Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table two petitions signed by almost 500 Canadians.
The petitioners call upon the government to amend the Old Age Security Act to eliminate the 10 year residency requirement for OAS and guaranteed income supplement, to work with provincial governments to waive the enforcement of financial support in situations of genuine immigration sponsorship breakdown involving a senior, to establish a nominal public transit charge for all seniors in Canada and to provide government funding for more affordable housing for seniors who are members of specific ethnic communities.
The petitioners note that uniting seniors with their families through immigration is a core aspect of forming strong, healthy and vibrant communities in Canada. They believe these measures would greatly assist in meeting those goals.