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“Federal and provincial governments need to hear from Canadians on policies and legislation that sooner or later affect us all. CARP ensures that older Canadians’ voices are heard in Parliament and that vital political promises are made and kept.”

 

CARP—A New Vision of Aging is Canada’s largest advocacy association for older Canadians promoting equitable access to health care, financial security, and freedom from ageism. Backed by more than 330,000 members, CARP is a non-partisan association that has been around for over 40 years, committed to working with all parties in government to advocate for older Canadians.

Our mission is to advocate for better healthcare, financial security, and freedom from ageism. CARP members engage in polls and petitions, email their elected representatives, connect with local chapters and share stories and opinions on urgent issues.

CARP membership support creates major changes in government policies and protects the dignity of Canadians as we age. Members are also rewarded with discounts on over 100 everyday products and services they know and love from CARP’s trusted partners.

 

CARP WINS:

BETTER AND MORE EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE

Changes to Long-Term Institutional Care

The pandemic was a wake-up call in many ways, and not the least in how broken Canada’s long term care system has become. CARP advocated strongly for the below changes that occurred recently.

→In Nova Scotia, a separate Ministry of Long-term Care was created

→Ontario Minister of Long-term Care was replaced

→CARP’s demand for unscheduled comprehensive inspections of all long-term care homes was carried out and meaningful fines and penalties introduced for homes that fail the inspections.

Decreasing the Cost of Medicine

Since the 1980s, CARP has advocated in support of equitable access to healthcare in the context of the high cost of pharmaceuticals.

→CARP’s advocacy has resulted in provincial age-based, income-based, and employment-based programs that offset the cost to individuals.

→Most recently, when Ontario recently tried to introduce a new co-pay for seniors’ prescriptions, CARP’s strong opposition resulted in the proposed policy’s demise.

Making Homecare Possible

Studies show the majority of Canadians would prefer to age in place. It also costs the government less than LTC or hospitals.

→CARP was instrumental in a $3 million home care commitment from Federal government to provinces.

→CARP continues to fight for government investment and supports that would allow Canadians to age at home.

Protection Against the Flu

Immunization saves more Canadian lives than any other form of health intervention.

→NACI recommended high dose flu vaccines are now available at no charge to Canadians 65+ in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, New Brunswick and PEI.

→Shingles vaccines are now available in Ontario for seniors 65-70 years old.

Dental Coverage

Dental coverage is a big issue for our seniors who have a fixed income and low savings.

→Ontario now provides coverage for the lowest income as a result of Ontario’s advocacy.

Access to Innovative Treatments

Canada’s healthcare has been notoriously slow in embracing innovation, and Canadians pay the price in diminished care and health outcomes. Among the most shocking results, Canada ranks 18th out of 20 comparable countries for the time it takes for us to have access to new medicines (i.e., two and a half years after a medicine first gets approved in the world).

→After CARP’s outcry, the federal government put a hold on a number of changes to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) that would make access to innovative treatment even more problematic.

Access to Optometry

Optometrists in Ontario pay out of pocket for their patients’ supposedly public funded care. In 2021, after months of requests for formal negotiations with the government, optometrists stopped providing OHIP-funded eyecare.

→CARP pushed for negotiations between the government and the Ontario Association of Optometrists, ending job action by optometrists, and ensuring the two parties could seek a fair and sustainable funding model that ensures ongoing availability of eyecare.

Self-Advocacy

Education is a pre-requisite for self-advocacy, which is a key part of navigating a serious diagnosis like cancer.

→Focused educational efforts on how older Canadians can advocate on behalf of their own healthcare especially as it relates to cancer treatments

FINANCIAL SECURITY

The Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) helps sustain the future pensions of its over 21 million contributors.

→CARP was instrumental in establishing the CPP Investment Board in 1999. The establishment of CPP Investments ensures investment decisions are made at arm’s length from governments, while maintaining strong public sector accountability to the federal and provincial finance ministers who serve as stewards.

Pension Income in Couples

Prior to 2007, taxes were higher for couples with pension differences.

→CARP fought for the right to split pension income between spouses. By splitting pensions with a lower income spouse/partner the higher income earner is dropped into a lower tax bracket thus reducing a couple’s overall taxes. This saved seniors in Canada billions in tax dollars. CARP continues to protect this win.

Lowering Mandatory RRIF Withdrawals

Seniors should be able to access their savings only when they want to or need to, according to their preferences. The government will eventually get all of their taxes due, through redemption or through the estate, but they are hurting seniors by setting a mandatory withdrawal schedule.

→CARP has been successful in seeing the mandatory amounts for withdrawal lowered. CARP continues its fight against mandatory withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF)s for those who have saved with Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP)s, and see their registered accounts converted to income funds that require annual, taxable distributions.

OAS Eligibility Changes

Conservative government changed old age security eligibility to age 67 without consultation.

→CARP launched a year-long campaign against the change. It became an election issue and opposition parties promised to reverse the change. The government changed and so did the policy. OAS is funded out of the federal budget each year and is not guaranteed and could be changed at any time with amendments to the Old Age Security act. CARP fights to keep government hands off OAS.

Increased Guaranteed Income Supplement for Lowest Income Seniors

GIS support is not keeping pace with inflation and cost of living.

→CARP continues to fight for older single women and others including racialized communities who are disproportionately affected by poverty.

→CARP recently won an $1000 annual increase in the guaranteed income supplement (GIS) for lowest income seniors.

Increase in OAS, Federal Security Benefit

Vulnerable seniors need better support.

→The amount increased in 2021 for those over 75. However, seniors 65-75 did not benefit. CARP continues to advocate for financial security for all seniors.

Redressed Negative Impact for CERB Eligibility for Seniors Receiving GIS

An oversight in the government’s administration of COVID-19 related financial supports and benefits resulted in disqualifying vulnerable seniors from the Guaranteed Income Support (GIS) support they normally received.

→CARP worked strenuously to ensure the government compensated impacted individuals. $7424 million was paid by the government to alleviate the financial hardship caused by this oversight.

FREEDOM FROM AGEISM

End of Mandatory Retirement at Age 65

CARP fights against age discrimination, which may be one of the last acceptable forms of discrimination still found in our society.

→The removal of mandatory retirement was a landmark change for which CARP long lobbied. Today, retirement is offered at 65 plus, with those who want to, or need to work, staying productive in the workforce to the greater benefit of the economy and society.

How is CARP funded?

CARP is a nonprofit organization and does not receive government operating funding. Its advocacy mission is funded through membership fees and through contributions from our affinity partnerships. Through its affiliation with Zoomer Media, CARP has access to multiple media platforms. Advertisers interested in reaching our audience provide a full slate of benefits to members, often covering the cost of membership.

À propos de C.A.R.P. English

CARP, formerly Canadian Association for Retired Persons, is Canada’s largest Advocacy Association for Canadians as we age. CARP’s mission is to advocate for better healthcare, financial security and freedom from ageism (age discrimination). CARP members engage in polls and petitions, email their elected representatives, connect with local chapters and share stories and opinions on urgent issues. CARP members also get more than 100 benefits and discounts in healthcare, lifestyle, traveling and many more.

CARP croit qu’une population vieillissante constitue un enjeu de société qui ne doit pas préoccuper seulement ceux qui atteignent un certain âge ou une certaine étape de leur vie.Répliques Montre C’est pourquoi nous avons retiré l’exigence d’âge de 50 ans pour se joindre à notre organisation et que nous insistons sur la nécessité de créer des relations intergénérationnelles harmonieuses et positives. Nullement besoin d’être à la retraite pour devenir membre.