Thank you, Mr. Robillard.
As I was trying to say a bit earlier, this support program for those living in poverty is part of a broader program by the Canadian government based on three elements: economic development, sustainable development and inclusive development. Inclusive development, a key aspect of the program, is for everyone, especially seniors whose living conditions can vary a great deal. We must recognize that seniors' living conditions can be quite different, whether we are talking about health, economic security or family, and that diversity means we must demonstrate great scientific and social sensitivity.
For example, we brought the age of eligibility for the Old Age Security Pension back down to 65. That does not necessarily mean everyone must retire at the age of 65, it is not a fixed retirement age. Retirement age is a personal decision made according to one's capacity for work, and as a function of conditions that are often unrelated to that capacity: each person's working conditions, state of health and family circumstances. Bringing the eligibility age back down to 65 demonstrates a social sensitivity that will prevent seniors aged 65 and 66 from living in a society in which the poverty rate for that age group would go from 6% to 17%; in which 20% of the most vulnerable seniors would lose 35% of their income; in which 40% of the burden resulting from the former government's reforms would be born by 20% of the weakest and poorest of our seniors; in which middle-class women in that age group would lose 34% of their income, whereas men would only lose 11%. One hundred thousand seniors would fall into poverty. So this is an important social sensitivity given the context of disparity amongst seniors.
One of the elements that contributes to that disparity is income security. Over time, reforming the Canada Pension Plan will go a long way to strengthening that security. For the most vulnerable amongst us, increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement will also play an important role. That measure alone will pull 13,000 seniors out of poverty.
Finally, there is the issue of investing in housing. Seniors' housing conditions are crucial for their well-being, and in the context of our considerable investments in housing, we have clearly indicated that a substantial portion of those funds be allocated for seniors.