Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

On April 4, 2012, Alice Wong answered one question about pensions during question period. The following is a transcript:

Mr. Mike Wallace (Burlington, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government understands the importance of a secure and dignified retirement for people who have spent their lives building Canada through hard work. That is why in 2006, we have taken action to ensure that retirement income is sustainable and is there when Canadians need it.

Will the Minister of State for Seniors please update the House on the measures we are taking to ensure that Canadians’ retirement income is sustainable today and tomorrow?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Burlington for the question. That is exactly what we are doing.

That is why, since 2006, we have introduced such measures as pension income splitting, billions in annual tax relief for seniors and the largest GIS increase in 25 years.

But we also need to ensure that future generations can count on sustainable retirement benefits when they need them. Changes made to OAS will be phased in between 2023 and 2029, giving Canadians up to 17 years to plan and adjust accordingly. No current recipients will be affected. That is the good message for all Canadians.

TORONTO, March 15, 2012 — The Government of Canada announced today the introduction of legislation which will help ensure that sentencing for crimes against elderly Canadians reflects the significant impact that crime has on their lives. The announcement was made by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; along with the Honourable Alice Wong, M.P. for Richmond and Minister of State (Seniors); and Robert Goguen, M.P. for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice.

““Our Government has a responsibility to protect elderly Canadians and to ensure that crimes against them are punished appropriately,” said Minister Nicholson. “This legislation will help ensure tough sentences for those who take advantage of vulnerable members of our society.””

““This legislation would further support our Government’s common front to combat elder abuse in all forms,” said Minister of State Wong. “Elder abuse will not be tolerated. Our Government is committed to ensuring that Canadians are made aware of this serious issue and that they have the necessary information and support to take action and help prevent abuse.””

Under the proposed amendment to the Criminal Code, evidence that an offence had a significant impact on the victims due to their age – and other personal circumstances such as health or financial situation – would be considered an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes.

The amendment would ensure a consistent application of sentencing practices that treat the abuse against individuals who are vulnerable due to their age and other personal circumstances seriously. The Criminal Code already contains similar measures that denounce the abuse of vulnerable persons. For instance, it states that the abuse of a person under the age of eighteen is an aggravating factor at sentencing.

““The interests of law-abiding citizens should always be placed ahead of those of criminals,” said Parliamentary Secretary Goguen. “Our Government will continue to honour our 2011 platform pledge to protect our seniors.””

The Government addresses elder abuse in a number of ways, including its elder abuse awareness campaigns and the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which includes projects to increase awareness. In 2011, the Government increased its investment in the New Horizons for Seniors Program by $5 million per year, bringing the program’s annual budget to $45 million.

More information about elder abuse can be found at www.seniors.gc.ca.

Backgrounder: Elder Abuse Legislation

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Julie Di Mambro
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621

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Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State (Seniors)
613-790-0219

Media Relations
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613-957-4207

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

On March 8, 2012, Alice Wong answered one question about seniors during question period. The following is a transcript:

Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, a shocking 46.5% of elderly Canadian women live alone in poverty. This is double the poverty rate for elderly men in Canada. Seniors’ poverty particularly touches aboriginal and immigrant women.

Will the government implement a real strategy to fight poverty and make reforms to our pension system to lift all senior women out of poverty?

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, the fact remains that our government is working hard for all seniors. It was our government that introduced a low tax plan that removed thousands of seniors from the tax rolls completely. It was our government that introduced pension income splitting and the largest GIS increase in a quarter century. It was her party that voted against all of these.

Canadians know that they can count on this government to deliver for seniors.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, March 6, 2012— Today, the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced the National Seniors Council’s new priority for 2012: seeking employers’ views on how to retain and attract older workers specifically those who are most vulnerable.

“It is important that the Council speak to employers about their views on the challenges and opportunities of an aging workforce,” said Minister of State Wong. “Input from the Council’s engagement activities will provide the Government of Canada with valuable information to help shape policies, programs and services that support older Canadians.”

