Human Resources Committee on June 3rd, 2021

[Debra Shime]

I would use 211, which is a helpline across the country, as a perfect example of why we call ourselves “human services”. It is a phone line. You can also go on and search—somebody like me can go on and search for a service, come up with some solutions and make some calls.

A senior might need help even prioritizing what the issues they have are. They can often work through that by talking to a live person to navigate which services and where to go. That individual can also identify if those seniors are in need of support. The human part of the human services sector is really essential to ensuring that people can live and to supporting the continuum of care that's needed for seniors in our community.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

On the individual transfers, people talk about the guaranteed income supplement. We, of course, boosted that by 10%. They don't talk about the GST rebates. That was about $400 per person across the country, which is also a direct transfer to individuals. Now, as well, there is the new top-up for people over the age of 75. All of these measures collectively....

Madam Tassé-Goodman, at the end of the day it doesn't matter what cheque from the government becomes bigger. What matters is that the household contribution grows. Whether it's CPP, OAS, GIS, the GST rebate or even the refund on a price on pollution, as long as all of the federal transfers to individuals increase, seniors do better. It doesn't need to be one or the other.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Please provide a brief answer.

[Danis Prud'homme]

Basically, it is true that all this improves the situation of seniors, but only as long as no age–based discrimination is taking place. Unfortunately, that is the case here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Prud'homme.

Thank you, Mr. Vaughan.

We have a couple of minutes left. I'm going to suggest one question each.

So Ms. Chabot and Ms. Gazan could each ask a question.

Ms. Chabot, do you have one last question to ask?

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Shime, you said something important in your testimony concerning assistance for community support. You were saying that assistance should be provided according to organizations' missions, their autonomy and their needs. As far as I understand your testimony, support programs should be very flexible, so that they could be adapted to all organizations, which can differ from one another.

Did I understand correctly?

[Debra Shime]

I think one of the benefits of the way we collectively responded through this pandemic was the great flexibility. Funders, government included, stepped up and asked local leaders to tell them what they needed and how they need to spend those funds. That allowed that creativity to happen at the local level.

We do not want to lose that. It is really essential for us to be able to locally solve the problems that are in front of us and to work with the many experts in those communities to figure out what the best programmatic and other supports are for ensuring that seniors can live at home.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Ms. Shime.

The last question is for you, Ms. Gazan. You have the last word.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll follow up with Réseau FADOQ.

I spoke to you about a guaranteed livable income. Part of the reason I discussed that is I really believe that a lot of seniors in the country don't live in dignity. They're not given what they need to live in dignity.

I'm wondering if you could provide some further thoughts and speak a little bit about what you believe is creating age-friendly care environments. What are your thoughts about aging in place?

[Danis Prud'homme]

Thank you for the question.

First, if a country wants to have a user–friendly society in terms of care, it must focus the care on aging. That is what experts and the World Health Organization are saying, but that is unfortunately not being done or too much time is being taken to do it.

Second, if we want seniors to live at home, they must be provided with care at home. Unfortunately, that was no longer possible during the pandemic, and we have seen their health deteriorate. So budgets must be reversed: more funding must be provided for home care and less must be invested in curative care—in other words, hospitals.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Mr. Prud'homme.

Thank you to all of our witnesses for being with us today.

The United Way is very prominent right across the country, not just in seniors programs but in many others.

We very much appreciate the work that you do and for being with us.

Réseau FADOQ is a very important partner in the province of Quebec. We thank you for your work in your province and in your communities.

We also thank you for your testimony today. I know that your group is often invited to committee meetings, and for good reason.

Thank you very much.

Colleagues, do we have consent to adjourn?

I see that there is consent in the room. Thank you.

We'll see you next week. Have a good weekend, everyone.

The meeting is adjourned.