Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

TORONTO — Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Joe Oliver, and Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, announced today that the Harper Government has renewed the popular ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. This initiative is helping Canadians save on home improvements and energy costs while protecting the environment.

“Our Government is committed to easing the burden of high energy costs on Canadians and putting more money back in their pockets,” said Minister Oliver. “With this program, Canadians can make their homes more energy-efficient and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.”

“Canadians can apply today,” said MP Gourde, speaking in Quebec City. “Especially during summer and construction season, we want as many Canadians as possible to take advantage of this grant.”

Until March 31, 2012, homeowners may be eligible to receive grants of up to $5,000 to make their homes more energy-efficient. The program could help up to 250,000 Canadian homeowners improve their homes’ energy efficiency and generate as much as $4 billion in economic activity across Canada.

Prior to Budget 2011, the Government of Canada provided retrofit incentives to over half a million Canadians. Homeowners who participated in the program saved an average of 20 percent on their energy bills.

For more information, visit ecoaction.gc.ca/homes or call 1-800-O-Canada (800-622-6232). TTY: 1-800-926-9105. Grant amounts are listed in the “Grant Table for ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes.”

CANADIANS ARE INVITED TO SHARE THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE 2012 FEDERAL BUDGET

Ottawa, June 27, 2011 –

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is inviting Canadians to participate in its annual pre-budget consultation process. The Committee will invite witnesses to appear at hearings in Ottawa and in the communities indicated below. The results of our consultations, including our recommendations, will be tabled in the House of Commons in December 2011. The suggestions by Canadians and by the Committee will be considered by the Minister of Finance in the development of the 2012 federal budget.

Experience has shown that, following a financial crisis, economic stagnation may occur. Although Canada did relatively better that most industrialized countries during the recent global financial and economic crisis, the nation’s economic recovery is likely to be affected by a range of global and domestic factors and uncertainties: the fragile recovery in the United States, high levels of debt in some European countries, natural disasters, the withdrawal of fiscal stimulus measures, the impact of a strong Canadian dollar on various sectors and the rising indebtedness of Canadian households, among others.

In this context, and bearing in mind the fiscal situation of the federal government, the Committee is interested in receiving the views of individuals and groups about four primary issues: how to achieve a sustained economic recovery in Canada, how to create quality sustainable jobs, how to ensure relatively low rates of taxation, and how to achieve a balanced budget. In particular, the thoughts and suggestions of Canadians about how to attain high levels of job growth and business investment in order to ensure shared prosperity and a high standard of living for all are being sought.

If you wish to appear before the Committee during the pre-budget consultations, please send an email to the Clerk of the Committee no later than Friday, July 29, 2011 and indicate three locations where you are willing to appear. The individuals and groups invited to make a presentation to the Committee will be contacted by the Committee Clerk, on behalf of Committee members, no later than the third week of September.

The deadline to submit the accompanying written brief is no later than Friday, August 12, 2011 in order that the brief can be translated and distributed to Committee members. You are able to submit a brief even if you do not wish to appear before the Committee. Briefs should be no longer than five pages in length, should include an executive summary, should contain a maximum of three recommendations that reflect your most important federal tax or program spending priorities, and should – where possible – indicate the expected federal cost of your proposal and/or ideas on areas in which federal spending could be reduced.

In the event that briefs contain more than three recommendations, or three recommendations that contain a number of parts, only the first three recommendations or the first part of a multi-part recommendation will be considered by the Committee.

The July 29, 2011 and August 12, 2011 deadlines must be respected in order for the Committee to plan its work; consequently, exceptions are not possible.

The Committee hopes to hold public hearings in the following cities:

* Whitehorse, Yukon
* Prince Rupert, British Columbia
* Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
* Windsor, Ontario
* Toronto, Ontario
* Montreal, Quebec
* St. John’s, Newfoundland
* Moncton, New Brunswick

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:
Guyanne L. Desforges, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Finance
Tel: 613-992-9753
E-mail: FINA@parl.gc.ca

SUPPORTING CANADA’S SENIORS

Minister of State (Seniors) Alice Wong today will highlight that more than 680,000 of Canada’s lowest-income seniors will now benefit from the most significant increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in 25 years. The GIS increase is the latest measure the government has taken to support Canada’s seniors.