Last year, the Council examined labour force participation of seniors and near-seniors, and intergenerational relations. The work of the Council this year is expected to build on that momentum by talking to employers about the challenges and opportunities posed by an aging workforce and seeking best practices from employers in recruiting and retaining older workers.

The National Seniors Council advises the Government of Canada on current and emerging issues and opportunities related to the quality of life and well being of seniors, both now and in the future.

Since 2007, the Council has undertaken work on elder abuse, low income among seniors, volunteering among seniors, positive and active aging, labour force participation among seniors and near seniors, and intergenerational relations.

For more information on the Council, please visit www.seniorscouncil.gc.ca.

For more information on what the Government of Canada is doing for seniors, visit seniors.gc.ca.

Victoria, British Columbia, March 2, 2012—The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors, hosted a round table event today with local seniors’ organizations from theVictoria area. This event, hosted by the Centre on Aging,University ofVictoria, was part of a series of cross‑Canada consultations to discuss key issues that matter to seniors in the area.

“The Government of Canada is committed to the well-being of Canadian seniors,” said Minister Wong. “Through these round tables, our government is engaging key stakeholders to discuss elder abuse and other important seniors‑related issues.”

It is estimated that between 4 and 10 percent of Canadian seniors experience some form of elder abuse. The Government of Canada is taking action to increase awareness of this issue through its elder abuse awareness campaign and a component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program that provides grants to increase awareness.

The outcome of these round table discussions will help inform the direction of future government policies and programs on elder abuse and seniors’ issues.

For more information on what the Government of Canada is doing for seniors, visit seniors.gc.ca.

This news release is available in alternative formats on request.

London, Ontario, February 24, 2012—The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), hosted a roundtable event today with local seniors’ organizations from the London area. The event was part of a series of cross-Canada consultations to discuss key issues that matter to seniors in the area.

“The Government of Canada is committed to the well-being of Canadian seniors,” said Minister Wong. “Through these roundtables, the Government of Canada is engaging key stakeholders to discuss elder abuse and other important seniors‑related issues.”

It is estimated that between four and 10 per cent of Canadian seniors experience some form of elder abuse. The Government of Canada is taking action to increase awareness of this issue through its elder abuse awareness campaigns and a component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program that provides grants to increase awareness. The most recent instalment of the elder abuse awareness campaign is running during the month of February.

The outcome of these roundtable discussions will help inform the direction of future government policies and programs on elder abuse and seniors’ issues.

For more information on what the Government of Canada is doing for seniors, visit seniors.gc.ca.

This news release is available in alternative formats on request.

Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada in Guangzhou, China
10 February 2012
Guangzhou, China

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the following remarks in Guangzhou, China:

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and thank you Governor Zhu for your greetings and thank you Ed, for your warm words. Governor Zhu, Lieutenant Governor Lee, Mrs. Lee, Ambassador Zhang, Ambassador Mulroney, colleagues from the Parliament of Canada, ladies and gentlemen. First, I’d like to thank our friends here at the Canada-China Business Council, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong, for partnering with the Government of Canada for this superb event. It’s a great honour to speak before such a group as this; the organizers deserve our hearty congratulations!

“I’m very pleased to be here in historic Guangzhou, one of China’s largest cities, a place with a rich history of thousands of years of civilization, today blessed by a dynamic and energetic population, whose industry reaches literally around the world. Actually, this whole province of Guangdong is a special place for Canada. In fact, no part of China has provided more of its sons and daughters as immigrants to Canada, than Guangdong province.

“Canada has been enormously blessed by the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of people who came from this area, and on their behalf, I am proud to bring you greetings. Let me just introduce my friends and Cabinet colleagues who are with me, Ministers John Baird, Ed Fast, Gerry Ritz, Joe Oliver and Alice Wong, why don’t you all stand up and be recognized. Perhaps I should say ‘re-introduce them,’ because all of them have visited your country before, some more than once. Indeed, Minister Wong, like Lieutenant-Governor Lee, hails from Hong Kong, another great Chinese city, from which many people come to Canada, and achieve great things.

