Mr. Chair and members of the committee, my name is Herb John and I'm president of the National Pensioners Federation. With me is our counsel, Susan Eng.
The National Pensioners Federation is a national, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization of 350 chapters, clubs, groups, organizations, and individual supporters across Canada, with a collective membership of one million seniors and retirees. We are devoted entirely to the welfare and best interests of aging Canadians.
Seniors and those who care about them welcomed the measures announced in the previous federal budget, but more needs to be done. An estimated 665,000 seniors live under the poverty line today, and this is not expected to change unless more is done to provide better income supports and to reduce their critical expenses, such as home care and drug costs.
Single seniors, especially women, face far greater rates of poverty compared to their counterparts in couples. The guaranteed income supplement for single seniors increased in July 2016. That will benefit 900,000 single seniors across Canada. While absolutely welcome, it is a maximum of just $2.60 per day. Much more needs to be done to prevent poverty among seniors.
To prevent and reduce poverty among seniors, we recommend that the government increase the rates of OAS and GIS, starting with single seniors; implement the promised seniors' index, but tie it to wage rates rather than prices to keep better pace with living standards; and immediately provide housing assistance.
The promised $200 million over two years to support the construction, repair, and adaptation of affordable housing for seniors is welcome, of course, but will not have immediate effect on people now unable to both pay rent and have enough money for food and medicines. Medication and home care costs are a major source of financial strain for seniors and their families. There exist proposals to address those needs, but there is nothing immediately available to families right now.
To address the immediate health care needs of seniors, we recommend that the government, first, implement the promise to invest $3 billion in home care and palliative care. There is an immediate need for sustained funding and national standards on home care. The patchwork of palliative care must be addressed immediately, and this new funding will be a major first step.
Second, the government should implement the promise to remove the requirement for a terminal diagnosis to qualify for the EI compassionate leave benefit and increase flexibility in how the benefit may be used. The requirement for a terminal diagnosis has, in the past, stopped people from applying for the compassionate leave benefit. In addition, the flexibility in using the benefit would better reflect on how chronic illnesses play out.
Third, development of a comprehensive national pharmacare system is necessary in order to ensure that every Canadian is able to access needed medications, regardless of income and postal code.
I will now turn it over to Susan Eng, who has further recommendations for the committee.