The Minister of Finance will be hosting pre-budget telephone town halls across the province to participate in the government’s ongoing dialogue with the citizens of Ontario.

In this pre-budget consultation, the Minister is particularly interested in hearing Ontarians’ views regarding what more the government can do to help families, create jobs and improve services for people, while eliminating the deficit.

The Ministry of Finance will be hosting pre-budget telephone town halls across the province. The Ministry’s news release stated that the they were “particularly interested in hearing Ontarians’ views regarding what more the government can do to help families, create jobs and improve services for people, while eliminating the deficit.”

Let’s make sure they don’t forget older Ontarians! Anyone who lives in the communities listed below and is interested in participating in a telephone town hall can register by calling 1-866-989-9002. The sessions are scheduled as follows:
North Bay: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Thunder Bay: Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Time: 7:50 – 8:50 p.m.

Brantford: Monday, March 7, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Kitchener: Monday, March 7, 2011
Time: 7:50 – 8:50 p.m.

Make sure you take CARP’s message to the politicians. CARP Pre-Budget Asks focused on ensuring financial security for older Canadians as well as support for family caregivers.

Read the article on CARP’s Pre-Budget consultation submission

or
Read CARP’s entire Pre-Budget Consultation Submission

CARP PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2011 – SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

ENSURING FINANCIAL SECURITY AMONG OLDER ONTARIANS

1. Increase the level of Guaranteed Annual Income System [GAINS] payments from its current level of $83 per month; and
2. Work with the other provinces and federal government to increase substantially the levels of Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments to bring the guaranteed income from all levels of government to at least the Low Income Cut Offs [LICO]
3. Ensure that pension reform initiatives specifically accommodate the needs of the low-wage sector
4. Provide low-income, single, divorced, or widowed people between the ages of 60 and 64 with supplementary income equivalent to the spousal allowance
5. Work with the Federal government and other provinces to provide adequate and officially recognized ‘drop-out’ years from CPP calculations to people who undertake unpaid caregiving duties for older loved ones.

Health and Well-Being

SUPPORT FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

6. Develop a comprehensive Family Caregiver Strategy and work with the federal government and other provinces to develop a National Family Caregiver Strategy to support the millions of Canadians who are providing informal care to older loved ones to provide family caregivers with
a. financial support,
b. workplace protection; and
c. Integration with the formal health care system, including training and respite care

Keywords: budget, seniors