Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

Calgary, Alberta, May 16, 2013—The Honourable Alice Wong, Canada’s Minister of State for Seniors, along with the Honourable George VanderBurg, Alberta’s Associate Minister of Seniors, were in Calgary today at the West Hillhurst Go-Getters Association to announce the launch of the newly revamped seniors.gc.ca, a central source of information for seniors, their families, and caregivers.

The Government of Canada continues to work with provincial, territorial, municipal, and other partners to provide seniors information on services and benefits from all levels of government. As part of this effort, seniors.gc.ca now features a new Information for Seniors section that provides an interactive map with quick links to programs, benefits and services, and includes 2-1-1 services where available.

“Our Government is committed to helping seniors maintain a high quality of life and continue to be active members of their communities,” said Minister Wong. “That is why today we are launching Seniors.gc.ca, including the new Information for Seniors section, which provides information about relevant programs and benefits, and resources to help seniors stay active, engaged and informed.”

“Seniors, families and caregivers are increasingly going online for information about government programs and services,” said Associate Minister George VanderBurg. “This newly revamped website from the Government of Canada provides easy access to the information people are looking for, including helpful links to provincial government resources and websites.”

“We are very pleased to be collaborating with the Government of Canada and provincial counterparts on new initiatives such as the ‘Information for Seniors’ section at seniors.gc.ca.  All across Canada, United Ways, Centraides and our partners are working to improve access to community services for seniors and all Canadians through the 2-1-1 phone service and www.211.ca,” said Dr. Jacline Abray-Nyman, President and CEO, United Way Centraide Canada.

Seniors.gc.ca, including the Information for Seniors section, which has been well received by seniors and stakeholder organizations, also provides information on a range of key initiatives like the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which supports projects led or inspired by seniors who want to make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities. Measures to increase awareness of elder abuse are also included on the site.

“CARP members welcome the new Seniors.gc.ca. It certainly covers the questions we get all the time and more important, helps people navigate the various programs and initiatives. Increasingly, people want to be able to handle their own affairs and access their government directly and this website will help them do that. We will let our 300,000 members across the country know about Seniors.gc.ca.” Susan Eng, Vice President, Advocacy, CARP.

“Through seniors.gc.ca, the Government of Canada is providing high-quality information to older Canadians in a clear and concise way. That’s a key ingredient in supporting informed decision-making, something we’re committed to at McMaster University and which is driving the design of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.” John N. Lavis, MD PhD, Professor and Director, McMaster Health Forum, and Member of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal Development Team.

Minister Wong noted that as part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government of Canada proposes to better protect seniors in a variety of areas, including financial services, financial literacy and health.

Visit seniors.gc.ca for easy access to government-related benefits, programs and initiatives for seniors.

Backgrounder

The Government of Canada is working hard to help improve the lives of seniors on many fronts. These efforts include:

• developing seniors.gc.ca as a central resource for seniors on government benefits and services, including finances, housing, health and wellness;
   
• providing Canadians with close to $76 billion this year through Canada’s public pension system;

• a top-up to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to help Canada’s most vulnerable seniors. This was the largest increase in 25 years to the GIS for the lowest-income seniors. This measure further improves the financial security and well-being of more than 680 000 seniors across Canada;
   
• providing $2.7 billion in 2013 in additional tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as pension income splitting and increasing the Age credit;

• providing $400 million over two years under Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors;
   
• actions to address elder abuse, which include awareness campaigns, the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), which funds projects to raise awareness of elder abuse and legislation that would help ensure consistently tough penalties for offences involving the abuse of elderly persons;
   
• increasing funding to the NHSP by $5 million, bringing the Program’s annual budget to $45 million. The Program helps seniors use their leadership abilities, energy and skills to benefit communities across Canada; and
  
• supporting positive and active aging through the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults, and falls-prevention initiatives.

