Absolutely. This has been a long-standing problem. It started with the CPP and the QPP.
In fact, the experience was that in the province of Quebec, there was nearly 99% uptake of people's QPP because the department actually went out, sought out people, and let them know they were entitled. That still doesn't adequately happen with the CPP, so a lot of people find out after the fact that they were eligible. By that time, they're limited to 11 months' retroactive payment, which may not be the full amount that was owing to them.
The same thing occurs with the GIS. It's even worse, because we're talking about people who are in the lower income strata, who are often there because they are disconnected from the workplace, social services, and so on. So they're probably the last people to figure out that they should do this.
So it's incumbent upon the government agency that's going to offer this support, which is of course very welcome, to actually help them get it. One of the easiest ways, of course, is to work within the income tax system.
As you know, with the OAS now, but not before, the department actually lets people know that they may be eligible and invites them to apply. The same thing should occur with respect to the GIS.