Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

Regina, Saskatchewan, November 29, 2013—The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), and members of the National Seniors Council (NSC) met today in Regina with seniors’ organizations, service and health providers, and researchers and practitioners to assess how social isolation affects seniors and how best to tackle the issue in Canada.

“Social isolation affects the overall well-being of seniors. It can be harmful to their health and their participation in family life, and affect their place in workplaces and communities,” said Minister of State Wong, who oversees the day-to-day work of the Council. “Our government is working hard to tackle issues like social isolation by listening to seniors and consulting with key players from the non-profit, public and private sectors.”

The NSC met with individuals and organizations from across Saskatchewan as part of a series of cross-country round tables. Social isolation touches many aspects of seniors’ lives, including active participation, healthy ageing, income security, caregiving, elder abuse and transportation. For example, social isolation can lead to depression and increased vulnerability to elder abuse, among other concerns. Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey 2008–2009 found that 19 percent of seniors aged 65 or over felt a lack of companionship, left out or isolated from others.

“We are confident that the National Seniors Council’s findings will help the Government of Canada better understand and address the needs of seniors,” said Dr. Andrew Wister, member of the NSC. “Keeping seniors active and socially engaged benefits not just the senior, but their communities as a whole.”

Since 2007, the NSC has undertaken work on elder abuse and low income among seniors, volunteerism, positive and active ageing, and most recently explored approaches to retaining and attracting older workers in the labour force.

On October 1, 2013, National Seniors Day, the Government of Canada announced a Call for Proposals to fund approximately 20 pilot projects—an investment of $2,000,000—aimed at addressing seniors’ social isolation.

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

Backgrounder

The NSC advises on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, including the opportunities and challenges arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors population.

• The Council reports to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and to the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health.  The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), is responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of the Council.
• NSC members include seniors, representatives of organizations that serve seniors and/or experts on seniors and ageing.
• The Government of Canada established the NSC in 2007 to provide advice on the overall well-being of seniors, both now and in the future.

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

• redeveloping seniors.gc.ca as a central resource for seniors including a new Information for Seniors section that brings together a variety of federal, provincial/territorial and municipal resources about relevant programs and benefits;
• providing Canadians with close to $76 billion this year through Canada’s public pension system;
• a top-up to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in 2011 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 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;
• making a strong investment in the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) through an annual budget of $45 million. Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 11 200 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada;
• investing up to $2 million for approximately 20 pilot projects that will address the isolation of seniors and intergenerational learning through the New Horizons for Seniors Program;
• actions to address elder abuse, including awareness campaigns, projects funded by the New Horizons for Seniors Program to raise awareness of elder abuse and legislation to help ensure consistently tough penalties for offences involving the abuse of elderly people; 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 – The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, today announced the arrival in Canada of the new hovercraft to be stationed at Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia – the CCGS Moytel.

“Our Government is committed to investing where it counts in the interest of the Canadian Coast Guard.  In fact, our Government has invested more in the Canadian Coast Guard than any government in Canadian history,” said Minister Shea. “We will continue to ensure the men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard have the equipment they need to do the important work we ask of them.”

Upon completion of construction, the new hovercraft was shipped to British Columbia and will soon travel to Sea Island. Following a period of training for Coast Guard staff and inspection to ensure the vessel’s optimal condition following shipping, the vessel will be accepted into the Coast Guard fleet.

“Our investment in the CCGS Moytel, a world-class modern hovercraft, is another example of our Government’s commitment to ensure the safety of fishermen, recreational boaters, and sailors in and around Vancouver Harbour,” said Minister Wong. “The name of the new vessel is in Halq’eméylem, in recognition of our First Nations’ contribution to the province’s history, culture and economy.”

The new hovercraft will be named the CCGS Moytel. Moytel is a Halq’emélem word meaning “to help each other.” Canadian Coast Guard vessels are given names that promote Canadian sovereignty, culture, geography and history. Names of vessels are selected to raise the profile of vessels and the work they do by honouring and celebrating people and places of regional and national significance.

