Good morning, everyone. I am pleased to be with you.
I've been asked to introduce myself and to describe some of my experience with vulnerable seniors who are at risk of violence or of finding themselves in abusive situations.
I unfortunately don't have any statistics or figures to provide, but I'm pleased to be learning a little about the subject. However, what I see, based on my experience, is that many seniors are becoming vulnerable as a result of the system in place.
Most of the seniors I meet in the course of my work have a lot of financial concerns that cause them additional problems.
Here's an example of a case involving the CERB, the Canada emergency response benefit. Members of one senior's circle made him file an application, which he did. He then received a CERB of $19,000. That's the amount he normally receives every year from the guaranteed income supplement and old age pension. What could happen to him—and we very much fear that it will—is that the government may then cut those benefits by as much as $8,000 or $9,000 for next year because he has already received that CERB amount. That will put him in a very tough position.
Here's another example. Two years ago, a senior had trouble with his tax return. Thanks to the community volunteer tax program, the CVTP, the Centre d'action bénévole fortunately has people who complete tax returns for low-income individuals, and we continue helping late filers all year long. To put it briefly, we try to rectify the situation, the government is aware of that situation, and corrective action can be taken. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we filed an adjustment request more than a year, nearly two years, ago, the adjustment hasn't yet been made. This person is therefore deprived of that money. He has been in a difficult financial position for a year now because something downstream hasn't been corrected. This is becoming a form of abuse of this person because he's the one experiencing these problems as a result of the adjustment delay.
When I say the situation is caused by the system, I mean it, and this is the kind of situation in which people ultimately find themselves.
At some point, it seems appropriate to ask what's really needed in this entire situation in order to help seniors and resolve problems that may arise with governments.
I realize I'm talking a lot about the federal government, but that's because I'm with you right now.
I have another example for you. When seniors need to identify themselves, they have to phone two levels of government. The problem with that is that, when we make calls, we have to wait a very long time.
In one particular case, I went to a senior's home to help him resolve a matter because making calls was a problem for him right off the bat. It took us an hour, trying four or five times, to resolve a situation regarding an old age pension application which could have been done 10 months earlier.
At that point, we learned that it took two months to process the application before the deadline, and once the deadline had passed, or a week or two before that, we learned that he wouldn't receive his full amount because he might have earned more money previously. So we had to file another form so he could get the full amount. That put him in a difficult situation relative to other people, who could then abuse it.
In my opinion, the idea should be to avoid adding to people's problems. I understand why people talk a lot about the legal aspect of matters, but we should avoid putting people in situations where they have to ask virtually everybody for help.
That concludes my remarks.
Thank you for listening.