Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today.
My question is for Ms. Gray. I'm Alistair MacGregor. I am pleased to sit as the NDP's critic for seniors' issues. I certainly hope I can continue a relationship with your organization.
The Broadbent Institute just released a report that shows the planned increase in guaranteed income supplement should remove about 85,000 seniors from the poverty rolls. While that is a commendable action, it's still going to leave about 634,000 in poverty.
It also has a statistic that shows that the overall median value of retirement assets is about $3,000 for those aged 55 to 64. I know that very much reflects the constituents in my riding. I'm from Vancouver Island. We have a lot of people earning in the neighbourhood of $30,000 to $50,000. Once all the bills are paid, it does not leave a lot left over to save. With the population of seniors set to increase dramatically over the next 20 years, I think this problem is only going to exacerbate itself if we don't take some corrective action.
I heard that a big issue for seniors is health care. I'm a big subscriber to the social determinants of health. I believe that if we don't take actions to address poverty.... We know those who live with lower incomes have poorer health overall. I certainly saw that a lot. I used to work as a constituency assistant to Jean Crowder. I met lots of low-income seniors who had to supplement their diet with a box of crackers just to make it through the month. It really makes you quite emotional when you see it up close and personal. It makes you realize that the stuff we do here in Ottawa has real effects out there.
I was just wondering. Has CARP as an organization done any studies or talked to its members about the social determinants of health? Could you offer some feedback to me on the best way forward on that?