Ms. Ruth Gagnon at the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee

On October 19th, 2010. See this statement in context.

October 19th, 2010 / 9:40 a.m.

Member of the Board of Directors, Director General of the Elisabeth Fry Society of Quebec, Association des services de réhabilitation sociale du Québec Inc.

Ruth Gagnon

I agree, Madam Chair.

Do we really want to believe that seniors should be punished even more because of their age and their health? I do not think this is the direction we want to take.

Here are our recommendations. For these reasons, we reject Bill C-31 as it is currently worded. We believe that the proposed amendments will violate the principle of the universality of social programs, as well as adversely affect the people targeted by this bill.

Of course, there is a certain logic which dictates that an inmate should not receive the entire amount he is entitled to under Old Age Security, since he is already provided with food and lodging. It seems normal that elderly inmates make a contribution.

See context to find out what was said next.