CARP Pre-Budget Policy Proposals for Provincial Governments

Help Older Workers to stay Employed– create/expand the skills development and job matching programs proposed in the last Budget to ensure continued employment and employability

Help Employers to Keep Older Workers – improve workplace protection for older workers, including accommodating caregiving responsibilities, health plan coverage, enforceable anti-ageism standards and incentives for innovative management practices that remove barriers and take advantage of the knowledge and experience of the older worker

Affordable Housing In 2001, approximately 61% of seniors lived in one of Canada’s 27 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs).[iii][iii] Another 9.1% lived in other urban areas with populations of 50,000 or more. Combining these two categories, roughly seven of every ten seniors in Canada lived in an urban centre with at least 50,000 residents.

In Canada’s three largest urban areas – Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal – seniors account for 11.1%,12.1% and 13.0% of the population respectively. Almost one-third of all seniors in Canada (31.6%) reside in one of these three CMAs.[iv][iv] Consequently, it is essential that affordable senior’s housing complexes without a comprehensive range of supportive services be built in high density areas to ensure that seniors are close to needed services.

Rural communities present a distinct problem, something that Canadian Pensioners Concerned refers to as “heartland versus hinterland”. They suggest there might be a political divide that makes small town politicians reluctant to take on affordable housing.

“Rural municipalities don’t want to take responsibility for social housing because there is no provincial funding for operating costs and these costs can’t be met under the present local tax structure either.” [Viewpoint, View newsletter November 2009]

The last federal budget included provisions to allocate $400 million to senior’s housing which required provincial participation and the by the Provinces. Looking towards these new developments is important to bear in mind that senior’s housing – affordable or otherwise – is not just a bricks and mortar issue. In affordable housing projects that cater to seniors, assisted living services are equally important as well as accessibility requirements. As the aging population generates more demand for affordable and supportive housing, it will be essential for Provinces to deliver integrated housing and services along the continuum of care. This will require integration between the housing and health care sectors. British Columbia’s Independent Living B.C. and Senior’s Supportive Housing programs are good examples of provincial housing and health partnerships that integrate housing and care services.

Living spaces should be developed in accordance with the principles of universal design that extend beyond the obligations conferred by the building code to accommodate mobility and other challenges without costly retrofitting.

Form an inter-ministerial committee to address both housing and support services;

Coordinate funding for the delivery of a supportive housing program that will deliver a range of client-centered options along the continuum of care; Develop a central database that will track supportive housing projects and available units;

Ensure that developments serving seniors but not offering a comprehensive range of services are centered in high density areas while also ensuring that rural areas are not underserved.