Vancouver, British Columbia, May 15, 2013—Seniors across the country will soon have new opportunities to use their leadership abilities, energy and skills to continue to make a difference in their communities through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). The announcement was made today in Vancouver by the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).

“Our government recognizes the diversity of skills, knowledge and experience seniors contribute to our society and the economy,” said Minister of State Wong. “Through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are taking action to help seniors maintain a high quality of life and continue to be active members of their communities.”

The Harper government is providing more than $33 million in funding for over 1,750 community projects across Canada that will lead to a variety of programs and activities for seniors. These projects were selected from the 2012-2013 call for proposals. Since its beginning, the NHSP has funded more than 12,200 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.

Minister of State Wong also encouraged organizations that promote the well-being of seniors to take advantage of the upcoming 2013–2014 NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects.

The 2013-2014 NHSP call for proposals for community-based projects will be launched on May 22, 2013. Organizations may receive up to $25,000 in funding per year and must address one or more of the program’s five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance.

For more information and to apply for funding when the call opens, visit seniors.gc.ca.

It is thanks to initiatives such as the NHSP that the Government of Canada helps to ensure that seniors maintain their personal health and well-being. Through Economic Action Plan 2013 the Government proposes to better safeguard the well-being of seniors in a variety of areas, including financial services, financial literacy and health.

Backgrounder

New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Harper government encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

The upcoming 2013-2014 New Horizons for Seniors Program call for proposals for community-based projects will be launched on May 22, 2013. Further details will be made available when the call is open.

The 2012-2013 call for proposals for community-based projects under the NHSP was launched on May 8, 2012 and closed on June 29, 2012 for all of Canada except Quebec. The Quebec call for proposals closed on September 14, 2012.

The Government has approved more than $33 million in funding for new community projects as follows:

Funding Breakdown by Province and Territory

On May 6, 2013, Alice Wong answered one question about seniors during question period. The following is a transcript:

Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are not only raising taxes on middle-class families to fight the deficit, of course, that they created; they are also cutting important government services and programs. By making OAS harder to get, Conservatives have lifted $30,000 from the pockets of Canada’s lowest income seniors.

Yet, of course, this is not a new tack, coming from the same group that went back on its word and taxed income trusts. Do members remember that?

Just tell me, why is it that you have it in for the seniors? Why are you making Canada’s seniors—

The Speaker:
Order, please.

The hon. member well knows that she has to address her comments through the Chair, not directly at other members.

The hon. Minister of State for Seniors.

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to supporting seniors. We took actions, which included the highest GIS increase in a quarter of a century; a low-tax plan that has helped remove almost 400,000 seniors from the tax rolls completely; additional funding for affordable housing for seniors; and increased funding for the new horizons for seniors program.

The Liberal leader seems to want to talk about seniors, as opposed to acting on their behalf. He voted against the many measures we have introduced that better the lives of our senior citizens. Is he still against them?

OTTAWA, April 18, 2013 – The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), was pleased to meet with international counterparts and stakeholders to discuss seniors’ issues while on a recent trade mission to China and Japan with the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

“During my visit, I had the opportunity to engage with organizations to discuss not only the challenges and opportunities presented by our aging populations, but also to share best practices,” said Minister of State Wong. “We all share the same objective: to advance the overall well-being of seniors and encourage them to stay active, engaged and informed in their communities.”

Minister of State Wong met with individuals and various organizations including: Japan’s Minister of Justice, Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki, to discuss their approach to protecting seniors from various forms of elder abuse; Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Secretary of Labour and Welfare, Hong Kong SAR, to discuss efforts which promote the financial security of seniors; as well as with Mr. Chen Chuanshu, Executive Vice President of the Chinese National Committee on Aging, to discuss demographic change and approaches to enhancing seniors’ participation in their communities.

Minister of State Wong was pleased to discuss the Government’s actions to improve the lives of seniors, such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program and; the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative; as well as the development of the seniors.gc.ca website, a central resource for seniors that provides quick and easy access to all government-related benefits, programs and initiatives.

