HUMA committee briefing binder: Appearance of Minister of Seniors – February 10, 2023

Issue

Why is Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requesting $46.4 million to increase Old Age Security (OAS) workload capacity in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fiscal year ending March 31, 2023? 

Background

The OAS program is one of the largest programs of the Government of Canada. In 2021-22, the program paid $60.8 billion in benefits to 6.9 million seniors. For a significant number of these seniors, the OAS benefits (in particular, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and other income tested benefits) represent their only source of income. Not receiving these core benefits on time can cause serious financial hardship.

The number of OAS clients has grown by 67% since 2004-05. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the number will grow by 53% over the period of 2020 to 2035, reaching 10.1 million by 2035. Approximately 62,000 new work items are received on a weekly basis. Any work items that are not completed within 30 working days become inventory.

Baseline financial authorities for the delivery of the OAS program have not been adjusted since they were established in 2004-05.

Since 2012-13, the Department has had to supplement its A-base funding on an annual basis to address evolving workload requirements and to offset workload pressures. To mitigate the funding gap, ESDC has returned 6 times to the Department of Finance (via Budget requests) and Treasury Board Secretariat since 2012-13 to renew or seek incremental funding to offset workload pressures. This has represented on average 40% of the OAS processing budget since 2016-17, going as high as 48% in 2020-21.

Key facts

At the end of 2021-22, there were close to 775,000 work items in the OAS inventory. As of January 15, 2023, the current inventory level for year-to-date is 949,858 work items. The current processing state shows that service standards can be achieved with an inventory level of 650,000 to 750,000.

In 2021-22, the average wait time for the Pensions Call Centre was 24 minutes. As of January 20, 2023, the year-to-date average wait time is 42.6 minutes.

In spring 2022, the Department received approval for OAS Workload in the amount of $282.7 million over 3 years (2022-23 to 2024-25). Of that,

$46.4 million was approved for 2022-23 for personnel and operating costs, excluding Employee Benefit Plans and Shared Services.

Key messages

The allocations in the Supplementary Estimates (B) will enable the Department to maintain processing capacity and increase the Pensions Call Centre's call handling capacity to better respond to client enquiries and minimize impacts to wait times.

The stabilization of OAS inventories is key to ensuring that seniors receive the OAS benefits to which they are entitled in a timely manner consistent with the Department of ESD's service standards. With the Supplementary Estimates (B) funding and the additional funding announced in the Fall Economic Statement, ESDC expects to be able to meet service standards and improve overall results for both this and future years.

In the absence of these funds, the Department forecasts that Pensions Call Centre wait times would increase to an estimated average of 60 minutes in

2023-24, with some being over an hour and longer during periods of high call volume. In addition, without this funding, inventory levels are expected to rise to close to 3 million work items by the end of 2023-24.

OAS Workload funding is specifically sought to maintain existing service delivery capacity. Other sources of funds exist to deploy OAS on the new benefit delivery platform and for outreach activities, including for hard-to-reach seniors.

Issue

Why did the Government limit the increase of the Old Age Security (OAS) pension by 10% to seniors aged 75 and over, rather than increasing the OAS pension for all seniors 65 and over?

Background

The OAS program is a non-contributory, residence-based program financed through general tax revenues. Its objective is to provide a minimum level of income to seniors and contribute to their income replacement in retirement. OAS benefits include the OAS pension, which is paid to all individuals aged 65 and older who meet the residence and legal status requirements, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for low‑income seniors, and the Allowances for low-income Canadians aged 60 to 64 who are the spouses/common-law partners of GIS recipients, or who are widows or widowers.

As announced in Budget 2021, the Government introduced an increase to the OAS pension by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over. This measure was implemented in 2 stages:

• a taxable grant of $500, which was issued in August 2021, to meet the immediate needs of OAS pensioners who were 75 or over as of June 30, 2022, and
• a permanent 10% increase to the monthly OAS pension for seniors aged 75 and over, which started in July 2022

This increase gives seniors more financial security later in life, at a time when they face greater financial vulnerability. As seniors get older, they tend to have lower income and often face higher health-related expenses because of the onset of illness or disability. This vulnerability is further compounded by a reduced ability to supplement income with paid work, by the risk of outliving savings and the risk of widowhood.

Among seniors aged 75 and over:

• few work, and those who do have a median annual employment income of only $720
• close to half have a disability, of whom over half have severe disabilities (56%)
• 4 in 10 are widowed
• 6 in 10 have incomes below $30,000, and
• 4 in 10 receive the GIS

Key facts

In fiscal year 2021-2022, the Government provided $60.8 billion in OAS benefits to 7.0 million beneficiaries, which includes $46.2 billion in OAS pension benefits to 6.9 million recipients.

