Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

On May 6, 2015, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Seniors. The following is a transcript:

Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, today many parliamentarians are fasting to raise awareness about hunger in Canada as part of Food Banks Canada’s Every Plate Full campaign.
Seven per cent of seniors in Canada depend on food banks. Even though they receive pension benefits, they just do not have enough to make ends meet. No one, and certainly no senior, should ever go hungry.
Why are the Conservatives refusing to implement a national seniors strategy that would allow our seniors to retire in dignity?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to seniors poverty, our government has a record we can be proud of.
Canada has one of the lowest seniors poverty rates in the world, thanks in part to our actions, which include removing hundreds of thousands of seniors from the tax rolls completely, making significant investments in affordable housing for low-income seniors, and introducing the largest GIS increase in a quarter century.
Canadians know that they can count on our government to deliver for seniors.

On March 10, 2015, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Seniors. The following is a transcript:

[Translation]

Mr. Massimo Pacetti (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, Ind.):
Mr. Speaker, according to a study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, pension income splitting benefits the wealthiest seniors disproportionately.

Of the families that benefit from this tax break, only 10% of the wealthiest benefit fully, at a cost of $1.2 billion per year, while 70% of seniors enjoy no benefit at all from this measure. It is clear that the government has no plan whatsoever for seniors living below the poverty line in Canada.

When will the Minister of State for Seniors do something for seniors who really need help?

[English]

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to seniors’ poverty, our government has a record of which we can be proud. Canada has one of the lowest seniors’ poverty rates in the world thanks in part to our actions, which include removing thousands of seniors from the tax rolls completely, making significant investment in affordable housing for low-income seniors and introducing the largest GIS increase in a quarter century.

The other parties would take away the pension splitting for our seniors. That is something we will never allow to happen.

On February 24, 2015, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons on a take-note debate on the rise of anti-Semitism.  The following is a transcript:

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my hon. colleague from Mount Royal for his remarks. I know that he has worked very closely with the Minister for Multiculturalism over the years on the issue of combatting anti-Semitism.

Could the hon. member describe his own experience in working on this important issue with the government and with the Minister for Multiculturalism in particular? Could he highlight some of the accomplishments that resulted from this co-operation?

Hon. Irwin Cotler:
Mr. Chair, we had, I believe, members from all parties and all sides working together to establish the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism. The Minister for Multiculturalism played an important role, which reference was made earlier. From that we both went to London for the London Conference Against Anti-Semitism in 2009. The minister was there. He played a central role in the 2010 Ottawa Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism.

In both London and Ottawa, we adopted important declarations and protocols, and the minister referred to them this evening.

I will conclude by saying that I take this to be a shared objective and a shared engagement by members of all parties. The time has come to sound the alarm about this globalizing hatred, which is the canary in the mine shaft of global evil.

On November 25, 2014, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Seniors. The following is a transcript:

Mr. Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North, GP):
Mr. Speaker, veterans and all seniors in Thunder Bay—Superior North are worried. My constituent, Louise Fisher, laments that, “Nothing is being done federally to ensure that quality services are available across Canada for our seniors.” For example, we have declining health care services and a lack of in-home support for our seniors.

When will the minister ensure that all of Canada’s seniors are respected and supported?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, we have been promoting healthy, active aging by encouraging seniors to stay engaged and informed. We have information for seniors and their families, which is easy to access, to help seniors stay engaged in their communities.

It is our government that brought in the largest GIS increase in a quarter century, and the opposition voted against it. While we work to ensure the well-being of our seniors, the opposition continues to let seniors down and would take away money from seniors.

On November 18, 2014, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Seniors. The following is a transcript:

Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, a new report from the College of Family Physicians of Canada highlights the failure of federal leadership under the Conservatives when it comes to improving care for our seniors. New Democrats believe that all seniors should be able to live in dignity and security. It is about priorities and intelligent planning, but the Conservatives have failed to act to fix gaps in home care.

Will the minister finally recognize these repeated calls and commit to implementing the NDP’s proposal for a national seniors strategy?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, no other government has done as much for seniors as our government under the leadership of the Prime Minister. We believe in working for action. That is why we have done an action plan for seniors with 22 different departments. With that report we know that we are doing well. We have lowered taxes for seniors, increased funding for the GIS, and also encouraged healthy, active aging. That is why our seniors love us but not the NDP.

[Translation]

Ms. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (Hochelaga, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, 75% of Canadians think that the federal government is not doing enough to support the provinces in the area of home care. The government is showing a lack of vision and leadership, while the need for this type of care keeps growing.

The College of Family Physicians is now calling on the federal government to develop a home care strategy. The timing is good because the NDP has a strategy ready.

Will the Conservatives support us and adopt a real strategy to ensure that our seniors have access to home care?

[English]

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, in 2007 our government created the National Seniors Council and I commend it for its hard work on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors. This includes work on issues such as elder abuse, volunteering among seniors, positive and active aging, and senior participation in the workforce.

