Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for having invited me to this committee meeting.
My name is Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, and I am the President of Réseau FADOQ. With me are Chief Executive Danis Prud'homme and Philippe Poirier-Monette, special advisor to Réseau FADOQ.
Réseau FADOQ is a 550 000-member seniors organization that represents people aged 50 years and over. In all of our political advocacy, we strive to improve seniors' quality of life. We are therefore pleased to be here today to present our organization's budget priorities.
Above all else, we want to review the various measures that the federal government promised in the last election campaign, during which the federal government promised to increase the guaranteed income supplement by $500 per year for people over 65 who live alone and by $750 for spouses. It also promised to introduce a tax credit for career extension. There was also a proposal to alter the Canadian credit for family caregivers to make it refundable.
These three important measures in the 2021 election platform had been advocated by Réseau FADOQ. Our organization was therefore very pleased that the federal government had opted to implement these measures. Now, the time has come to stop talking and take action. For Réseau FADOQ, it is clear that these measures must be in the next federal budget. They are commitments that were solemnly made on behalf of seniors in Canada.
We would also like to take this opportunity today to discuss a decision made by the government, one that many seniors find it difficult to accept. In the last federal budget, the government decided to exclude people from 65 to 74 years of age from receiving the 10% old age security increase, which will now be only for those aged 75 and older. This subdivision within the population eligible for old age security sets a dangerous precedent.
Let's be clear. Any form of enhancement is welcome, but Réseau FADOQ believes that people aged 65 to 74 should also benefit. Age is only a number, and we have found as many instances of financial distress among people aged 65 to 74 as among those who are 75 and over. The government should therefore review this proposal to avoid creating two classes of seniors.
As the President of Réseau FADOQ, I need to address the subject of long-term residential and care facilities. Many seniors suffered from an inadequate health system during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The provinces have been inadequately financed by the federal government in the field of health care. It's true that there was additional funding during the current crisis, and in the last federal budget. But this assistance is neither recurring nor proportionate.
Health care funding for the provinces and territories accounts for 40% of their budget, and the Canadian government funds only 22% of these expenditures. According to the Conference Board, the federal share of health care funding will fall below 20% by 2026.
In order to make up for underfunding in recent years, Réseau FADOQ asks that the federal government index the Canada Health Transfer by 6% annually, which was the level prior to 2017. It is also important that the transfer factor in the impact of population aging in the provinces and territories.
Thank you to the members of the committee for your attention.
Mr. Prud'homme will answer your questions.