In September 2022, 3.2 million OAS pensioners (46%) were aged 75 and over.

The 17th OAS Actuarial Report projects that 3.2 million OAS pensioners aged 75 years and over will benefit from the increase in 2022, and this is expected to rise to 3.8 million by 2026.

Key messages

The Old Age Security program has been supporting Canada's seniors for over 70 years, and will continue to be there for Canadians in the years to come.

We recognize that seniors face increased financial vulnerability as they age. As seniors get older, they tend to have lower income, and often face higher health‑related expenses because of the onset of illness or disability. This is especially true for those 75 and older.

This vulnerability is further compounded by a reduced ability to supplement their income with paid work, the risk of outliving personal savings, and the risk of widowhood.

That is why we have taken action to help make life more affordable for Canadians as they age. In July 2022, the Old Age Security pension was increased by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over.

Issue

When will the Government deliver on its promise to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), by $500 for single seniors and $750 for senior couples?

Background

The Old Age Security (OAS) program is the first pillar of Canada's Retirement Income System, and plays a significant role in providing income security to Canadians in their senior years. The benefits under the OAS program include the basic OAS pension, which is paid to all persons aged 65 or over who meet the residence requirements, the GIS for low-income seniors, and the Allowances for low-income Canadians aged 60 to 64 who are the spouses or common-law partners of GIS recipients, or who are widows or widowers.

To date, the Government has undertaken several measures to improve the financial security of low-income seniors. Since 2016, the Government has:

• increased the GIS top-up for the lowest income single seniors by up to $947 annually, helping close to 900,000 seniors who rely almost exclusively on the OAS pension and the GIS
• restored the age of eligibility for the OAS pension and the GIS to 65 from 67, preventing about 100,000 future seniors from falling into poverty
• increased the GIS Earnings Exemption from $3,500 to $5,000, extended the exemption to self-employment income, and introduced an additional 50% exemption on employment and self-employment income between $5,000 and $15,000. Since July 2020, this enhancement has enabled working GIS recipients to earn up to $15,000 in employment and self-employment income before the GIS benefit reduction applies to their full income
• introduced an increase to the OAS pension for seniors aged 75 and over. This measure was implemented in 2 steps: a one-time payment of $500, which was issued the week of August 16, 2021, to OAS pensioners who were 75 or over as of June 30, 2022; and a permanent 10% increase to the OAS pension for this group of seniors, which started in July 2022

The Minister of Seniors' mandate letter includes a commitment to increase the GIS by $500 for single seniors and $750 for couples, starting at age 65. The increase would require legislative changes to the Old Age Security Act.

Key facts

An increase to the GIS by $500 for single seniors and $750 for senior couples was first announced in the 2021 Liberal Party Platform. It was included in the Minister of Seniors Mandate Letter.

This increase would require legislative changes to the Old Age Security Act.

During fiscal year 2021-2022, $60.8 billion was paid in OAS benefits to 7.0 million beneficiaries, of which $14.0 billion in GIS benefits was paid to 2.2 million GIS beneficiaries.

Key messages

All seniors deserve a secure and dignified government. This Government has worked tirelessly to make this a reality, from restoring the age of eligibility for OAS benefits to 65 years from 67 years, to increasing the GIS for single seniors by up to $947 annually, enhancing the GIS Earnings Exemption, and increasing the OAS pension by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over.

Our Government has also provided seniors with additional financial support through one-time payments, for extra costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Government has committed to increasing the GIS by $500 for single seniors and $750 for senior couples. The timing of this increase will be made public in due course.

Issue

Given inflation rates in the past year, how does the increase in Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits keep up, allowing seniors to cope with the rising cost of living?

Background

OAS and CPP benefits are adjusted in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to ensure that they retain their value over time and to protect the purchasing power of seniors.

OAS benefits, including the OAS pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowances, are adjusted 4 times per year in January, April, July and October. Quarterly indexation allows for rapid adjustments of OAS benefit amounts following cost of living increases.

CPP benefits, comprising Retirement benefits, Disability benefits and Survivor and Children benefits, are adjusted annually in January based on estimates of inflation for 1 year, as measured by the CPI.

The Old Age Security Act and the Canada Pension Plan contain a guarantee ensuring that benefits can never be reduced, even in the event of a decline in the CPI. Should the average cost of living decrease, benefit amounts stay at the same level as during the previous period.

Key facts

In fiscal year 2021-2022, an average of 6.8 million seniors received OAS benefits and 5.6 million seniors received the CPP retirement pension each month.

In January 2023, OAS benefits increased by 0.3%, for a total increase of 7.1% over the past year.