Since 2006 the government has provided over $2.3 billion in annual tax relief for seniors and pensioners, removed 380 000 seniors from the tax rolls completely, introduced pension income splitting, ushered in an automatic renewal of the GIS, made significant investments in affordable housing for low-income seniors and doubling the pension income credit.

As pledged in the Speech from the Throne, the government will also combat elder abuse in all its forms and raise awareness of this serious issue.

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers has been extended, and mandatory retirement age for federally-regulated employees has been eliminated, giving seniors who want to remain active in the workforce the freedom to make that choice.

The government received a strong mandate from Canadians to improve seniors’ quality of life. Alice Wong is working hard to ensure that policies, programs and services continue to provide opportunities for seniors to improve their well-being and quality of life.

On July 1, 2011, Canada celebrates its 144th birthday. The following is a video from Alice Wong:

The player will show in this paragraph

The following is a transcript:

Hello, I’m Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond and Minister of State for Seniors.

Canada Day is a day for celebration with family and friends. Canadians celebrate this day in many ways, but most importantly, it’s about celebrating the country we love. Canadians are guided by shared beliefs in freedom and democracy and we take pride in those values. This Canada Day, let’s consider how fortunate we really are to be Canadian. I wish you and your family a memorable and safe Canada Day.

HAMILTON, ONTARIO — Today, Federal, Provincial and Territorial (F/P/T) Ministers Responsible for Seniors agreed to focus on four priorities by working with their respective provincial, territorial and federal colleagues. These priorities are: championing innovative responses to the needs of seniors in the areas of living arrangements and housing, and transportation; identifying and helping to prevent elder abuse, especially financial abuse; promoting active participation in the community through employment or volunteering; and improving access to government services and benefits.

The Ministers tasked senior officials to advance work on these priorities and report back to them.

The Ministers shared their respective best practices to address the opportunities and challenges of an aging population. They also agreed to take leadership to support the well-being of Canada’s seniors, and agreed on future priorities to guide their work.

“I welcome the opportunity to meet for the first time with my provincial and territorial colleagues,” said the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and federal co-chair of the meeting. “These discussions contribute to our efforts to both anticipate and respond to the evolving needs of an aging society.”

“I am honoured to have hosted and co-chaired this year’s meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for seniors in Hamilton, Ontario,” said Sophia Aggelonitis, Minister Responsible for Seniors for the Province of Ontario. “It has been a very productive meeting and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across the country to help ensure that our seniors are able to remain healthy, active and safe in their communities.”

Ministers reviewed research on housing and support services that help seniors to age in the place of their choice and within age-friendly communities. They also discussed their shared concern regarding all forms of elder abuse, and agreed on the importance of addressing this issue. Their talks centred on the prevention of financial abuse, one of the most commonly reported forms of elder abuse.

Seniors make up a growing proportion of our population. In fact, the first of the baby boomers turn 65 this year and, in 25 years, nearly one in four Canadians will be a senior. With this demographic shift in mind, the Ministers looked at the range of perceptions, values and needs among seniors and near-seniors.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Robert Lynch
Office of Minister of State Wong
819-953-1144

Melissa Zanette
Office of Sophia Aggelonitis
Minister Responsible for Seniors

Province of Ontario
416-565-4074

Media Relations Office
Development Canada
819-994-5559

Media Advisory: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), and Sophia Aggelonitis, Minister of Revenue and Minister Responsible for Seniors, will speak at a press conference following the 13th Meeting of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors.

Minister of State Wong will be available for a photo op and to answer questions from the media following the statement.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

DATE:
Tuesday, June 28, 2011

TIME:
5:15 p.m.