“And I would be remiss not to give a special greeting to our master of ceremonies, Canada’s very own Mark Rowswell, or as you know him, Dashan. Dashan is a remarkable goodwill ambassador between Canada and China, and I’m grateful to him for shortening his vacation to spend a few days with us and I assure you we’ll feed you more than bamboo over the next decade. Also on a return trip is my wife, Laureen, who I really shouldn’t forget to mention! Laureen and I visited Beijing and Shanghai slightly more than two years ago.

“On both of our trips to China you have indeed been gracious hosts. Earlier today, we spent some time with Party Secretary Wang, it was a cordial and constructive conversation and it will be helpful in our objective of broadening the strategic economic partnership that Canada and China share.

“Since our last visit, there has been considerable progress, for, despite our enormous differences, we share some important similarities. We are both countries looking forward, with the conviction that the new century will be our century. We are both ambitious, outwardly focused, trade-oriented, eager to strengthen our partnership, in fact, to take that partnership to the next level, for Canada has been built on trade. And now, more than ever before, Canadians are looking to profoundly diversify our trade relationships and to deepen our cooperation here, and right across this region. I shall return to this theme later.

“First, however, I’d like to talk about the results of work we have done in recent years. During my visit, my 2009 visit, Canada and China signed agreements dealing with several areas, including tourism, cultural exchanges, climate change, energy conservation, green technologies, and of particular importance, was education. Following our 2009 agreements, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of Chinese students studying in Canada. There is no better place in the world to study than Canada. That’s why more than 60,000 Chinese students now attend Canada’s world-class colleges and universities, that’s a 35 per cent increase in just four years, and the number is growing.

“Another area where we’ve moved forward quickly since 2009 is tourism. This was given a special impetus during my last visit, when China gave Canada Approved Destination Status. There has since been tremendous growth in travel. From January to October of 2011, Canada received more than 200,000 visits from China, an increase of almost 25 percent in one year alone, and we look forward to welcoming even more Chinese visitors in the years to come. But we haven’t stopped there. On Wednesday, we witnessed the signing of several government-to-government agreements. They dealt with air transportation, with agriculture, with double taxation. We renewed an earlier memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation, and we have agreed to jointly fund science and technology research into human vaccines and clean transportation. And on Thursday, we witnessed the signing of a large number of business contracts, worth nearly $3 billion.

“Many very large Canadian companies are keenly interested in China, and especially in Guangzhou. For example, Scotiabank, one of Canada’s largest banks, has had a growing presence in Asia for years. Now, Scotiabank has just entered into a partnership in the Bank of Guangzhou. Another Canadian household name is Bombardier. Bombardier has been supplying light rail transit cars and systems to the Guangzhou and Shenzhen Metros. I could go on, for there are other major Canadian companies active in southern China: grain handler Viterra in Guangxi province, and Calgary’s Husky Oil partnering with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, using its world-class expertise to explore and exploit deep-water oil and gas deposits in the South China Sea. In other words, the potential of partnerships in China, and especially here in Guangdong Province, is very much on our radar.

“So, ladies and gentlemen, what does it mean when we say we want to take the Canada-China strategic economic partnership to the next level? It means we recognize the great potential synergies of our economies and we seek to work together to secure the advantages they offer, and, friends, let me remind you of what foundational strengths Canada brings to the table. Canada’s strengths as a partner are considerable. As a developed economy, Canada is technologically sophisticated, and in this era of global economic crisis, Canada has demonstrated far stronger fundamentals than most of its peers. For example, for the fourth year in a row, the World Economic Forum says Canada’s banks are the soundest in the world. Among the G-7 countries, Canada maintains the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment and the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio by far. No wonder Forbes magazine ranks Canada as the best place on the planet for businesses to grow and create jobs. No surprise that the OECD and the IMF predict our economy will again be among the leaders of the industrialized world over the next two years, and, Canada has abundant natural resources. Those natural resources are critical things that China needs, as the Governor said, and will continue to need, to power the kind of industrial growth that you are witnessing, minerals, food, lumber, advanced expertise in a wide spectrum of activities, and, of course, Canada has energy.