As a replacement for the CCGS Penac, the new Moytel will be a heavy-duty, more versatile amphibious vehicle capable of patrolling inland waters. A larger more powerful vessel than the CCGS Penac, it has a greater range of capabilities and features including a bow ramp that will enable it to transport supplies such as rescue equipment and vehicles.

Since 2009, the Government of Canada has delivered over 100 vessels to the Coast Guard, including: 6 Hero-class Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels (CCGS Private Robertson V.C., CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., CCGS Corporal Teather C.V, CCGS Constable Carrière, CCGS G. Peddle S.C and CCGS McLaren); the hovercraft CCGS Mamilossa; 5 Search and Rescue Lifeboats; 2 Specialty Vessels; 3 Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessels; 30 environmental barges; and 60 small craft.

For more information:

Frank Stanek
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-990-7537

Sophie Doucet
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474

Ottawa, November 18, 2013 – For people who are preparing for, or are currently at this stage of their lives, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has developed Living in retirement, a comprehensive free guide that covers a variety of financial matters that many seniors will face, announced Minister of State (Finance) Kevin Sorenson. Filled with valuable tips and information, the new resource helps Canadian seniors prepare themselves financially so they can navigate their retirement years with confidence.

“Whether we retire early or work well into our elder years, we all need to think about our personal finance needs and plan accordingly,” said Minister Sorenson. “Through this new resource and our Government’s Economic Action Plan 2013, we are working to equip Canada’s seniors with high-quality information so they can make good financial decisions and safeguard their well-being.”

“Our government is committed to improving the lives of seniors in many ways, including financial literacy,” said Minister of State (Seniors) Alice Wong. “It is a critical life skill for all Canadians and particularly for Canadian seniors – who often face unique financial challenges.”

Living in retirementdeals with a number of topics relevant to seniors, including:

• Budgeting in retirement
• Sources of retirement income
• Public pension benefits, tax credits and other benefits for seniors
• Working in retirement
• Preventing financial abuse and fraud
• Dealing with transitions such as changing living needs, care giving and the loss of independence.

To create the resource, FCAC consulted extensively with several external stakeholders and partners.

“Living in retirement contains relevant material for seniors as a result of our collaboration with a variety of partners, many of whom deal with seniors’ issues on a regular basis and therefore, are well aware of their informational needs and the money matters they struggle with,” said Lucie Tedesco, Commissioner of FCAC.

The resource is a new addition to FCAC’s Life Event series, designed to help Canadians plan for important milestones in life so they make good financial decisions and reach their goals. Other events in the series include Planning your retirement, Living as a couple and Teaching children about money and are available on our website: itpaystoknow.gc.ca.

The launch of Living in retirement coincides with Financial Literacy Month in Canada. All month long in November, there are activities happening across the country to help Canadians increase their knowledge of personal finances. Both the Government of Canada and FCAC have hosted and participated in a number of events.

About FCAC

With educational materials and interactive tools, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) provides objective information about financial products and services to help Canadians increase their financial knowledge and confidence in managing their personal finances. FCAC informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with banks and federally regulated trust, loan and insurance companies. FCAC also makes sure that federally regulated financial institutions, payment card network operators and external complaints bodies comply with legislation and industry commitments intended to protect consumers.

You can reach us through FCAC‘s Consumer Services Centre by calling toll-free 1-866-461-3222 (TTY: 613-947-7771 or 1-866-914-6097) or by visiting our website: itpaystoknow.gc.ca.

Information: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/acdi-cida.nsf/eng/HEL-1110224227-6D4

Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines on Friday, November 8, 2013, setting off landslides, knocking out power in several provinces, and cutting communications in the country’s central region. Thousands of lives are feared to have been lost, with a large number of injuries and destruction of property and infrastructure. Approximately 9.5 million people are reportedly affected , and although needs assessments are ongoing, humanitarian needs will be substantial.