For more information on Government of Canada programs and initiatives for seniors, please visit www.seniors.gc.ca.

April 17, 2013
Tianjin, China

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), receive kites presented by students from Yinghua Bond International College, which is offering a Canadian curriculum program for students who wish to prepare for study overseas. Of the school’s 54 graduates, 53 will travel to Canada this fall to attend Canadian universities or colleges.

Attracting international students is a priority for the Government of Canada. As of December , 2012, there were 81,646 Chinese students in Canada. China is now by far Canada’s largest source of international students. Canada and China have set an objective of 100,000 students studying in each other’s country by 2017.

Canada provides a safe, welcoming and cost-effective environment for international students seeking a high-quality education. Attracting the best and brightest students is key to Canada’s long-term prosperity.

For more details about cooperation in education between Canada and China, please visit More Success for Canadian Schools in China.

Minister Fast is on a two-week visit to Asia that includes stops in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Beijing, Harbin and Tianjin before he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Indonesia.

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Photo: Minister Fast (left) and Minister of State Wong (right).

April 15, 2013
Harbin, China

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) tour the McCain Foods Ltd. processing plant in Harbin, China. In 1994, McCain started working in China to identify the best potato-growing areas and optimal potato varieties. The Harbin plant opened in 2005 and employs 250 people. McCain currently claims more than 60 percent of the Chinese market for frozen French fries.

McCain Foods Ltd., headquartered in New Brunswick, employs approximately 19,000 people on six continents. The company is a leader in the frozen food, produce and transportation businesses. A privately held Canadian company, McCain has more than 50 manufacturing facilities globally and annual net sales of more than $6 billion.

Minister Fast is on a two-week visit to Asia that includes stops in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Beijing, Harbin and Tianjin before he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Indonesia.

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Photo: (left to right) Minister Paradis; Minister Wong; Minister Fast.

April 13, 2013
Hong Kong

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, accompanied by the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture) and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), visit the Canadian Pavilion at the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s International ICT Expo, Asia’s leading information and communications technology (ICT) trade show. Twenty-two Canadian companies are participating in this year’s Canadian pavilion at the Expo, along with representatives from Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

The ministers held a roundtable with Canadian participants to discuss opportunities for ICT companies in Hong Kong.

The ministers also took the opportunity to congratulate the Canadian company OpenText for its recently awarded contract with Hong Kong Polytechnic University for the implementation of OpenText’s enterprise content management solution, which will help the university to better manage its increasing volumes of records and other information.

Minister Fast is on a two-week visit to Asia that includes stops in the cities of Tokyo, Yokohama, Hong Kong, Beijing, Harbin and Tianjin before he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Indonesia.

Left: The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, meets with Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. On April 10, the ministers announced that the next round of negotiations toward a Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement would take place from April 22 to 26, 2013, in Ottawa.

Right: The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, meets with Akira Amari, Japan’s Minister of Economic Revitalization. The ministers discussed the potential for deepening the trade and economic relationship between their countries. (left to right: Minister of State Wong, Minister Fast, Minister Amari, Senior Vice-Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura)

April 11, 2013
Tokyo, Japan

April 12, 2013
Yokohama, Japan

Japan is Canada’s fourth-largest export market, with exports worth some $10.4 billion in 2012. Canada is actively engaged in free trade negotiations with Japan as part of Canada’s ambitious pro-trade plan for jobs and growth. A Canada-Japan joint study found that an economic partnership agreement could boost Canada’s gross domestic product by $3.8 billion a year—equivalent to almost 30,000 new jobs or an increase of $325 to the average Canadian family’s annual income—and Japan’s GDP by up to $4.4 billion. The study also found that an agreement could increase Canadian exports to Japan by as much as 67 percent.

