I'll start by telling you, Mr. Ste-Marie, that last December, a senior who received the guaranteed income supplement, along with old age security and Quebec pension plan benefits, obtained $18,000 a year. That's really not enough. We know very well that they're in a precarious financial situation.
Think about health care or the purchase of dentures, a pair of glasses for either nearsightedness or farsightedness, or a hearing aid. We know that they can obtain only one hearing aid. We know that these people suffer from deprivation and isolation and that they don't gather together, because they can't afford these items.
Increasing the guaranteed income supplement by $50 per month would have a major impact on their budget. We're talking about $600 a year. It could help prevent isolation and improve their quality of life.