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Getting Things Done for Seniors
Creation of
National Seniors Council delivers on another
election promise
Innisfil Scope
March 6, 2007
By Peter Van Loan, MP, York-Simcoe
Canada’s New Government has delivered on
another key election promise by announcing
the creation of the National Seniors
Council. During the last federal
election, our government promised to create
a Council to allow Canadian seniors to have
a say in the issues that mattered to them.
We have delivered on that promise and will
continue to deliver real results to Canada's
seniors.
The National Seniors Council will advise the
Government on seniors' issues of national
importance. It will help ensure that
government policies, programs and services
meet the evolving needs of seniors
Canadian seniors have spent a lifetime
building our great country. With
selfless determination and dedication they
established careers, raised families and
paid their taxes. Now that their
careers are behind them, they deserve to
enjoy a long and healthy retirement.
The Seniors Council will build on the work
that Canada's New Government has already
been doing to improve the health and
well-being of our seniors, including:
- Allowing pension income splitting for couples;
- Increasing the age credit by $1,000 (from $4,066 to $5,066);
- Doubling the pension income credit to $2,000 which will put almost $900
million back in the hands of seniors over
the next two years and remove 85,000
pensioners from the tax rolls;
- Increasing the maximum Guaranteed Income Supplement benefit which will
assist more than 50,000 seniors;
- Proposing legislation to make it easier for seniors to apply for and
receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement;
- Increasing the Refundable Medical Expense Supplement tax credit by more
than 30 per cent to $1,000;
- Expanding the Compassionate Care Benefit to make more Canadians
eligible; and
- Reducing the GST to 6%.
Other Government of Canada seniors-focused
initiatives include projects to make cities
more accessible for seniors, help seniors
become prepared for emergencies, prevent
fall-related injuries, and develop
guidelines on seniors' mental health issues.
We owe our seniors a debt of gratitude.
The actions for seniors by Canada’s New
Government have been guided by its profound
respect for their service to Canada and we
will continue getting things done for
Canada’s seniors and pensioners.
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