“Now let’s just talk about that for a moment. Canada is not just a great trading nation; we are an emerging energy superpower. It has abundant supplies of virtually every form of energy, and you know, we want to sell our energy to people who want to buy our energy, it’s that simple. Currently, 99 per cent of Canada’s energy exports go to one country – the United States. And it is increasingly clear that Canada’s commercial interests are best served through diversification of our energy markets. To this end, our government is committed to ensuring that Canada has the infrastructure necessary to move our energy resources to those diversified markets. Yes, we will continue to develop these resources in an environmentally responsible manner, but so too will we uphold our responsibility to put the interests of Canadians ahead of foreign money and influence that seek to obstruct development in Canada in favour of energy imported from other, less stable parts of the world.

“So friends, when it comes to energy resources, taking things to the next level means recognizing we are natural trading partners, and that we should engage more deeply. We’ve also announced an agreement building on our long-standing nuclear cooperation, to increase the export of Canadian uranium to China, but taking things ‘to the next level’ means more than just increasing energy sales. This week, I was truly pleased to announce with Premier Wen the conclusion of negotiations on a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between our two countries. This Agreement will provide greater predictability and protection for Chinese and Canadian investors, across a wide range of enterprise. It will allow them to do business with confidence; it will lead to more investment. Ultimately, that will lead to more growth and jobs for Canadians. That’s why Canadian governments have sought such an agreement for almost 20 years. It is therefore an historic step forward in our economic partnership, and we will immediately begin to build further on this achievement. We have committed also, to move to the next step, by soon concluding our Joint Economic Complementarities Study, and from this, engaging in discussions on further deepening our trade and economic relationships. In other words, on this visit, we have seen not just great progress, but also the beginning of much more progress to come. All that is at the high and lofty level of our hard-working and dedicated officials. What does it mean to people on the street, in China and in Canada? It means, simply, opportunity; opportunity that leads to growth and to jobs. That’s why Canada, under our government, has built a network of eleven trade offices in the People’s Republic of China. That’s why you have observed the accelerating pace of high-level exchanges, that’s why, consistent with our strategic partnership, we are here today.

“Are there obstacles? Of course there are. Canada does not, and cannot, disconnect our trading relationship from fundamental national values. Canadians understand that our wealth and prosperity have come about, and are broadly shared, not just because of our abundant resources and hard work, but because of our commitment to freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights for everyone. Canadians believe, and have always believed, that the kind of mutually beneficial economic relationship that we seek is also compatible with a good and frank dialogue on fundamental principles, such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of belief and worship, and they demand that their government, Canadians demand that their government and their businesses, uphold these national characteristics in all of our dealings. Canadians also demand that their government be a responsible global citizen in dealing with peace and security challenges that confront the world, and, wherever we can, we urge other governments, including global actors like China, to do the same.

“Now friends, in saying these things, let me be clear that I do not claim to fully understand the unique kinds of challenges that a huge, emerging, spectacularly expanding economy such as this one faces. Today, the drive in from the airport is a powerful picture of how millions of people are bettering their lives through industry and investment. Without a doubt, this is its own kind of liberation. Nor do I ignore the undeniable differences of Chinese culture and history. However, as Canadians, our history has taught us that economic, social and political development are, over time, inseparable, and it is our national creed that people of all cultures can be Canadian, enjoying and participating in all aspects of our democratic society as, indeed, Canadians of Chinese origin do today. Therefore, in relations between Canada and China, you should expect us to continue to raise issues of fundamental freedoms and human rights and to be a vocal advocate for these, just as we will be an effective partner in our growing and mutually beneficial economic relationship.

“Ladies and gentlemen, in 2010, we had the pleasure of welcoming President Hu on his official visit to Canada. In the past two days in Beijing, we had the opportunity to renew our acquaintance, as well as to talk with Premier Wen, Chairman Wu and Vice Premier Li. I am encouraged by our discussions, encouraged that in this time of both great opportunity and risk in the global economy, our two great countries can cooperate for the mutual benefit of our peoples. Now some will observe that, despite all that has been accomplished, much work remains to be done if we are to truly maximize the real potential of this relationship. That is true, and it is why we are here, but I will also say this: the future of our relationship is laden with promise.