PLACE:
Hamilton Convention Centre
Room 207
1 Summers Lane
Hamilton, Ontario

Contact Information:

Robert Lynch
Director of Communications
Office of Minister of State Wong
613-790-0219

Media Relations Office
Service Canada
819-994-5559

The following is a transcript of Alice Wong’s participation in the question and comments portion of the June 23, 2011 debates regarding Bill C-6, An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of postal services. Although the official date in the House of Commons was June 23, 2011, this comment was made on the 49th hour after debate started (which means it was delivered approximately 11:00am, June 25, 2011):

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Madam Speaker, I would like to comment on the presentation by the hon. member.

I have already heard from a lot of seniors in my riding who are feeling really depressed because we have not solved this and because we are still talking and talking and talking, without taking any real action, because the opposition is stalling everything.

We all understand that this work stoppage of Canada Post is already directly affecting the lives of many people, including seniors in my riding. Young people are waiting to get their student visas extended, and a lot of low-income seniors and other residents need their cheques, as well as all the other convenience of the mail.

Why is the member opposite not cooperating with the government to pass this important legislation? We need to make sure that both sides get back to the table so that the workers can resume their duties in service of the general public.

This is the time when they really should get back to work, instead of politicking.

On June 20, 2011, the House of Commons had an opposition day where they were debating the following motion (moved by Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP)):

That, in the opinion of this House, ending seniors’ poverty in Canada is fiscally feasible, and, therefore, the House calls on the government to take immediate steps to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement sufficiently to achieve that goal.

Alice Wong made the following speech in the House of Commons and also gave two responses for the “questions and comments” period after her speech:

Hon. Alice Wong (Minister of State (Seniors), CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I will address the issue raised by the hon. member of London—Fanshawe in regard to ending seniors’ poverty.

As the hon. Minister of State for seniors, I am pleased to say that we have already taken action to address this serious issue in budget 2011. That is why we will support this motion today.

The hon. member suggests that we increase the guaranteed income supplement. We have increased the guaranteed income supplement in budget 2011, which we tabled earlier this month.

I would also like to correct the member on some other facts.

With the strong mandate the Canadians have given us, we are using the next phase of the economic action plan to not only enhance the GIS but also the new horizons for seniors program.

We are also working for seniors to ensure the strength of the retirement income system by introducing a new family caregiver tax credit. In fact, when asked about these measures, CARP’s vice-president of advocacy said that its members were, “happy” and “thrilled that these issues–are being mentioned” in the budget.

I would like to go back and discuss the issue, which, in my opinion, is the most important news for seniors in budget 2011, the boost to the guaranteed income supplement. This increase will directly help those seniors who rely exclusively or almost exclusively on federal benefits. This includes many senior women and singles with inadequate incomes.

Budget 2011 measures will provide a new annual top-up benefit of up to $600 for single seniors and $840 for couples. This will improve the financial security of more than 680,000 seniors across Canada. It will help the most vulnerable seniors. This is a significant investment into our seniors population despite the government’s tight fiscal situation that will see us balance our budget by fiscal year 2014-15.

However, do not take my word for it. Let us hear what some key stakeholders have to say about our 2011 budget commitments following the initial tabling of the budget.

The C.D. Howe Institute said:

…the new Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) top-up benefit for low-income seniors, would bring a meaningful increase in benefits too low-income seniors.

Both the Service Employees International Union and the Canadian Labour Congress stated in press releases that the guaranteed income supplement increase “is a win for every senior living in poverty in Canada”.

We are providing the largest GIS increase in a quarter century to the lowest income seniors who need it most. This makes sense.

However, the GIS increase is only one of the many ways our government is helping seniors preserve their standards of living.

Canada’s seniors have worked hard to build a better country and our government believes they deserve a secure and dignified retirement.

Furthermore, Canadians are living longer, healthier lives than people in past generations. Therefore, helping Canadians prepare for and achieve financial security in their later years is a priority of our government.

It goes back to the very beginning of our mandate when we created the portfolio of minister for seniors so that older people could have a stronger voice at the cabinet table.

Since 2007, our government has made life better for Canadian seniors through a number of programs and initiatives. In fact, it was our government who introduced pension income splitting and doubled the pension income credit. We have lowered taxes and removed 85,000 seniors from the tax rolls completely. We also raised the GIS exemption, putting more money in the pockets of 1.6 million more seniors.

