Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear the hon. member for the NDP speak about seniors. That was one of my main topics today because seniors were totally left out of the throne speech. Of the 23 pages in the throne speech, only about 10 words referred to seniors, and I cannot accept that.
Statistics Canada has reported that between 1991 and 2001 the number of Canadians aged 65 or older increased by 12%. Moreover, it reported that this trend will increase more rapidly as of 2011, when the oldest baby boomers reach the age of 65. It also reported that between 1991 and 2001, the number of Canadians over 80 years of age increased by 41%. If these trends continue, experts now predict that by the year 2011 there will be over 1.3 million Canadians over the age of 80. I cannot believe that the throne speech did not even refer to them or talk about them.
The effect of this coming of age will be so significant that the United Nations has described it using the term “age quake”.
Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus, or CARP, has said that the impact on society will rival that of the industrial revolution. That is what it is talking about with our seniors. Yet seniors' issues warrant only 10 words in the whole speech.
The changing demands of an aging population will dramatically affect how government will need to address the economic, social and health care needs of Canadians.
Yes, to the hon. member who just spoke. I was the mayor of Saint John for four terms so I know what the member was speaking about.