“China has shown the world how to make a poor people rich, through frugality and diligence, and of course, the application of market economics. This message is validated by performance, by a 30-year average of 10 per cent per annum growth, by lifting a half a billion people out of poverty and by becoming an economic power

of the first rank likely to soon return to what it has been for most of recorded history, the world’s largest economy. The world is a better place for a China that favours free trade over protectionism, for a China that plays the constructive role it did at last year’s G-20, and for a China whose people will value social and political progress as much as its economic growth. To these things, we look forward with hope and optimism and in growing friendship.

“Ladies and gentlemen, you have been extremely generous with your time and attention. Laureen and I are also, of course, grateful for your warm hospitality. Thank you.”

On February 2, 2012, the House of Commons debated an NDP motion, “That the House reject calls by the Prime Minister to balance the Conservative deficit on the backs of Canada’s seniors by means such as raising the age of eligibility for Old Age Security and call on the government to make the reduction and eventual elimination of seniors’ poverty a cornerstone of the next budget.” The vote for the motion will be on February 6, 2012.

The transcript of Alice Wong’s remarks on this debate is as follows:

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Madam Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Simcoe—Grey.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to this misleading motion and talk about what our government is doing for Canada’s seniors. In my role as minister, I have travelled across Canada meeting many seniors. I have listened to what they consider to be important. Let me be clear. No senior who is receiving benefits today will lose a penny because of the changes we will be proposing. Any changes will be announced with a long notice period and be brought in gradually.

It is unfortunate that members of the opposition are attempting to scare seniors to score cheap political points. This motion falsely attempts to connect deficit reduction with the necessary changes to the OAS. There will be no change to the OAS until well after the budget has been balanced.

I can assure Canada’s seniors that the support our government has shown them will continue. We all know someone, a family member, friend or neighbour, who is a senior. We care about their financial future. We want to ensure that the social programs we have come to rely on are sustainable for the next generation.

As someone who was not born here, I can speak from personal experience. Canada is an example to the world when it comes to the care of seniors. We are committed to ensuring seniors have the highest possible quality of life for today and tomorrow. We must ensure the programs and services that give us this quality of life are sustainable for all citizens in the future. Striking this balance is not a choice. It is a necessity. Good choices now mean we will be able to maintain our quality of life today and in the future.

I will take a few minutes to talk about what Canada is doing to help seniors currently. Our government has consistently shown a commitment to helping the most vulnerable seniors across the country, not just with promises but with action.

This summer I was excited to see the new guaranteed income supplement top-up benefit start helping Canada’s most vulnerable seniors. This top-up is the biggest increase to the GIS in 25 years. It represents a $1.5 billion investment over the next five years. This top-up works out to $600 annually for a single senior and $840 for a couple. That is just the latest improvement we have made to the GIS.

We increased the GIS in 2006 and again in 2007, for a total increase of 7% above regular adjustments for inflation. In budget 2008, we increased the GIS earnings exemption from $500 to $3,500, meaning that GIS recipients keep more of their hard-earned money. We also reduced bureaucratic red tape by introducing automatic GIS renewal for seniors who file annual income taxes. Our work does not stop there. There are a number of areas where seniors want action and we are responding.

Seniors want leadership in their communities. In budget 2011, we provided $10 million over two years to increase funding for the new horizons for seniors program. This helps seniors use their leadership, energy and skills to benefit communities across Canada. Everywhere I travel seniors tell me how much they appreciate low taxes, thanks to our government. We have provided over $2.3 billion a year in additional tax relief to seniors through measures such as income splitting and increasing the age credit.

Affordable housing is an important measure to combat senior poverty. We invested $400 million over two years under Canada’s economic action plan for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors.

Now more than ever, good health is a concern of seniors. We are supporting positive and active aging through the collaborative age-friendly communities initiative, physical activity tips for older adults and falls prevention initiatives.

Having a voice in decisions is also important to seniors. This is why we created the National Seniors Council in 2007 to provide advice to the federal government on the well-being and quality of life of our seniors.

We proudly established October 1 as National Seniors Day in Canada. On this day, we recognize the significant and on-going contributions seniors make to families, communities, workplaces and society.

