Deb Schulte

[Seniors, November 30th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we are ensuring that the most vulnerable seniors continue to receive their benefits when they need them the most. Because of our temporary extension, over 200,000 seniors continue receive their GIS and allowance payments, even though they have not been able to submit their 2019 tax information. GIS recipients who have not already filed their tax information should file their taxes as soon as possible. We have sent letters to these seniors, and we have made calls to remind them to do so. We are making sure seniors do get their benefits.

[Seniors, November 5th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, providing supports to seniors during this difficult time has been a priority for this government. We provided a special one-time payment to seniors on old age security of $300 and an additional amount of $200 for seniors on the guaranteed income supplement. That went to all seniors who were already receiving the guaranteed income supplement.

I appreciate the member raising this issue. I will look into it further and will have more to say soon.

[Seniors, November 5th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for raising this issue. I really appreciate her bringing it forward.

Right now our focus is on supporting seniors during this pandemic. We are focused on providing the direct financial supports that seniors need to help cope with added costs and work closely with our community support organizations.

The direct financial support, as the member knows, provides more than $1,500 for low-income couples. We will continue to work to ensure seniors have the supports they need and to be there for seniors.

[Seniors, October 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I want seniors to know that they are not alone. We responded quickly with direct financial tax-free payments, and supported over 2,000 local community projects helping seniors. We responded quickly to help preserve registered retirement income funds. We reduced the minimum withdrawals from RRIFs by 25% for 2020, and as the market is volatile during this difficult time, we will continue to look at ways we can best serve our seniors.

[Seniors, October 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, while the government remains committed to implementing the policies that we have reaffirmed in the throne speech, as we have said we are focused on managing the COVID-19 public health crisis. This year we invested over twice as much on financial assistance for seniors as we committed to in our platform. We provided financial support to seniors 65 and above sooner and with greater support for the most vulnerable. Our support provided over $1,500 for couples receiving GIS. We will be there for our seniors, and we will continue to work hard to deliver for them.

[Seniors, October 1st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Cumberland—Colchester for the opportunity to send my best wishes to our elders on National Seniors Day.

Today I invite everyone to show their love and appreciation for the seniors in their lives. During the pandemic, our government has provided financial, social and health supports to seniors. We have an ambitious agenda to increase old age security and improve the quality of long-term care, and accelerate universal pharmacare and help seniors remain in their homes as they age.

We will continue to be there for Canada's seniors every step of the way.

[Seniors, October 1st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, while the government remains committed to implementing the policies as reaffirmed in our throne speech, at this time we are focused on managing the COVID-19 public health crisis. This year, we have invested over twice as much financial assistance for seniors as we committed to in our platform. We provided financial support to seniors 65 and above sooner and with greater support for the most vulnerable.

Seniors can be assured that our government has been there to support them during the pandemic and will continue to be there for them.

[Seniors, October 1st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we will be there to support the provinces and territories that need help managing their long-term care systems. Whether it is with the support of the Canadian Armed Forces, investments in PPE or providing the $3 billion for essential workers' wages, know that the safety of seniors is our top priority. Under the safe restart agreement, our government has provided $740 million to support one-time costs for measures to control and prevent infections. Our throne speech identified the additional actions we will take to strengthen long-term care in our country. We will be there for our seniors.

[Health, September 25th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to continue to talk about what the government has done to support seniors and their mental health and well-being. The throne speech was an excellent throne speech for seniors.

I want to address what we are doing right now to support those seniors. We are doing it through the new horizons for seniors program; through the $350 million in community support that is being provided to help seniors get the services and supports, including the mental health support, that they need. We also launched a wellness together Canada website portal to help seniors access those essential services they need to stay well and safe.

Steps like these go a long way in helping seniors to know that they are not alone. The government is there with them and for them.

[Health, September 25th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague for her appointment as critic. I really appreciate the opportunity to work with her as we move forward on this.

We understand the challenging times that seniors and their families have had. This situation has made it easier for vulnerable seniors to be isolated. To better address social isolation among seniors, we are investing $20 million in the new horizons for seniors program. It is providing over 1,000 new projects in communities directly supporting seniors at home and providing flexibility in the new horizons for seniors funding that we provided in January. This has helped over 700 projects to be initiated in communities helping seniors. That is also helping seniors with their mental health.