And we need property tax reform so that seniors are not driven out of their homes before the caregivers get there.
Financial Security Goals
No one wants to outlive their money. Even with a well funded indexed pension, there are challenges. The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is well positioned to weather the recent market turmoil and problems with Asset Backed Commercial Paper but Teachers join with the rest of us in calling for better market regulation and compensation structures that better protect investors – large or small.
Frauds and scams target all of us but particularly seniors. CARP has reported on them as we become aware of them and we will be carrying a list on the website. We are in discussions about another regular feature that we hope will help level the playing field.
The recent Statscan report showed a widening gap between rich and poor. And seniors [65+] living in poverty now account for 0.9% of the Canadian population and represent 6% of all seniors. While these numbers might seem modest in the larger scheme of things, we are still talking about 284,000 seniors living in poverty – a group of people least able to pull themselves out of their circumstances.
For those without adequate pensions, the government income supports are barely enough to live on especially for those living in major urban areas where the services that seniors need are located.
Race and gender are additional challenges for low income seniors and in larger metropolitan areas, the higher living costs and ironically, social isolation add further to their burden.
Based on the 2000 Census, 65% of single visible minority seniors were low income compared with other single seniors of whom 39% were low income. For senior couples the numbers are a little less severe but the comparison is more stark: 15.7% of visible minority couples were low income compared with 5.6% of non-visible minority couples. The impact of racialization is self-evident.
The rate of poverty among female seniors is nearly three times that of their male counterparts. In 2005, 8% of women aged 65+ lived on low income compared with just over 3% of men.
The comparisons when seniors live alone are also telling. 13% of single men live on low income compared to the 20% of single women who live on low income.
And the numbers get worse when we look at immigrants: 42% of Canadian-born women living alone were on low income compared with 71% of senior immigrant women who had landed in Canada after 1990 and were living alone.
Consequently, while there must be a comprehensive, national Anti-Poverty Strategy that treats everyone equitably, there must also be differentiation to target the particular circumstances of groups who face distinct challenges based upon race, gender and/or urbanization.
Human Rights
Freedom from ageism and discrimination of all kinds is a basic human right.
CARP has successfully fought for the right to keep working. Mandatory retirement has been eliminated in all provinces but one and the federally regulated industries remain the last ones holding onto age discrimination at work.