I think we can all agree that seniors abuse cannot be tolerated. That is why in budget 2008 we invested $13 million over three years to help seniors and others recognize signs and symptoms of elder abuse and to provide information on available support.

Outcomes matter. The sum of the efforts I have highlighted so far today are resulting in a better Canada, a safer Canada, a Canada that respects seniors and makes them a full partner in the decisions we make as a country. Statistics show we are moving in the right direction.

The low income rate for seniors has declined dramatically from 21% in 1980 to 5% in 2009. The low income rate among seniors in Canada is now one of the lowest rates among member countries of the OECD. That is a record of which we can be proud.

To stay on the right track, we have to plan for the future. That starts with looking at facts, not just opinions, because facts give us a very good picture of what the future will look like, both in terms of opportunities and challenges.

Canada, like many other countries, is facing major demographic challenges because of an aging population. Our aging workforce will present a growing and serious economic challenge for Canada and other developed countries. In Canada the number of seniors will nearly double within two decades.

Among that growing number of seniors, the number of basic OAS pension beneficiaries is also expected to grow, from 4.7 million reported in 2010 to 9.3 million projected by 2030. Population aging involves both current and future generations.

In the future, there will be fewer workers to support higher costs of programs such as the old age security, which is funded from general tax revenues on a “pay-as-you-go basis”. OAS benefits are paid out of the tax revenues collected each year. As the ratio of workers to seniors changes, it will mean less workers have to pay for more benefits.

Currently there are approximately four workers for every retiree. By 2030, that number will have changed to two workers for every retiree. This is why it is critical that we must make changes to the OAS program. As the ratio changes, the cost to the taxpayer of these benefits becomes increasingly high.

The Canada pension plan is a different story. This program does not involve any tax dollars. It is entirely funded through the contributions of employers, employees and the self-employed. These contributions are invested over the life of a worker and grow to cover the cost of their retirement benefits.

The chief actuary recently examined the CPP and said that it was sound for the next 75 years. Therefore, it is clear that we need to make changes to the OAS to ensure our retirement security system stays strong and that it is available to for our children and our grandchildren.

I can assure Canadians that we will provide the time required for younger generations to plan for their retirement. Let me reiterate that people currently receiving OAS will not lose a cent.

The NDP is attempting to confuse seniors. The changes we are proposing will happen long after the budget is balanced. This has nothing to do with deficit reduction. Whether it be through lower taxes, increased funding to fight poverty or simply to make our economy stronger, Canada’s seniors are the winners.

Because the motion does not reflect the intent of the government and because it is hopelessly misguided, we simply cannot support it. That is why our government will vote against the motion. I encourage all members of the House to do the same.

[Translation]

Ms. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, after listening to the hon. member’s speech, I wonder who is trying to scare whom here. The government talks about the situation being critical, but the report by the Government of Canada’s chief actuary says that our old age security system is viable and that the challenge of the aging population is a one-time challenge. We are not the ones who are trying to scare anyone. What is more, we are not trying to scare seniors. If gradual cuts to our programs and services are being announced then it is our young people who should be scared. People retiring in five, 10 or 30 years should be scared. They are the ones who probably should be worried about this government’s cuts.

Does the minister promise to open discussions before her party makes changes to programs and services for seniors? Does she promise to consult people and work with the other parties to come up with a comprehensive solution to a global challenge?

[English]

Hon. Alice Wong:
Mr. Speaker, to be very clear, there will be no changes to benefits seniors currently receive. We will ensure any changes are done with substantial notice and an adjustment period in a way that does not affect current retirees or those close to retirement. It gives others plenty of time to adjust and plan for their retirement.

Ms. Kirsty Duncan (Etobicoke North, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, expert evidence is that OAS will not cause the federal budget to crash. Instead of pushing through something during this session of Parliament, the government should publish a white paper that lays out the problem that needs to be solved, along with a range of possible solutions that Canadians can consider.

