Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Gourde.
The fact is that we've made some important changes when it comes to seniors. We are not only reducing all kinds of taxes, like the GST, so they have more money in their pockets, and reducing income tax for people at the low end, but we are improving, by the way, the GIS. It is up 7% over the two years, over and above cost of living increases.
The new exemption is also really important. Many seniors want to work. They're vital. They're in good health. The new exemption we put in the budget would mean that they could earn up to $3,500 without it affecting their benefits. That's important, and not just in areas where labour markets are hot. Many seniors want to work and supplement their incomes and stay vital. So I think it's also an investment in the good health of seniors.
When it comes to New Horizons, we've added funding, so there's money available--I talked about this in my remarks--to make the public in general and other seniors aware of the problem of elder abuse. Senator LeBreton has taken the lead on this. I think this is a very important issue. Somebody has characterized it as being similar to the taboo in the past around the issue of spousal abuse. It was dragged out of the closet. Now we're doing the same with elder abuse. Many times this takes the form of financial abuse. Often it's within families, sad to say. So I think this is an important initiative that will help make this issue public and will protect seniors and make their lives better.