Evidence of meeting #60 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was important.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
But there have been a lot of studies. One of them is from the Senate from 2009—
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
They had a great report with 32 specific recommendations that have gone practically unanswered. Which one of these recommendations do you think this committee should prioritize? Which one is a priority for you?
You were just talking about affordability. That's a recommendation, number 8, on supportive housing. The CMA has done a great job of talking about really seeing an investment in infrastructure for seniors. That's something that we desperately need across Canada.
The other thing that we talked about earlier was the GIS—that's recommendation 19—
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
—and we have pharmacare.
What do you think is the most important, and have you read the report?
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Yes, I have read the report, and I'll correct you. We have taken action already. We've increased the GIS, we've looked at home care and mental health services with the provinces, and we have an accord with all but one province signed already. There have been dollars spent, then, for home care, for mental health—
NDP
Liberal
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
—really about asking why...and the steps towards action.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
I really appreciate the motion. I understand that we're doing this important work, which is going to bring advice, but how do we know that it is actually going to translate into meaningful action?
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
In my riding of North Island—Powell River I held 11 town halls. We've definitely seen some steps, but having a national seniors strategy would really address the issue. Right now, as Stats Can has told us, we have more seniors than we have children between the ages of zero and 14 years. This isn't something that was a surprise. Here we are, much too late, having this conversation. We knew that the senior population was growing, that we needed a national strategy to address those issues in a meaningful way across all levels of government to really be of support to service providers within the communities and across Canada.
I'm wondering why the focus of your motion was really about more research instead of research with a real strong outcome of action.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
The motion itself also acknowledges a lot of the actions that we've already taken: the GIS; home care, as I said; mental health; also, reducing the old-age requirement from 67 to 65. We've already taken some measures. I agree that there are more to be taken, but we have to acknowledge what we've done in the last year and a half.
Also, I would encourage you to look at participation by you and the entire committee in moving forward on other elements. Yes, it's pressing, but we have to look at what we've acknowledged, what we've done to date, and then we have to look at moving forward.
Developing a national seniors strategy.... You could have a national housing strategy, you could have a national home care strategy, you could have a national pharmacare strategy, a dementia strategy. Each of these could have its own internal national strategy, but let's take a step forward. I'm proud that the federal cabinet has agreed for the first time to sit at the table, work with organizations, work with the provinces, work with members of Parliament to develop a national seniors strategy.
I would encourage you, then, to continue your feedback, to continue your advocacy, as you've been doing, so that we could look at specific ways to improve the quality of life of seniors all across Canada.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
My response to that is that I'm glad that some of these actions are being taken, and I'm wholeheartedly happy to be here having this really important conversation, which, as I said earlier, is long overdue. What I'm also reminding you, however, is that much of the work has already been done. We are now asking seniors to wait.
My question for you is, how long do you think it's acceptable for seniors across Canada to wait for real solutions that will make a difference to their lives?
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
There are 900,000 seniors who are very happy with the increase in the GIS. That's one. Many seniors are happy with the reduction in the age of eligibility 67 to 65. Many seniors are now looking at the affordable housing component. Many seniors are looking at the home care and mental health services. We have, then, had some successes. Right now we have to build upon them.
I disagree, then, with your saying we haven't taken any action. We have taken some action. We need to do more, and this is part of the process.
Liberal
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Good morning, Mr. Serré. Welcome to the committee.
My congratulations on your motion and thank you for your efforts to help our seniors.
I have two questions.
I am sure that, in your preliminary consultations, the theme of the isolation of seniors often came up. I would still like your opinion on the technological isolation of our seniors and the place the issue has in a national strategy designed for them.
Do you think it would be important for that strategy to consider the fact that many of our seniors are more isolated because they do not have the tools to use modern technology to its full potential?
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you for your question and for your work.
That is a very good question. We have also heard that technology allows some people to abuse the elderly. Some organizations take advantage of the fact that seniors lack some knowledge.
This is an important factor. We have to find ways to educate our seniors and to make sure that they are going to take part in their daily activities, as was mentioned earlier, but also to make use of technology. Those daily activities must include—as most do already—access to computers, to Facebook, to email. The more information we can provide to our seniors, the more able they will be to recognize certain elements of technology, to fend off potential abuse and to prevent groups from taking advantage of them. These are often even family members.
Using the technology available today and all the everyday programs, we really have to look for ways to make sure that seniors in their homes or in community centres are informed about the latest technological trends. It is very difficult.
I am 50 years old and I still have difficulty mastering all the technology that is being offered to us all the time. It certainly enters into the equation.
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Thank you.
However, I also believe that they are ready to learn. Let's encourage their families to get them the equipment they need.
Liberal
Yves Robillard Liberal Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I will use the time I have left to follow up on my initial question.
Budget 2017 announced an investment of $29.5 million over five years for a new digital literacy exchange program for not-for-profit organizations that implement initiatives that teach basic digital skills, including to seniors.
I use the example of training offered in Laval, and elsewhere in the country, where our seniors are learning to use iPads so that they can communicate with their grandchildren.
Do you think that a national seniors strategy should encourage projects like that?
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Yes, definitely. As you say, it is important to learn to use iPads and social media. A number of seniors are currently on social media but they do not recognize things that can lead to fraud. We should include that in the program. That is an aspect that I would encourage the committee to focus on also, because it is about education in the broad sense.
It has been mentioned on several occasions. A former NDP member, Lynn McDonald, did a study on it in 2015. It is something that we should focus on and it is important, because a number of elderly people, like my grandparents and my aunts and uncles, have Internet access and are on Facebook. We have to look at how we can address it in terms of specific programs for our seniors.