Donation criteria for individual Canadians

For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities in response to the impact of Typhoon Haiyan on the Philippines and other affected countries, the government will set aside one dollar for the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund. The government will use the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund to provide assistance through international and Canadian humanitarian organizations, employing established channels and procedures.

To be counted for the purposes of the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund, donations from individual Canadians may not exceed $100,000 per individual and must be:

• monetary in nature.
• made to a registered Canadian charity that is receiving donations in response to the impact of Typhoon Haiyan.
• specifically earmarked for response to Typhoon Haiyan.
• be made between November 9 and December 9, 2013.

Donation criteria for registered charities

Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the declaration form. Forms must be received by DFATD on or before December 23 for donations to be counted towards the size of the relief fund.

To ensure that donations are eligible for the matching program, you should ensure that:

• the donation complies with the conditions outlined above,
• the registered charity receiving the donation will be using the funds in response to the humanitarian crisis related to the impact of Typhoon Haiyan, and
• the registered charity receiving the donation will be declaring it to DFATD.

Declaration form
It is up to the registered Canadian charity to certify, through the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Matching Fund 2013 Declaration Form, that the donations declared are eligible. Registered Canadian charities are under no obligation to declare donations to DFATD if they are not satisfied that they meet eligibility requirements. Registered charities declaring eligible donations must complete the declaration form. Forms must be received by DFATD on or before December 23 for donations to be counted towards the size of the relief fund.

The Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund is separate from the funds raised by charities and will be administered separately by the Government of Canada. This means that a charity declaring the amount of eligible donations raised does not receive a matching dollar from the Government of Canada. For every eligible dollar donated by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charities, the government set aside one dollar for the fund. The government will use the fund to support the efforts of experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations to meet immediate needs in response to the crisis in the Philippines and other affected countries.

Guidelines for submitting proposals to the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund

The Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund will support experienced Canadian and international humanitarian organizations with significant in-country capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance in the Philippines and other affected countries.

Allocation of funds
Charitable organizations fundraising for the relief efforts in the Philippines and surrounding countries will not have privileged access to the fund. Allocation decisions will be based on DFATD’s humanitarian assistance guidelines and the ability of Canadian and international humanitarian organizations to access the affected populations and deliver timely, effective, and appropriate humanitarian assistance.

Ottawa, Ontario
9 November 2013

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on Typhoon Haiyan, which first hit the Philippines on November 8th:

“On behalf of all Canadians, Laureen and I extend our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones as a result of Typhoon Haiyan. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this devastating natural disaster.

“Canada is standing by to offer any possible assistance to the Philippines in responding to this emergency. Our officials in Ottawa and at our mission in Manila continue to closely monitor the situation, and remain in contact with relevant local officials and humanitarian partners.

“I am keenly aware of all the Filipino-Canadians anxiously waiting for news on their loved ones.

“Relatives and friends seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in the affected areas should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 1-800-387-3124 or 613-996-8885. They may also send an email to sos@international.gc.ca.

The following is a transcript:

Hi, I’m Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors and Member of Parliament for Richmond. Canada’s veterans have served this country with distinction, their willingness to defend democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, sets them apart as the very best our country has to offer. This Remembrance Day, I hope you will join me in commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of veterans who fought in World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, Peacekeeping Missions, and in Afghanistan. Their determination in the face of adversity will never be forgotten and we are forever in their debt. And finally, to the men and women of our armed forces, on behalf of myself, my family, and the residents of Richmond, thank you for your service. Lest we forget.

HARPER GOVERNMENT PROTECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM CYBER AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

RICHMOND, BC – On behalf of the Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, the Hon. Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond today called on the local community to take action to prevent cyber and sexual violence against women and girls.

“Recent high-profile cases have made cyberviolence and sexual violence against women and girls top-of-mind concerns for Canadians,” said Minister Leitch. “Our Government is taking action by supporting projects at the local level to help prevent these forms of violence against women and girls.”

