Deb Schulte

[Pensions, April 12th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, we know seniors are living longer than ever before and are worried about rising health care costs and running out of savings as they get older.

That is why we have reaffirmed our commitment to increase the old age pension by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over. It will bolster the financial security of over three million seniors and lift 25,000 seniors out of poverty, two-thirds of whom are women.

Seniors built the Canada we know and love today, and they can be assured that our government will be there for them.

[Health, March 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the opposition of what we have been doing for seniors.

For many months we have been providing support for seniors through tax-free payments and enhanced community supports. While the government does remain committed to implementing policies that were reaffirmed in the throne speech, at this time they know that we are focusing on managing the COVID-19 public health crisis, and we have given billions to provinces and territories to help with public health at this time of the crisis.

Seniors can be assured that our government will be there to support them.

[Seniors, March 12th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his important question and his advocacy on behalf of seniors.

The pandemic has been hard on all of us, but it has been hardest on seniors because they are at a greater risk. Our government was able to quickly enable organizations to modify new horizons for seniors projects. Our fantastic community partners took projects that were meant to be done in person and moved them online, or shifted to address new needs like the delivery of groceries or medication. In total we funded over 2,000 new horizons for seniors projects, and in the coming weeks we will be announcing additional projects to support seniors across the country.

[Pensions, March 11th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, we definitely recognize the challenges that seniors have been facing across the country during this pandemic and the sacrifices they have been making. We also recognize that older seniors have different needs. They are more likely to outlive their savings, have disabilities, be unable to work, be widowed, all the while that their health care costs are rising. Fifty-seven percent are women, four in 10 are widows, 59% have incomes below $30,000. Our plan will help address these pressures by increasing old age security by 10% for seniors aged 75 and up. We will always be there to support seniors.

[Pensions, March 11th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, for many months we have been providing support for seniors through tax-free payments and enhanced community supports. While the government remains committed to implementing the policies as reaffirmed in the throne speech, as all members know, at this time we are focused on managing the COVID-19 public health crisis. We have provided financial support for seniors 65 and above, with greater support for the most vulnerable. Seniors can be assured that our government will continue to be there for them.

[Pensions, March 9th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to address my hon. colleague's premise. She is also mixing up pandemic relief with future pensions for seniors. I want to identify that older seniors have different needs. They are more likely to outlive their savings. They have disabilities. They are unable to work and may be widowed, and all the while their health care costs are rising.

Of seniors, 57% are women, four in 10 are widows and 59% have incomes below $30,000. Our plan will help address these pressures by increasing old age security by 10% for seniors age 75 and up. This will be the first permanent increase to the OAS pension since—

[Pensions, March 9th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my hon. colleague, as I said yesterday, that the Bloc motion failed to recognize the full range of challenges that seniors face and that we have been supporting seniors with direct financial support and enhanced programs. Our government recognizes the pressures on older seniors. As seniors age, their financial security often decreases and their needs increase. That is why our government recognizes this need and will help address it by increasing old age security by 10% for seniors aged 75 and up.

We have taken significant actions to support seniors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will always stand with seniors.

[Pensions, March 8th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians have faced significant challenges due to COVID-19, and to support seniors, our government issued special one-time payments for those who receive OAS, GIS and the GST credit. Altogether, we have provided over $1,500 for a low-income senior couple, all tax free. We will continue to support seniors and all Canadians during this pandemic. We remain committed to increasing old age security by 10% for seniors aged 75 and up.

[Pensions, March 8th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, what the Bloc motion today fails to recognize is the full range of challenges that seniors face and that we have been supporting seniors with direct financial support and enhanced programs.

Our government recognizes the pressures on older seniors. As seniors age, their financial security often decreases and their needs increase. That is why our government recognizes this need and will help address it by increasing old age security by 10% for seniors aged 75 and up.

We have taken significant actions to support seniors, especially during COVID-19. We will always stand with seniors.

[Business of Supply, February 25th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his advocacy on behalf of seniors. I really enjoy the opportunity to work with him.

We are very aware of the concerns that seniors are raising about their financial security, their access to medical services and their access to services while they are isolating at home. This is a preoccupation of the government. As members can see, we have been bringing forward many programs to address those concerns.