CARP welcomes Trudeau’s comprehensive plan to boost income supports for low-income seniors, enhance the CPP, and provide additional support for caregivers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARP welcomes Trudeau’s comprehensive plan to boost income supports for low-income seniors, enhance the CPP, and provide additional support for caregivers.

September 14, 2015

Toronto, ON:  Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, announced to an audience of CARP members several important campaign promises targeted at older Canadians. During a campaign stop town hall at CARP’s offices on Monday, September 14, 2015, Trudeau promised to:

  • Reverse the eligibility age of Old Age Security (OAS) to 65
  • Boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) by 10% to provide almost $1000/year more per GIS recipient – aimed especially at helping low-income seniors who live alone;
  • Set a new seniors’ price index to ensure that OAS and GIS benefits keep up with rising costs;
  • Enhance the CPP;
  • Extend the flexibility of compassionate care leave for caregivers.

Watch video of the announcement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNltRmrVQEA&feature=youtu.be

CARP has long called for a comprehensive approach to ending poverty in old age, including an increase to the CPP, restoring the OAS eligibility age to 65, increases to the GIS, and an equivalent to OAS spousal allowance for single older Canadians, 1 in 4 of whom live in poverty. Each of the campaign promises respond to longstanding CARP advocacy issues. CARP members will welcome the comprehensive set of promises aimed at reducing poverty in old age and bringing greater financial security to the most vulnerable seniors.

This is a comprehensive strategy for lifting seniors out of poverty and ensuring that they are able to save for an adequate pension. It addresses all aspects that CARP has demanded plus the seniors index, which will ensure that the relative changes are permanent, keeping pace with rising costs. It addresses their most consequential needs for income security and looking after loved ones at the most difficult times are met. Trudeau has clearly listened carefully to advocates for older Canadians.” Susan Eng, Executive VP of CARP.

At the start of the election campaign, CARP invited all federal leaders to our national headquarters in Toronto to introduce policy proposals that align with CARP’s advocacy. Justin Trudeau is the first leader on the campaign trail to accept the invitation to address directly an audience of CARP members.

CARP and its members will continue to closely monitor each of the federal parties as Election Day draws near.

CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to advocating for a New Vision of Aging for Canada, social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from discrimination. CARP seeks to ensure that the marketplace serves the needs and expectations of our generation and provides value-added benefits, products and services to our members. Through our network of chapters across Canada, CARP is dedicated to building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s mission. CARP has 300,000 members nationwide.

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Park   416.607.2471
Director, Strategic Communications
[email protected]

Michael Nicin   416.607.2479
Director of Policy & Strategic Planning
[email protected]

Anna Sotnykova  416.607.2475
Media & Communications Coordinator
[email protected]

CARP, A New Vision of Aging for Canada
or visit our website: www.carp.ca
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