President’s Letter March 2025
To say we are living through a period of historic upheaval is an understatement. Trade war with our closest neighbour, global unrest, economic hardship, strained healthcare systems, provincial and federal governments overburdened with budget deficits and debt. And the cost of living keeps increasing every single day.
A federal election is coming, and no matter which party forms government, it’s near certain we are headed towards tough economic times. As Canada’s population continues to age, and demand for increased healthcare and long term care grows in tandem, seniors’ benefits are in the crosshairs for potential cuts. That’s why the Canadian Association of Retired Persons is focussed on fighting to protect and strengthen hard-earned seniors’ entitlements such as Old Age Security from cuts and claw backs. Older adults have worked a lifetime contributing to a Canadian society that is enjoyed by everyone today. Now is the time for that same society to ensure that seniors live a dignified life. To make politicians sit up and listen, we need strength in numbers. That’s why your continued support as a CARP member is essential to our advocacy.
It is a credit to our strength in numbers – over 250,000 members from coast to coast – that CARP has achieved historic changes in the past, such as the elimination of mandatory retirement at 65, and increases to OAS and Guaranteed Income Supplement payments. More recently, CARP was instrumental in the establishment of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, a key step toward ensuring that dental care becomes affordable for all Canadians.
As the challenges of an aging population continue to multiply, so does our fight to end ageism. We’ve done it before. We can do it again – but only with your help. Every new member strengthens our voice and amplifies CARP’s Top 5 advocacy priorities: more investment in home care/community care; free vaccinations for all expert-recommended vaccines; ending mandatory withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds; enforcement and redress for victims of frauds and scams; and protecting OAS.
Your membership in CARP signifies that you are part of the movement to end ageism in Canadian society – in the workplace, in the healthcare system, and in the culture at large. We are a movement that respects the past, fights for changes in the present and builds a more promising future for generations of children.
No doubt, tough times lie ahead. The ever-rising cost of living alone threatens seniors’ financial well-being. And yet in the backrooms of political parties and academic think-tanks new ways to claw back seniors’ benefits are being devised, such as extending the age of OAS eligibility from 65 to 67 years and extracting more taxes from equity investments such as principal residences.
That’s why your support in the federal election is more crucial than ever. Stay in the fight to end ageism. Be sure to contact your local candidate and ask them to articulate their position on policies that contribute and support a dignified life for all of Canada’s seniors.
