Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

April 9, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Digital Privacy Act, introduced yesterday in Parliament, will help to protect seniors from fraud and financial abuse, announced the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).

The Government tabled a new bill in Parliament that will include measures to address rising concerns about financial abuse of seniors. The new legislation will allow banks and other organizations, to notify officials or a client’s next of kin if they suspect that an elderly client is the victim of financial abuse.

Currently, financial institutions must obtain an elderly client’s consent before disclosing information to prevent or investigate abuse, for example where a joint account holder may be financially abusing a senior. Under the new legislation, the financial institution will be allowed to make a report if there is reason to believe that fraud or financial abuse may be taking place. This will make it possible to notify authorities and help protect seniors from financial abuse.

Officials at Industry Canada, with the support of Employment and Social Development Canada, will work together with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to provide guidance to banks and other affected organizations about factors to be considered in using their discretion in this area and about related best practices.

The Government is actively addressing elder abuse through awareness campaigns, the New Horizons for Seniors Program, and the Protecting Canada’s Seniors Act, which came into force in January 2013.

Quick Facts

– The Digital Privacy Act amends the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, which sets the rules private sector organizations must follow when collecting, using or disclosing personal information in the course of commercial activity.
– The Protecting Canada’s Seniors Act helps ensure consistently tough penalties for those who take advantage of elderly Canadians.
– Some sources suggest that between 4 and 10 percent of older adults in Canada experience some form of abuse. It is also estimated that only one in five incidents of abuse is reported.

Quote

“Elder abuse is an appalling crime and our government is committed to protecting seniors from all forms of abuse. I fully support the proposed changes to strengthen Canada’s private sector privacy law and provide added protection for seniors against financial abuse.”
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

April 5, 2014­ Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today issued the following statement to mark National Caregiver Day, which takes place April 5, 2014:

There are currently 6.1 million employed Canadians who are providing informal caregiving to a family member or friend due to chronic or long-term illness, disability or aging. The number of caregivers will continue to grow given our aging population.

On National Caregiver Day, please join me in recognizing all caregivers, who are dedicated in providing quality care, support and compassion to Canadians, particularly seniors and older Canadians.

In particular, the Government of Canada understands the sacrifices many Canadians make to care for their family members. We are already helping Canadians who are providing care to loved ones through the Family Caregivers Tax Credit, Employment Insurance Special Benefits for those caring for a dying relative or a critically ill child and a new Information for Caregivers portal on the seniors.gc.ca website.

Economic Action Plan 2014 further demonstrates the Government’s commitment to caregiving by announcing plans to launch a Canadian Employers for Caregivers Plan to better support employees balancing both work and caregiving responsibilities.

Please join me today in thanking all caregivers across our country for their ongoing efforts, compassion and devotion in assuring quality care for our loved ones.

Thank you.

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.

March 22, 2014 – Richmond, British Columbia – Department of Canadian Heritage

On behalf of Minister of State (Sport) Bal Gosal,Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today announced the Government of Canada will provide the Canadian Fencing Federation with $50,000 through Sport Canada’s Hosting Program. Funds will support the organization’s hosting of the 2014 Vancouver Men’s Epee Grand Prix, which will be held in Richmond on March 22 and 23, 2014.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada contributed $422,500 to the Canadian Fencing Federation in 2013–2014 through Sport Canada’s Sport Support Program
• In 2013–2014, almost $225,000 was provided through the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) to support 22 fencing athletes with living, training, tuition and special needs expenses.
•  The Canadian Fencing Federation is a non-profit, amateur sports association and the national governing body of fencing. It includes ten provincial fencing associations, which in turn represent over two hundred local clubs from coast to coast. Its mandate is to establish, develop and support fencing in Canada and to represent Canada on the international scene.

Quotes

“We are pleased to support the Canadian Fencing Federation’s hosting of the 2014 Vancouver Men’s Epee Grand Prix, which provides world-class competition for our elite athletes, in addition to promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to the local community.”

“We are pleased to support the Canadian Fencing Federation’s hosting of the 2014 Vancouver Men’s Epee Grand Prix, which provides world-class competition for our elite athletes, in addition to promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle to the local community

– Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

“Our Government is committed to ensuring Canadian athletes are provided with the support needed to reach the podium at every opportunity. I am thrilled to see this event taking place in Richmond, and I wish great success to all athletes at the Grand Prix.”

– Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“The Canadian Fencing Federation and the Vancouver Grand Prix Organizing Committee are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of the Government of Canada. Hosting fencing events such as one of only three yearly Men’s Epee Grands Prix in the world is a huge honour and places Canada at the front of the world stage. These challenging World Class events show their foresight in recognizing the tremendous advantages that hosting international events brings to our country, far beyond the valuable sport tourism dollars. ”

– Brad Goldie, President, Canadian Fencing Federation

Associated Links

Sport Canada

Fencing Canada

2014 Vancouver Men’s Epee Grand Prix

The New Horizons for Seniors Program will help local organizations offer services benefiting seniors across Canada

March 19, 2014 – North Vancouver, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada

Seniors across Canada will soon have new opportunities to mentor younger generations, help raise awareness of elder abuse and take part in community activities, Minister of State (Seniors) Alice Wong announced today. Minister Wong joined the Parkgate Community Services Society, a Vancouver-based not-for-profit organization, to highlight the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) now supporting hundreds of community-run programs across the country.

The Government of Canada is providing more than $33.4 million in funding for over 1 770 community-based projects across Canada. These projects, selected from the NHSP’s 2013–2014 call for proposals, will lead to a variety of new programs and activities for seniors.

Quick Facts

• Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes an additional $5 million per year for the NHSP to support projects that enable seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others. These projects also help communities increase their capacity to support seniors at a local level.
• Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 13 000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.
• NHSP-funded projects help offset the challenges of our aging demographics, which is important since the number of seniors in Canada is expected double in the next 20 years. For example, the Peel Elder Abuse Support Program produced a short film—Our Voices, Our Lives—to raise awareness of elder abuse.
• My Parkgate Break will provide seniors in the North Vancouver area with an opportunity to deliver art, fitness, recreation and social programs to seniors living with dementia.
• Economic Action Plan 2014 keeps Canada on the path back to balance in 2015, benefiting all Canadians.

Quotes

“Our government recognizes the diversity of skills, knowledge and experience that seniors contribute to our society and the economy. Through initiatives such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are helping to ensure that seniors maintain a good quality of life and continue as active, participating members of their communities.”

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

“Parkgate Community Services Society (PCSS) received a grant from the New Horizons for Seniors Program to fund a pilot project, My Parkgate Break, for a new innovative volunteer supported program for isolated seniors with early or moderate dementia. This program was conceived, planned and driven by the members of the Lionsview’s Seymour Seniors Action Table and staff from PCSS. This program will provide a safe, stimulating and life-enhancing place for participants, an opportunity to increase community capacity to enable seniors to live successfully within their community and much-needed respite for caregivers.”

– Lisa Reinders, Executive Director, Parkgate Community Services Society

Associated Links

• New Horizons for Seniors Program
• Funding: New Horizons for Seniors
• Economic Action Plan 2014

Contacts

Earl Maynard
Office of the Minister of State (Seniors)
613-716-5422

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Backgrounder

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 their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others. Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 13 000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.

NHSP funding is targeted to both community-based and pan-Canadian 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.

Pan-Canadian projects provide support to help seniors protect themselves from elder abuse, including financial abuse and fraud abuse. These projects can enable community members to better recognize elder abuse in all its forms and to improve the quality of life, safety and security of seniors. Projects focus on developing tools, resources and promising practices that can be adapted and shared across communities, regions or Canada and may be eligible to receive up to $250,000 per year for a maximum of three years.

Over 1 770 NHSP community-based projects were approved through the 2013–2014 call for proposals, for a total of more than $33.4 million in funding.

Funding Breakdown

The next NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects is anticipated to be launched in the spring of 2014. For more information on the NHSP, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.

Canadians won’t pay GST/HST on acupuncturists’ and naturopathic doctors’ professional services

March 18, 2014 – Burnaby, British Columbia – Department of Finance

Minister of State for Seniors and Richmond MP Alice Wong, along with Vancouver South MP Wai Young, on behalf of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, today highlighted the Harper Government’s support for families through new health-related tax relief.

