Finance committee  We're asking for a $50 increase in the guaranteed income supplement for the people who receive it. These are the disadvantaged people in society, since they receive roughly $18,000 a year. As I said earlier, they face a number of costs. Some seniors go without medication because they don't have enough income.

Finance committee  Informal caregivers are often retired people aged 65 and over. We're asking that the tax credit be refundable. It's currently not refundable. The FADOQ is also asking for assistance for family caregivers who provide additional support. They're often close family members. Workers are currently entitled to 15 weeks of employment insurance during which they receive an amount equal to 55% of their salary.

Finance committee  There's currently a clear shortage of experienced workers. The caregivers who make up for the shortage of these workers are a huge help. In many cases, informal caregivers are women and retired people who don't have the type of income that a worker earns on the labour market. That's why we're asking for a refundable tax credit.

Finance committee  Exactly. It improves the quality of life and helps to prevent isolation. Often, family caregivers or informal caregivers are family members.

Finance committee  I'll start by telling you, Mr. Ste-Marie, that last December, a senior who received the guaranteed income supplement, along with old age security and Quebec pension plan benefits, obtained $18,000 a year. That's really not enough. We know very well that they're in a precarious financial situation.

Finance committee  Exactly. However, it has been demonstrated that a single hearing aid is useless. As a result of all the ambient noise, seniors tend to take their hearing aids out. They need two hearing aids to keep up with everything happening around them and, ultimately, to socialize.

Finance committee  As I mentioned earlier, there was an election promise to that effect. When an election promise is made, we're confident that it will be fulfilled. We're asking that, after the death of a spouse, old age security benefits be extended for three months and transferred to the surviving spouse, especially since certain expenses incurred by the spouse during their lifetime are still ongoing.

Finance committee  Exactly. I would also point out that the deceased spouse's pension benefits stop being deposited into their bank account in the month of their death, while the surviving spouse is grieving. Any money paid after that must be paid back. We're asking for this three-month extension to help the surviving spouse meet their needs.

Finance committee  Mr. Chair and members of Parliament, my name is Gisèle Tassé-Goodman. I'm the president of the Réseau FADOQ. I want to thank the committee members for this invitation to provide the Réseau FADOQ's perspective on its budget priorities. The Réseau FADOQ has over 535,000 members aged 50 and over.