What did the opposition do? It voted against all of those measures. If the opposition truly intends to help seniors, it would have voted for our budget.

Speaking of the next phase of Canada’s economic action plan, we will do even more.

As minister for seniors, I am happy to say that budget 2011 has good news for older Canadians. In budget 2011, we introduced new measures to improve the financial security of Canada’s seniors, to expand their opportunities and to enhance their quality of life.

I have already mentioned that Canadians are living longer than people in past generations and they are naturally concerned about financial security after they retire.

It is important to point out that we have a strong public pension system. This year, Canadian’s will receive $70 billion in benefits through the Canada pension plan, old age security and the guaranteed income supplement, or what we call GIS. Over the years, GIS has been a major factor in reducing poverty among Canadian seniors but it is not the only factor and it is not the only area where we are making things better.

Our government also wants to improve federally regulated private pension plans. We are now working with the provinces to introduce new private pension options, such as the pooled registered pension plan. These plans would benefit millions of Canadians who have not had access to this kind of coverage before, such as employees of small and medium-sized businesses and self-employed workers.

We are helping seniors hang on to more of their hard-earned money. As a result of measures introduced by this government, seniors and pensioners will receive about $2.3 billion in targeted tax relief in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

There are many seniors who are not quite ready to draw a pension. The National Seniors Council has found that many seniors are staying on the job where they continue to share their wealth of knowledge and experience. For those seniors who want to keep working, we are changing the rules to eliminate the mandatory retirement age for most federally regulated employees.

We are also extending the targeted initiative for older workers for another two years. This initiative helps older workers who have been laid off from their jobs to retrain for new careers.

All of those measures are helping seniors financially. They are all anti-poverty measures. In fact, the incidence of poverty among seniors in Canada has dropped from a rate of 21% in 1980 to less than 6% in 2008. That is one of the lowest rates in the world.

That is not all. The next phase of Canada’s economic action plan builds on commitments to seniors made in previous budgets. These commitments include $13 million over three years in budget 2008 to help combat elder abuse, of which the most prevalent form is financial abuse. By helping seniors protect themselves from financial abuse, we are protecting their incomes and savings, and that is an anti-poverty measure.

In a previous budget, we also committed $400 million over two years for the construction of new housing units for low income seniors, and that is an anti-poverty measure because it allows older people to find decent homes at a rent they can afford.

We are also introducing general measures to help Canadian families financially that will also benefit seniors.

Caring for an infirm dependent relative can be really expensive. That is why we are introducing a new family caregiver tax credit. In addition, we are removing the limit on the amount of eligible expenses that caregivers can claim under the medical expense tax credit in regard to their financially dependent relatives. For the first time, the definition of caregiver has been expanded to include spouses and common-law partners. Many seniors are acting as caregivers and these measures will relieve some of their burden.

Seniors are also major beneficiaries of the broad-based tax relief measures that our government has introduced and other financial measures, such as the tax free savings account.

Again I would like to point out to members of the House that these measures are directly or indirectly anti-poverty measures.

The interests of older Canadians are becoming more important as seniors make up an increasingly larger proportion of our population.

Financial security is obviously important to seniors, as it is to all Canadians. It is essential to meeting the challenges and enjoying the opportunities that come with getting older. Our government will continue to do its part to ensure that security.

Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, I was interested in some of the things my colleague said, so I have two questions.

First, if the budget of the government is so tight, if it is so concerned about measures to reduce spending, why is it still giving corporate tax cuts to profitable corporations? Why is there $840 million for the banks and $35 billion for jets built in the United States, but only $1.65 a day for a single senior?

Second, if she thinks that expanded pensions are so good, that this private pooled pension is so great, then why not expand the CPP and make it adequate so people can have a decent and dignified retirement?

Hon. Alice Wong:
Mr. Speaker, the most important thing is to speak to the seniors directly and also speak to the major stakeholders.

