Veterans Affairs committee  I know that time is running out, but you referred to natural caregivers. Most of us here would not have the skills required if all of a sudden a member of our family, our spouse, for example, became incapacitated and we had to care for him or her. What we recommend—

Veterans Affairs committee  Natural caregivers, for the most part, are spouses or other members of the family. We recommend a training program even before these things occur in a family. I don't think anyone is ready to provide such care or do all this work. For the past few years, we have been asking the g

Veterans Affairs committee  There are different systems in each province. In New Brunswick, for the past 30 years, we have had what we call home care services or the extramural program. It works well. This program provides care to patients once they leave the hospital, for as long as they need it. Services

Veterans Affairs committee  All the research indicates that what you have said is true. The more the government helps us to promote health, for instance through a physical fitness program... We have a program called "Grouille ou Rouille", 'Move or Rust", which has been in existence for 30 years without rec

Veterans Affairs committee  It is not easy to find solutions. Research tells us what we need to do. I don't have this research with me now, however. Last week, I attended a conference on research into aging which was held in Ottawa. Every researcher said that seniors had serious nutrition and health problem

Veterans Affairs committee  There is no doubt that there is a difference between services offered in rural areas and those offered in cities. For example as concerns Moncton, where I come from, the rural population comes to Moncton to obtain services. New Brunswick's three major hospitals are located in Mon

Veterans Affairs committee  There are about three different categories. There are those who are aged 55 and over and who are still in the labour force, there are the baby boomers who are better educated, have greater financial resources and are more professional, and then there are people of my age, 75 and

Veterans Affairs committee  As concerns forms, when people submit applications for benefits or for federal government projects... I have been involved with seniors' associations and I have been a member of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada for 20 years. We have recommended c

Veterans Affairs committee  I wouldn't go so far as to say that your health care system is better than ours. Each system has its own areas of expertise. But I get the impression that we also have what you described, and that other provinces do as well. According to the most recent statistics on the health

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm not aware of that situation. But to emphasize more what you said before when you talked about services in the language of your choice, the Government of Canada and the Société Santé en français have a good program going on. There is the development of professionals, for examp

Veterans Affairs committee  I would like to add that the aging population is a problem with a bright side. All governments, whether federal, provincial or territorial, have trouble realizing that in 20 years, we will be faced with a major problem in terms of replacing the labour force, because many seniors

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a pleasure for me to be here today. This is the first time I appear before a committee of the House of Commons and I expect it will be a great experience. On behalf of the Fédération des aînées et aînés francophones du Canada, I would like to take

Official Languages committee  I have just spent three days in Ottawa, because the Fédération des aînées et aînés francophones du Canada is a member of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada. I must say that we are worried. The first waves of cuts hinted at what was coming. We of t

Official Languages committee  Mr. Chairman, asking Willie Lirette to give a three-minute summary is a bit of a stretch, but I will try to keep to the time I have been given.

Official Languages committee  The Fédération des aînées et aînés francophones du Canada is a non-profit organization that represents each of the provincial and territorial federations. We are the only national seniors organization to include all of the provinces and territories. We now have 303,000 members. W