My constituents in Etobicoke North want real options for improving their pension outlook for the next several decades. It appears the government is considering raising the age of eligibility from 65 to 67. Only people who depend on OAS to stay out of poverty will have to put off retiring. Higher income earners, those whose OAS is already clawed back through their taxes, will not be affected.

Does the hon. member think this is a fair and equitable solution?

Hon. Alice Wong:
Mr. Speaker, we will not put the financial security and well-being of seniors at risk. We will take balanced, responsible and prudent action to ensure the OAS remains sustainable for future generations of Canadians.

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP):
Mr. Speaker, we hear there will be reasonable time. I find the message from the government confusing. We are told on one hand that we are panicking needlessly about things the Prime Minister said in Davos. On the other hand, seniors are very concerned and so are people approaching retirement age.

When the minister says that there will be reasonable time for a phase-in of, for instance, moving the point of earliest receipt of benefits to age 67, how much time does the minister think is reasonable?

Hon. Alice Wong:
Mr. Speaker, we are currently working on that and when the budget comes down, the details will be there.

Mrs. Kelly Block (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the tremendous work she does on behalf of our seniors.

The government is acting responsibly. We are ensuring that Canada’s seniors have a secure future as well as for generations to come. The NDP and Liberals are misleading and scaring seniors because the facts are clear. If we do nothing, OAS will become unsustainable.

Which initiative implemented by the government does the minister hear about the most that is helping Canadian seniors?

Hon. Alice Wong:
Mr. Speaker, what we have done for seniors with the new horizon program to keep them active and healthy, also the increase in the GIS, the continual care of our seniors with housing and all the other things I mentioned in my speech are very much welcome. They thank me and ask me to bring their positive response back to the government.

RICHMOND, British Columbia, February 3, 2012 — Member of Parliament Alice Wong (Richmond) on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced the Government of Canada’s pre-qualification for SunCentral Inc.’s new  innovation, The Sunlighting System, through the second round of the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP). Through this pilot program, the Government of Canada is helping Canadian businesses get their innovative products and services from the lab to the marketplace.

“Our government is focused on creating conditions to promote jobs and economic growth,” said Minister Ambrose.  “That is why we’re committed to supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who help to keep the Canadian economy moving.”

“Supporting Canada’s economy is our number one priority, and today’s announcement is great news for the workers at SunCentral Inc.,” said MP Wong. “Our Government is putting its support behind their innovation designed right here in Richmond and bringing them one step closer in moving their innovations into domestic and international markets.”

SunCentral Inc.’s innovation, The Sunlighting System, harvests sunlight from building facades and channels it horizontally, deep into each floor, via hybrid light fixtures reaching areas previously not reached by windows and skylights.

“We are honoured to be a pre-qualified innovation in the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program.  The Canadian government plays a key role in accelerating the adoption of our technology and represents an ideal proving ground for our innovative green technology,” said Tony Formby, President & CEO, SunCentral Inc..

The CICP is a $40-million pilot program launched as part of the Economic Action Plan. Successful companies may see their pre-commercial products and services tested within government operations, and will be given relevant feedback from participating departments.

CICP demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to building the jobs and industries of the future by creating the conditions for continued success of industries that are the foundation of Canada’s prosperity.

In total, 27 innovations from Canadian companies pre-qualified for funding under the CICP’s first round and 36 innovations under the second round.

The CICP is managed by PWGSC’s Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, whose mandate is to improve accessibility to government procurement opportunities for small and medium enterprises. Launched as part of the Government of Canada’s Budget 2010, the CICP is a new initiative to promote Canada’s economic growth.

For the complete list of the successful innovations, please refer to the backgrounder.

For more information, please visit www.buyandsell.gc.ca/innovation or look for upcoming Calls for Proposals on www.merx.com. You can also contact the CICP team by email at innovation@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca or via the toll-free line at 1-800-811-1148.

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Every year the Ministry of Finance publishes a report titled “Where your tax dollar goes”.

It is designed to give Canadians a general breakdown of where their federal tax dollars are spent, as well as how they are collected.

The most recent edition, the 2010-2011 publication, can be found by clicking here.

The following graphic is a very brief summary with a pie-chart of where your tax dollar goes.