“Violence against women and girls has devastating and far-reaching effects on the community,” said MP Wong. “The projects supported by this call for proposals will reduce violence against women in Richmond and reach out to those who have been affected by such violence. I am proud of the Harper Government’s support for grassroots initiatives like these, which improve safety for women where they live and work.”

The Harper Government will be funding these new projects through a Status of Women Canada call for proposals entitled Cyber and Sexual Violence: Helping Communities Respond.

Applications by organizations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time on December 1st, 2013. For more information on the call for proposals and eligibility requirements, please visit women.gc.ca.

In addition to this new call for proposals, the Harper Government recently announced in the Speech from the Throne its intention to introduce legislation that will give police and prosecutors new tools to address cyberbullying. This legislation will also create a new criminal offence prohibiting the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

Since 2007, the Harper Government has funded more than $62 million for projects to end violence against women and girls through the Women’s Program at Status of Women Canada. Government of Canada support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, supporting more than 600 projects across the country.

Later this month, the Harper Government will recognize 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, and will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, 2013, as well as Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on December 6, 2013.

For media inquiries only:
Barbara Mottram
Director of Communications
Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O. Ont., M.P.
Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women
Tel: 819-953-5646
Fax: 819-994-5168

For all other inquiries, contact:
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Public Affairs
Status of Women Canada
Tel: 613-995-7839

Toronto, Ontario, November 6, 2013—Members of the National Seniors Council (NSC) met today in Toronto with seniors’ organizations, service and health providers, as well as researchers and practitioners from across Ontario, for the first of a series of cross-Canada round tables assessing how social isolation affects seniors and how best to tackle the issue in Canada.

“Social isolation affects the overall well-being of seniors including their health and their participation in their families, workplaces and communities,” said the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), who oversees the day-to day work of the Council. “Our government is working hard to tackle issues like social isolation by listening to seniors and consulting with key players from the non-profit, public and private sectors.”

Social isolation touches many areas affecting seniors’ lives, including active participation, healthy ageing, income security, caregiving, elder abuse and transportation. For example, social isolation can lead to depression and increased vulnerability to elder abuse, among other concerns. In a Statistics Canada 2012 Health Report, nearly one in four seniors reported that they would like to participate more in social activities.

“We are confident that the National Seniors Council’s findings will help the Government of Canada better understand and address the needs of seniors,” said Dr. Andrew Wister, member of the NSC. “Keeping seniors active and socially engaged benefits not just the senior, but their communities as a whole.”

Since 2007, the NSC has undertaken work on elder abuse and low income among seniors, volunteerism, positive and active ageing, and most recently explored approaches to retaining and attracting older workers in the labour force.

On October 1, 2013, National Seniors Day, the Government of Canada announced a Call for Proposals to fund approximately 20 pilot projects—an investment of $2,000,000—aimed at addressing seniors’ social isolation.

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

Backgrounder

The National Seniors Council (NSC)

The NSC advises on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, including the opportunities and challenges arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors’ population.

• The Council reports to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and to the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health.  The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), is responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of the Council.
• NSC members include seniors, representatives of organizations who serve seniors and/or experts on seniors and ageing.
• The Government of Canada established the NSC in 2007 to provide advice on the overall well-being of seniors, both now and in the future.

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

• redeveloping seniors.gc.ca as a central resource for seniors including a new Information for Seniors section that brings together a variety of federal, provincial/territorial and municipal resources about relevant programs and benefits;
• providing Canadians with close to $76 billion this year through Canada’s public pension system;
• a top-up to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in 2011 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 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;
• making a strong investment in the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) through an annual budget of $45 million. Since 2006, the NHSP has funded more than 11 200 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada;
• investing up to $2 million for approximately 20 pilot projects that will address the isolation of seniors and intergenerational learning through the New Horizons for Seniors Program;
• actions to address elder abuse, including awareness campaigns, projects funded by the New Horizons for Seniors Program to raise awareness of elder abuse and legislation to help ensure consistently tough penalties for offences involving the abuse of elderly people; and
• supporting positive and active aging through the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults and falls-prevention initiatives.