CPP benefits in pay increased by 6.5% for the year beginning in January 2023.

Key messages

The government is committed to ensuring that OAS and CPP benefits keep pace with the cost-of-living increases faced by seniors.

OAS benefits are adjusted 4 times per year. With the January 2023 increase, OAS benefits have increased by 7.1% over the past year.

CPP benefits in pay increased by 6.5% for the year beginning in January 2023.

Issue

Interest around basic income has increased since beginning of pandemic.

Background

Key facts

"Basic income" generally refers to programming that provides recipients with guaranteed incomes sufficient to meet basic needs, with few conditions and no requirements to have or seek employment. In Canada, income support is an area of shared jurisdiction and provincial and territorial governments are responsible for key income support programs such as social assistance. At the federal level, the Government of Canada already has programs with features of a partial basic income, such as the Canada Child Benefit for families with children, and the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) monitors basic income research and reports, as well as the outcomes of pilots in Canada and internationally. Critics of basic income express concerns about the anticipated costs and disincentives to work, and many oppose payments without requirements to work or seek employment. There are also concerns that important needs-based programming might be cut back or eliminated to help contain costs if a basic income were introduced, potentially leaving some vulnerable individuals worse off. As well, some critics suggest that, rather than a basic income, governments should increase expenditures on social services such as Pharmacare, dental coverage, childcare, and housing.

Key messages

It is important to recognize that provincial and territorial governments have an important role in decisions about the design and delivery of income support programs in Canada. At the federal level, the Government of Canada has programs with features of a partial basic income, such as the Canada Child Benefit for families with children, and the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors. The Government of Canada continues to monitor research around basic income. If a provincial or territorial government undertakes a basic income pilot, the federal government has offered to share administrative, survey, and tax data to support evaluation.

Issue

Measures the government is taking to address seniors poverty. 

Background

In August 2018, the Government introduced Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Strategy sets ambitious and concrete poverty reduction targets based on Canada's Official Poverty Line: a 20% reduction in poverty by 2020 and a 50% reduction in poverty by 2030, which, relative to 2015 levels, will lead to the lowest poverty rate in Canada's history. The Government has made significant investments to reduce poverty among seniors, including improvements to the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), as well as restoring the age of eligibility from 67 to 65 for both programs, which helped 100,000 seniors aged 65 and 66 to avoid plunging into poverty. To help seniors who are living in poverty or are most at risk of living in poverty, the Government enhanced the GIS in 2016 by increasing the amount received by up to $947 annually for the most vulnerable single seniors and helping improve the financial security of 900,000 seniors.

Effective July 2022, the Government increased the OAS pension by 10% for seniors 75 years and older, to provide more than $800 in new support to full pensioners over the first year, and increase benefits for more than 3 million seniors. To ensure that COVID-19 emergency response benefits did not negatively impact GIS or Allowance payment amounts, the Government of Canada provided, as part of the December 2021 Economic and Fiscal Update, up to $742.4 million for one-time payments to GIS and Allowance recipients who received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) in 2020. These payments were issued automatically in April 2022 without the need for an application. The Government also introduced amendments to the Old Age Security Act to exempt any amount of CERB, CRB, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit from the calculation of income for the GIS and Allowances in 2021 or later.

Key facts

The latest data from the Canadian Income Survey shows that there was a decrease in the poverty rate for seniors in 2020 as measured by Canada's Official Poverty Line (the Market Basket Measure). The poverty rate for seniors was 3.1% in 2020, compared with 5.7% in 2019 and 7.1% in 2015. This represents 187,000 fewer seniors living below the poverty line between 2015 and 2020. The decrease in the overall poverty rate between 2019 and 2020 aligns with the downward trend in poverty rates observed since 2015. That said, the significant decrease in the poverty rate between 2019 and 2020 can be mostly attributed to temporary COVID-19 emergency income supports provided in 2020. In 2020, the poverty rate for senior women (3.5%) was higher than for senior men (2.7%). In 2020, the poverty rate for seniors aged 65-74 years was 3.2%, slightly higher than the poverty rate for seniors aged 75 years and above (3.0%). Single seniors continue to have higher poverty rates than those living in families. Between 2015 and 2020, the poverty rate for single seniors decreased from 16.9% to 7.4% while the poverty rate for seniors living in families fell from 3.3% to 1.3%.  Seniors from vulnerable groups such as Indigenous seniors (4.6%), immigrant seniors (4.0%), visible minority seniors (4.4%) and seniors with disability (3.2%) had relatively higher poverty rates than the overall senior population (3.1%) in 2020.