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Photo: Minister of State Wong (second from left), meets with Satoshi Oshita, Head of Contents and President, NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. (left); Shukuo Ishikawa, President, NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. (third from left); and Hajime Nakatani, President, NAMCO BANDAI Studios Inc. (right).

April 10, 2013
Tokyo, Japan

April 10, 2013 – The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), on behalf of the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, announced today during a trade mission to Japan that NAMCO BANDAI Studios Inc. (NBS), the digital video games developer that created Pac-Man, will open an online social game development studio in Vancouver.

“Our government’s top priority remains jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister of State Wong. “Canada’s vibrant, diverse and creative digital media sector provides fertile ground for this new partnership. World-class companies like NAMCO BANDAI Studios Inc. set up operations in Canada because of our renowned leadership in the digital media industry, skilled workforce and world-leading investment advantages, and in doing so, they provide good, high-value jobs for talented Canadians.”

NBS’s new online social game workplace will be located in Vancouver’s Centre for Digital Media. The centre is a graduate school jointly run by British Columbia’s top four post-secondary institutions: the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. The Vancouver office is expected to be operational in June 2013. NBS also plans to explore the possibility of opening a second studio in Eastern Canada in the future.

“As we build our global development network, we are very honoured and excited to have found Canada as our partner,” said Hajime Nakatani, President of NBS. “Canada has demonstrated a deep understanding of the digital media and game industries, especially in Vancouver, which has a long history as a pioneer in game development. This makes it a perfect choice for our first step forward in establishing our global network. I am confident that we will be able to achieve new and amazing feats in Canada, thanks to its great talent pool, leading-edge academic and research institutions and pro-business federal and provincial governments.”

Key Canadian digital media strengths are in video and computer games, development tools, animation and visual effects. Canada’s game industry is expected to grow 17 percent in 2013, up from 11 percent in 2011. According to a report by the Information and Communications Technology Council, there are between 2,300 and 3,200 digital media firms in Canada employing more than 52,000 people and generating annual revenues of over $3.5 billion.

“With one in 10 Canadian jobs linked to foreign investment, our government understands that attracting new investment is essential to creating jobs and prosperity for Canadian businesses, workers and families,” said Minister Fast.

In 2011-12, Canada’s rock-solid economic fundamentals and leading investment advantages helped attract 152 new foreign businesses and expansion projects worth $20 billion to Canada. More than 7,700 new jobs were created as a result.

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Photo: Minister of State Wong (centre) with delegates from the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative roundtable.

April 8, 2013
Shanghai, China

On behalf of the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), attended an Asia-Pacific Gateway round table in Shanghai, China. Participants at this round table included Canadian and Chinese representatives from ports, railways, shipping and logistics companies, as well as local partners of Canadian companies.

The Asia-Pacific Gateway’s geographic location makes it ideal for facilitating trade between North America and Asia. The Government of Canada and its partners have taken action by making strategic investments in the transportation systems supporting Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Asia-Pacific trade. The round-table event provided an opportunity to promote the Asia-Pacific Gateway—together with Canada’s railways and the Port of Metro Vancouver—as the premier link in the supply chains between China and North America. In 2011, the value of Canadian cargo exports to China via the Gateway totalled $16.8 billion.

Ministers Fast and Wong are leading a five-day trade mission to advance the interests of Canadian businesses in China and Japan, which in turn will create jobs and increased prosperity in Canada.

Minister Fast and Minister of State Wong are accompanied on the trade mission by representatives of 18 Canadian companies, mainly small and medium-sized, from Canada’s Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and medical imaging sectors.

The trade mission, which is being organized by Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, is one of several strategically focused, sector-specific missions that Minister Fast has led since taking on the international trade portfolio.

Located in more than 150 cities worldwide and in regional offices across Canada, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, part of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, is Canada’s most extensive network of international business professionals. The Trade Commissioner Service helps companies that are looking to export, invest abroad, attract investment or develop innovation and R&D partnerships.

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