departments and agencies. The report can be found on Canada.ca/Seniors.

Quotes

“I am proud of our Government’s work to support seniors, and I am proud to work with organizations in East Vancouver that strive to enrich the lives of seniors through the meaningful projects they undertake with passion and resolve.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“Kiwassa Neighbourhood House and the seniors we serve are especially grateful and honoured for the funding that we have been awarded through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program grant. The community-based, multicultural programming offered at Kiwassa brings together elders from all over the world to learn, interact and participate in leadership, life skills, health promotion and education programs and activities. Seniors involved in New Horizons projects are providing significant knowledge, experience and leadership, and their contributions deeply enhance the fabric of our local communities.”

– Nancy McRitchie, Executive Director, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House

Associated Links

• New Horizons for Seniors Program
• Canada.ca/Seniors
• Funding: New Horizons for Seniors
• Economic Action Plan 2014