Key messages

We are committed to improving the quality of life for seniors now and for generations to come. The Government has made significant investments to reduce poverty among seniors, including improvements to the OAS pension and the GIS, as well as restoring the age of eligibility from 67 to 65 for both programs, enhancing the GIS, and increasing the OAS for seniors 75 years and older. Our poverty reduction efforts for seniors are working. The poverty rate among seniors decreased from 7.1% in 2015 to 3.1% in 2020, representing 187,000 seniors lifted out of poverty.

Issue

How is the government advancing the commitments for pharmacare and dental care?

Background

Key facts

Key messages

No Canadian should have to choose between paying for prescription drugs and putting food on the table.

We recognize that seniors, in particular, and those living in supportive care settings have high oral health needs and lower rates of access to care. And we know that seniors' dental needs are influenced by unique oral health and overall health factors, and distinct barriers accessing care.

My office and I have recently met with several organizations, such as the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association, the Denturist Association of Canada and the Canadian Dental Association, to hear their concerns on this issue.

The specifics of the pharmacare and dental care programs are best addressed by my colleagues at Health Canada, who are the lead on these files.

Issue

Budget 2022 announced $20 million over 2 years, beginning with $10 million in 2022–23, for an expanded New Horizons for Seniors Program to support more projects that improve the quality of life for seniors and help them continue to fully participate in their communities.

Background

The New Horizons for Seniors Program is a Grants and Contributions program created in 2004 to help ensure that seniors can benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life in their communities through the following program objectives: promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations; engage seniors in the community through mentoring of others; expand awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse; support social participation and inclusion of seniors; and provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

The program has 2 funding streams: the community-based stream and the pan-Canadian stream.

Budget 2022 provided $20 million over 2 years, beginning in 2022-23, for an expanded community-based stream to support more projects that improve the quality of life for seniors and help them continue to fully participate in their communities.

The current annual budget is $70 million. This includes: $50.04 million annually for the community-based stream; $13.1 million annually for the pan-Canadian stream; and $6.86 million for the administration of the program.

Program Terms and Conditions allow a maximum funding per community-based project of $100K over 2 years. However, funding is typically allocated through an annual Call for Proposals, which funds grants of up to $25K over one year.

Projects are led or inspired by seniors and address one or more of the 5 program objectives.

The New Horizons for Seniors Program continues to be an oversubscribed program.

Key facts

The additional funding will support an estimated 500 additional projects under the 2022 annual call for proposals, which launched on September 21, 2022 and closed in November.

ESDC is requesting authority to include $10,000,000 in Vote 5 (Grants) for New Horizons for Seniors Program as part of the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2022–23.

Since its introduction in 2004, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 33,500 projects in hundreds of communities across the country.

Funding is distributed as equitably as possible with reach across all provinces and territories in Canada.

Key messages

The NHSP is making a positive impact in communities.

In 2020-2021, the most recent year for which final project results are available, many projects focussed on reaching the most marginalized and underrepresented senior populations.

Many funding recipients targeted socially isolated seniors. Almost 33% targeted racialized seniors. Funded recipients also targeted other marginalized and underrepresented seniors including immigrant seniors (26%) and ethno-cultural groups of seniors (26%).

Overall, these projects benefited more senior women (56%) than senior men. Senior women represented (63%) of the seniors who volunteered in the implementation of these projects. Some (68%) of the seniors who volunteered as mentors to other seniors and youth, were female seniors.

Issue

The "Single Point of Access" advertising campaign, which would require a $6M investment over a 3-year period, will help ensure seniors have all the information they need to plan and have a secured and dignified retirement.

Background

Previous advertising campaigns targeting seniors have been running annually since 2018. These campaigns all relied on a campaign page, which gathered information related to seniors, including retirement planning messages. All campaigns proved very successful, driving significant traffic to the campaign page. The campaigns were key in ensuring we communicated and reached seniors proactively with information about Government of Canada's services for seniors.

The 3-year advertising campaign is once again being proposed to continue promoting the programs and services to seniors. This initiative supports Minister Khera's commitment to continue to create opportunities for seniors to be more connected and supported.

Key facts

Advertising dollars are crucial to help with driving traffic to the web page and to ensure we communicate and reach seniors where they are. It helps with the page's notoriety and drives recurrent, yearly traffic.

The 2018-2023 Services for Seniors Ad campaign has demonstrated that creating a Single Point of Access is not in itself sufficient and must be accompanied by a sustained and tactical communications, marketing and advertising plan.

Key messages

It is the government of Canada's responsibility to ensure all seniors have access to the same information.

Promoting the Single Point of Access for seniors with advertising dollars will ensure all seniors are aware of the programs and services the Government of Canada has available, including information to help them plan and have a secured and dignified retirement.

