The recommendations on page 2 deal mainly with seniors. Recommendation 2 addresses tax measures that could be implemented to help seniors stay in their homes longer. Seniors want to live at home longer, and these tax measures could reduce the demand on the health care system. We are suggesting certain tax changes, including several to RRSPs and RRIFs.
There is currently no national organization that makes representations to government on the issues facing seniors. We are therefore proposing, in recommendations 3 and 4, that the government establish a consortium of seniors' organizations.
The idea would be to begin by holding a meeting to bring together representatives of seniors' organizations at the national and provincial levels to create a steering group that would speak on behalf of seniors.
We know that there is a very high demand for health care services. In recommendations 5, 6 and 7, although this is not really a tax measure that would be included in a budget, we propose that a provincial or federal committee deal with the whole issue of prescription drugs.
Thank you very much, sir.