They were joined by John Lee, Task Chair of the Canadian Coalition of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Associations.

Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes a number of measures to reduce the tax burden on Canadians, including health-related tax relief such as an exemption from the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) on acupuncturists’ and naturopathic doctors’ professional services. Changes to the tax treatment of these services and other GST/HST health-related measures announced in Economic Action Plan 2014 became effective on February 12, 2014.

This tax relief builds on the Harper Government’s record of keeping taxes low for Canadians and their families.

Quick Facts

Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes measures that will expand health-related tax relief by:

– Exempting acupuncturists’ and naturopathic doctors’ professional services from the GST/HST.
– Expanding the list of eligible expenses under the Medical Expense Tax Credit to include costs associated with service animals specially trained to assist individuals with severe diabetes, such as diabetes alert dogs.
– Providing further tax recognition for costs associated with eligible specially designed medical therapies and training by:
   – Expanding the current GST/HST exemption for training that is specially designed to help individuals cope with a disorder or disability to also exempt services of designing such training, such as developing a training plan.
   – Including amounts paid for the design of an individualized therapy plan as an eligible expense for income tax purposes under the Medical Expense Tax Credit.
– Adding eyewear specially designed to electronically enhance the vision of individuals with vision impairment that is supplied on the order of a physician or other specified health professional to the list of GST/HST-free (zero-rated) medical and assistive devices.

Quotes

“Whether it’s the introduction of the Family Caregiver Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the ongoing expansion of eligible expenses under the Medical Expense Tax Credit, or the many other actions taken by our Government since 2006, the Government is proud of its record of keeping taxes low through health-related tax relief that better reflects the health care needs of Canadians. The tax relief highlighted today, including the exemption of acupuncturists’ and naturopathic doctors’ professional services from the GST/HST, continues our commitment to support Canadians and their families.”

– Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors and MP for Richmond

“I am very pleased to be part of a government that recognizes acupuncture as an important health service that should be recognized with a GST exemption. This should lower costs for Canadians seeking these services.”

– Wai Young, MP for Vancouver South

“We welcome the new measure to add acupuncture services to the list of important health services that are exempt from the GST. This will help alleviate the burden for patients seeking acupuncture treatment. As the Task Chair of the Canadian Coalition of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Associations, I thank the federal government for recognizing this.”

– John Lee, Task Chair, Canadian Coalition of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Associations

Come and visit Alice Wong on Friday, March 14th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Enjoy refreshments, learn about the MP office and meet your Member of Parliament.

Location: Unit 360, 5951 No. 3 Road (London Plaza), Richmond, BC

Today, the Honourable Julian Fantino, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, is condemning the vandalism of the Richmond Cenotaph, a monument to First World War Veterans that sits in front of City Hall in Richmond, British Columbia. The vandalism took place on Tuesday, according to police.

“Vandalizing a memorial to those who served Canada is shameful. The memories of the men and women who put their lives at risk to protect our country must be preserved, protected and honoured. I encourage any community members with information about this incident to contact local police immediately,” said Minister Fantino. “The perpetrators should face the full force of the law.”

“The department of Veterans Affairs has reached out to the City of Richmond and we will ensure that they have financial support for their restoration efforts if needed,” added Minister Fantino.

The Government of Canada runs the Cenotaph/Monument Restoration Fund in part to help communities make repairs following unfortunate incidents such as this.

“I am deeply troubled by the actions of those who would deface a memorial which represents the sacrifice of lives in service to our country,” said Alice Wong, Conservative Member of Parliament for Richmond. “Richmond has a heritage of service, and acts like this disrespect the memories of the veterans that we cherish.”

Minister Fantino also restated his support for Bill C-217, a private member’s bill from David Tilson, Conservative Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, that would see harsher punishment for anyone who vandalizes war memorials and cenotaphs. The Government of Canada hopes this legislation passes urgently, to hold criminals accountable.

“This egregious act of vandalism underscores the importance of preserving the sanctity of monuments built in memory of those who served our country. We must ensure that anyone who commits vandalism against a war memorial will face strong consequences,” said Minister Fantino.

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.