This year I directed the NSC to study a new priority, the social isolation of seniors, and I look forward to their report. This is exactly what we have done for our great seniors.

On September 16, 2014, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Finance. The following is a transcript:

Mrs. Tilly O’Neill Gordon (Miramichi, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government is proud to have lowered taxes, putting thousands of dollars directly back into the pockets of Canadian families. However, yesterday the leader of the Liberal Party criticized income splitting and said he would reverse it. I know that the seniors in my riding will be outraged when they find out that the Liberal leader would reverse our income splitting, forcing them to pay more.
Could the Minister of State for Seniors explain how reversing income splitting would affect seniors?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader should explain why he has threatened to reverse income splitting and force seniors and families to pay more tax. This type of Liberal arrogance toward middle-class Canadian families and seniors is all too familiar. This is the same party that opposed the universal child care benefit because it thought parents would spend it on beer and popcorn. This is the same party that opposed every tax cut and measure our government has introduced for families and seniors, measures that are saving $3,400 this year for average families and have taken nearly 400,000 seniors off the tax rolls completely.

On June 3, 2014, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Seniors. The following is a transcript:

Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, over the next 25 years the number of seniors in Canada will double. Unfortunately, the Conservatives have no plan to deal with or provide the needed supports for our aging population.

From health care to financial security to housing, it is time for a plan. Our seniors deserve nothing less.

Why have the Conservatives not worked with the provinces and territories to develop a national aging strategy? It is time for some federal leadership.

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, seniors in Canada can be proud of the record support they are seeing from this government.

We have increased tax relief for seniors, increased funding for the new horizons for seniors program, and are investing in programs to help seniors, such as the targeted initiative for older workers.

That member and that party voted against all of these. We will take no lessons from the NDP, which would raise taxes for all Canadians, including seniors.

On April 2, 2014, Alice Wong spoke in the House of Commons during Question Period on the topic of Seniors. The following is a transcript:

Mr. Ray Boughen (Palliser, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, Canadian senior citizens have worked hard, paid their taxes, and contributed to our nation’s success. With tax season upon us, many seniors in my riding would like to know and be assured that their taxes will remain low.

Can the Minister of State for Seniors help us understand what is happening with taxes and that keeping them low for seniors is one of the objectives?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for that great question. Under this government, seniors have seen record support from our keeping taxes low. We have provided over $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors. Hundreds of thousands of seniors have been removed from the tax rolls completely.

I am proud of the difference we are making. What seniors do not want is to see their taxes raised. Under the Liberal leader’s reckless definition, pensioners and retirees are not middle-class, because they live off of their savings and are on the list for a Liberal tax hike. The Liberal leader’s high tax, high spending agenda would threaten jobs and set seniors back.

We will not let that happen.

On February 26, 2014, Alice Wong was asked a question about Seniors during question period. The following is a transcript:

Mrs. Stella Ambler (Mississauga South, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, seniors are an integral part of our families, communities, and workforce. Statistics show that 36% of them volunteer their time, and 80% are actively involved in their communities. We on this side of the House, and that side, believe in supporting seniors.

Could the Minister of State for Seniors update the House on some of the great initiatives for seniors in economic action plan 2014?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague on the Conservative side for that great question.

We are proud of the support we have seen for seniors in economic action plan 2014. We have seen an 11% increase in funding to the new horizons for seniors program; the renewal of the targeted initiative for older workers program, which assists unemployed older workers reintegrate into the workforce; the creation of the Canadian employers for caregivers action plan to help caregivers participate in the labour market, and the list goes on.

All Canadians, especially seniors, can be proud of economic action plan 2014.

On February 25, 2014, Alice Wong asked a question during the Budget debate in the House of Commons.  The following is a transcript and the response from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture:

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the budget is great for seniors and also for those people with disabilities. For example, we have already increased accessibility funding by renewing it for another $15 million annually.

I attended two events last week. It was a breakthrough that we put $16,000 through for a low-income society in Downtown Eastside to help those with disabilities, and another $41,000 to the University Women’s Club of Vancouver to help them with accessibility.

At the same time, we have the lowest poverty rate for seniors, thanks to our GIS, which has seen the largest increase in over a quarter of a century.

There are other good things that are happening. Can I ask the parliamentary secretary to highlight some of the things we will do for seniors?

Mr. Pierre Lemieux:
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that this government has tremendous respect for our seniors and for the meaningful contributions they have made to Canada.

The minister is absolutely right. This budget contains many very important initiatives to support our seniors. I will list just a few of them. This budget will enhance, by $5 million a year, the new horizons program for seniors. It will expand the targeted initiatives for older workers by investing $75 million to help unemployed older workers put their talents and experience to work. The budget also launches the Canadian employers for caregivers action plan. This would work with employers so that caregivers can maximize their participation in the workforce while being able to provide care for their loved ones.

It is clear this budget supports our seniors, and I thank the minister for the question.