Evidence of meeting #68 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 need.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Associate Professor, Cape Breton University, As an Individual
Absolutely.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
You also brought up an important aspect, the 20,000 beds that people could free up by returning to live at home.
Earlier, Dr. Marcoux mentioned that it would be very important to start with the basics, namely awareness of the need for existing infrastructure. This momentum must come from the major decision-makers, at the federal or provincial level.
Do you think it's possible to estimate the cost of those 20,000 beds?
If we invested that amount in housing, would that help us save money or would it cost more to keep those people at home?
President, Canadian Medical Association
Earlier, I said that beds in short-term facilities cost an average of $850 a day and that keeping people at home was much cheaper.
We certainly need to improve the accommodation of people at home, but the life of a senior is not limited to housing. The community must be welcoming to the elderly. That's why I was talking about changing the culture towards seniors. Sidewalks, pedestrian areas, entrances to public places must be adapted to encourage seniors to get out of their homes.
Healthy seniors don't stay within four walls waiting to die. They are involved in society and they feel that they are still part of it. That's very important, and that's why we say that the wealthy live longer. They have the means to go out, to be taken places, to go to the theatre or the cinema, and all the rest. For their part, people who have no means are confined to the house and wait to die. This is not the way to respect seniors.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Do you think the federal government plays a significant role in isolating seniors, depending on the decisions we make?
President, Canadian Medical Association
You have to raise the red flag. It's up to you, your government is pan-Canadian. It is up to the federal government to raise the flag and tell the provinces that this problem is on the horizon and that it concerns us all.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
As we can see, the federal government has a lot of work to do. The testimony has revealed problems with the incredible wait times in Alberta, for example, which have increased over the past two years.
We are talking about money for housing, but the money has not yet been invested, in British Columbia, for example, where the needs are significant.
Earlier, Mr. Morrissey mentioned the guaranteed income supplement. According to the Chief Actuary of Canada, 230,000 seniors will be denied the guaranteed income supplement. That’s $3 billion less for them. So there is work to do.
I will go to my two questions right away.
I'm going to speak slowly because I would like an answer from our anglophone witnesses.
A Quebec organization said that every government should look at every policy through a seniors lens. It's a growing part of the population. I'd like to hear whether you think it would be appropriate in a national strategy to include that any Canadian government would have to look at any policy through an elders lens.
I'll start with Debra, if you understood my question.
Chief Executive Officer, Langley Lodge, Langley Care Society
Should the federal government, all levels of government, look at policies through a seniors lens?
Chief Executive Officer, Langley Lodge, Langley Care Society
Yes, they should.
In the age-friendly communities design, which we have done in Langley...I was involved in a committee that took our township through those steps to become an age-friendly community. That is one of the measures of an age-friendly community. That's a good suggestion.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
I will turn to my friend from Grande Prairie. It is a little like sustainable development. We said every branch should look into it. What about living people, our elders? Should the government have this seniors lens?
Director, Grande Prairie and Area Council on Aging - Seniors Outreach
I agree. I think they should.
We're a non-profit agency. Getting the information from the front-line workers, the caregivers who are right there with the seniors hand in hand helping them.... They have a very strong opportunity in the community to help the seniors speak. We're front line. We're there with them.
You can get more for less with non-profit oftentimes, because the caregivers are working overtime. We're there night and day taking their calls.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
That's true. Actually, that's why my colleague Mark Warawa feels there should be a credit. Here in Ottawa, is there support for having this seniors lens? Are you in favour of that?
President, Canadian Medical Association
We are certainly in favour of that. I talked about the seniors' culture, which encourages us to do nothing without thinking that one in five people—and soon one in four—will be elderly.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
In my riding in Lévis, it's already one in five people. It's an aging population.
Mr. Marcoux, you said that the number of seniors will double in 30 years and that they must be kept in shape. We introduced a tax credit for young people, but it was scrapped by the Liberal government.
In recommendation 9 of your brief, you talk about physical activity. Would a tax credit be a good incentive to keep young people and seniors active? You talked a lot about prevention.
President, Canadian Medical Association
The policy we are proposing provides for a tax credit for caregivers.
President, Canadian Medical Association
Caregivers are overwhelmed by the burden of their task. They have to miss work and they are putting their health at risk.
Anyone can do this for a few weeks, but it is often impossible to care for seniors who are losing their independence and who have to wait a long time before they are placed somewhere.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
There should be a tax credit for caregivers. Ms. Dennis also talked about it.
Mr. Marcoux, you are a doctor. We now know that the government wants to tax entrepreneurs, including doctors. Do you think that the infamous Morneau tax will help keep doctors in the regions? Will it have negative effects on seniors?
President, Canadian Medical Association
We talked about it yesterday at the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. I'll say it again today: changing a system that has been around for 45 years will have unexpected, unpredictable and probably negative consequences.
Of course we must review the tax system. Any system, including the 50-year-old health care system, needs to be reviewed and adapted to modern times. However, you must take the time to check if the stairs are sturdy before you step on them.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
So it should not be at the expense of seniors, which is what is happening right now.
President, Canadian Medical Association
It must not be at anyone’s expense.
Conservative