I am happy to report to the House that I have already spoken to the vice-president of CARP and had a meaningful conversation. In fact, I will be meeting her soon in Toronto, face to face, to listen to her client’s voices.

I am also very proud to report to the House that I have already met seniors face to face. I have spoken to the stakeholders in B.C. over the past few days. I look forward to meeting the president of the National Seniors Council later this week. As well, I look forward to meeting the ministers from the provinces and territories for seniors. We will definitely come to very good solutions to better improve the lives of seniors.

Hon. Gerry Byrne (Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, there was a very serious issue that affected senior’s income not long ago. For those senior citizens who decide to withdraw their registered retirement income funds to respond to a housing crisis, emergency home repairs, emergency medical assistance, or anything else, the government decided on May 17, 2010 that they would lose their GIS benefits. Consequentially, they would also lose their drug cards and other provincial benefits tied to the GIS.

When this was brought to the floor of the House, the government said that it would amend its decision and prevent that from happening. This required a change to the Old Age Security Act.

Will the minister of state commit today that her government will immediately bring in amendments to the Old Age Security Act to ensure that senior citizens, should they withdraw their RRIFs, would not lose their GIS benefits as a result of a loss of optioning?

Hon. Alice Wong:
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Revenue has already addressed the issue, so I will not comment further on it.

However, I will be meeting the provincial and territorial ministers at the end of this month. We will be discussing a lot of issues that will be related directly to the territories and provinces.

Government of Canada Launches Call for Proposals for Seniors’ Projects

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 20, 2011) – The Government of Canada is seeking projects that will enable seniors to participate in social activities, pursue active lives and contribute to their communities.

Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), launched a call for proposals under the enhanced New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).

“Seniors are valuable members of society who have a diversity of skills, knowledge and experiences,” said Minister Finley. “The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan announces enhancements to the New Horizons for Seniors Program that will improve quality of life and expand opportunities for older Canadians.”

“As baby boomers retire, they are looking for new and meaningful ways to stay active in their communities,” added Minister of State Wong. “By tapping into their own life experiences, seniors are helping to educate others and improve the quality of life in their neighbourhoods.”

The program has been enhanced to allow a broader range of organizations to develop a greater variety of projects that meet the changing needs of communities. Through this call for proposals, the program will support community-based projects that address one or more of the program’s five objectives: promoting volunteerism, mentoring, elder abuse awareness and social participation, and providing capital assistance for new or existing projects and programs for seniors.

Organizations can apply for grants of up to $25,000. The application deadline is September 16, 2011.

The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, Budget 2011, provides an additional $10 million over two years to the NHSP, bringing the program’s 2011–2012 budget to $45 million.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For more information on the program enhancements, please visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.

Backgrounder

New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal Grants and Contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who are making a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Since its beginning, the Program has funded more than 8,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada.

In the past, the program has funded projects through three separate funding streams: Capital Assistance, Community Participation and Leadership and Elder Abuse Awareness. Rather than fund projects through these three distinct streams, the program will now support those that meet one or more of the program’s five objectives. The five objectives are:

1) promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;

2) engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;

3) expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;

4) supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and

5) providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

As in previous years, community-based projects will be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding per year for projects that meet one or more of the program objectives.

Organizations can also apply for pan-Canadian project funding when there is an open call for proposals. This funding is for larger projects that can provide support for networking, developing and delivering education and awareness activities, and creating tools and resources to help seniors protect themselves from elder abuse, including fraud and financial abuse. Eligible projects may receive up to $250,000 per year in grant or contribution funding for up to a maximum of three years.

The Honourable Diane Finley and the Honourable Alice Wong will launch the call for proposals for the New Horizons for Seniors Program

Friday, June 17, 2011

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), will launch the call for proposals for the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Ministers Finley and Wong will be available for a photo op and to answer questions from the media following the announcement.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

DATE:
Monday, June 20, 2011

TIME:
10:00 a.m.

PLACE:
Ottawa Chinese-Canadian Heritage Centre
397 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario

– 30 –

FOR INFORMATION (media only):

Ann Matejicka
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

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

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