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Dear Friends, What a start to the New Year it has been! January proved to be a busy month, full of announcements, meetings and planning for the year ahead! On January 31, Minister Duclos and I were pleased to welcome the publication of long-term care standards developed by the CSA Group and the Health Standards Organization (HSO). It was an important day and another milestone in the effort to improve the quality of care provided to residents and families in LTC. Every senior in Canada deserves to live in dignity, safety and comfort, regardless of which province or territory they call home. As we enter February, we also prepare to celebrate and commemorate Black History Month. This is a time to honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present, and to recognize the significant contributions they have and continue to make to our country. Find out more about how we have been able to fund many Black Canadian organizations and communities through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Last month, I met with older Canadians across Ontario, and I had the privilege to learn more about the incredible work of seniors-serving organizations in the province. Over the course of my tour, I had the chance to meet with several organizations dedicated to helping seniors remain more connected, supported, and active members in their communities. It was inspiring to see how these organizations are making a real impact on the lives of seniors. You can read more about my Ontario tour here. We know that one of the top issues is the challenges that seniors continue to face with global inflation, which is raising the costs of basic necessities like groceries. Over the past year our government introduced concrete, targeted measures to help Canadian seniors who need it most. Our Government has doubled the GST which put an average of an additional $225 in the pockets of Canadian seniors, and delivering a $500 one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit to support low-income renters. And we continue to deliver support through the Canada Pension Plan benefits, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors which goes up with the cost of inflation. As Minister of Seniors, I am committed to ensuring that seniors from coast to coast to coast have access to the supports they need. Additionally, as tax season is approaching, I encourage you to take the time to read about what you could claim on your income tax and benefit return and the benefits and credits available to seniors as well as information on free income tax clinics you can visit to help you file your taxes. You will also find information about: Announcement of new standards on long-term careTax seasonUpdates on the National Seniors CouncilPlease take a moment to share this link with friends and colleagues so that they can sign up to receive my updates. Thanks for reading and sharing. Kamal Khera Minister of Seniors |
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