Issue

Is the Government considering a National Seniors Strategy?

Background

Multiple actors have called for a national seniors strategy over the last few years, including parliamentary committees and various stakeholder groups.

Seniors are a diverse population with diverse needs from many perspectives, including age, gender, culture, health and socio-economic status. As such, seniors' issues are by their nature interdisciplinary and complex, and jurisdiction over health and socio-economic issues faced by seniors is shared across federal, provincial/territorial, municipal and some Indigenous governments.

The Government of Canada's support to seniors is horizontal in nature, recognizing that policies and programs reflect the diversity of needs within the seniors' population. Policies and programs span across departmental lines and in a number of areas.

The Government is committed to supporting seniors and ensuring they are able to engage in all aspects of life. The government is strongly engaged in safeguarding the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key facts

In 2015, a coalition of seniors stakeholders called for the adoption of a national seniors strategy, which was reiterated in 2020. This call was echoed by other seniors stakeholders.

In 2017, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities called for a national seniors strategy.

In 2018, the National Seniors Council was asked to provide advice on the topic of a national seniors strategy.

In 2022, the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities' report entitled, Impact of COVID-19 on the Well-being of Seniors, recommended that the Government of Canada create a federal office of the seniors advocate that would have a mandate to develop a national seniors strategy, provide advice to the Government of Canada as regards seniors and their needs, and address elder abuse.

Key messages

The Government of Canada is showing national leadership in supporting the healthy aging of seniors and is investing in many areas important to seniors. Our agenda for seniors is focused on key areas, including fostering the social inclusion and safety of seniors; improving supportive care and services; and supporting the income security of seniors.

We have made interventions to improve Canadians' retirement security, ensuring they have a better quality of life and stronger financial security.

The Government has also advanced a number of initiatives and made investments that benefit seniors, ranging from new funding for provinces and territories, investing in home care, taking steps to improve the health workforce planning, and making several recent investments to strengthen long-term care in Canada.

Both nationally and internationally, Canada is committed to ensuring seniors age with respect and dignity. Canada is also committed to the protection of human rights of all persons, including older persons.

Issue

How has the federal government been working with provinces and territories to protect vulnerable Canadians in long-term care (LTC), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Background

The Government of Canada has worked collaboratively with provinces and territories throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to protect vulnerable Canadians in long-term care.

The federal government has responded to COVID-19 through a number of initiatives, including committing funding (2020 Fall Economic Statement; Budget 2021) to support PTs to make improvements in LTC.

The Ministers of Health and Seniors' December 2021 Mandate Letters included a number of commitments to support efforts to improve the quality and availability of long-term care, including the development of LTC standards and a Safe LTC Act.

On December 1, 2022, following a 21-month standard development process, including extensive consultations with stakeholders and the public, CSA Group released independent standards, CSA Z8004 "Long-Term Care Home Operations and Infection Prevention and Control", on the CSA Group's website. CSA Z8004 provides guidance on safe operating practices and effective infection prevention and control practices in LTC homes.

Complementary to the CSA standard, on January 31, 2023, the Health Standards Organization (HSO) published their independent, national standard, CAN/HSO 21001:2023 "Long-Term Care Services". The HSO standard focuses on the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-quality LTC services, including enabling resident-centred care, a healthy, safe, and competent workforce, and a quality improvement, outcome-focused organizational culture.

Key facts

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Canadians receiving long-term care in community settings, specifically long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities, and seniors' residences.

While Health Canada did not fund the development of the recently released LTC standards, it did provide funding to CSA Group and HSO to support enhanced engagement and consultations with Canadians and stakeholders to ensure the diverse perspectives of stakeholders were considered during the development processes for both standards.

Key messages

Every senior in Canada deserves to live in dignity, safety, and comfort, regardless of where they live.

On January 31, 2023, the Government of Canada welcomed the release of complementary, independent LTC standards from CSA Group and the Health Standards Organization (HSO).

Together, the standards focus on the delivery of safe, reliable and high-quality LTC services; safe operating practices; and infection prevention and control measures in LTC homes.

The standards complement the Government of Canada's collaborative work with provinces and territories to help support improvements in LTC. In addition, Budget 2021 provided $3 billion over 5 years to support provinces and territories in their efforts to improve LTC in their jurisdictions.

We believe that strengthening compliance and enforcement activities in LTC facilities, as well as supporting workforce stability through wage top ups and improvements to workplace conditions, is essential to improving safety and care for patients, and creating a more positive and healthier environment for all who live or work in LTC.

To keep seniors safe, and improve their quality of life, the Government of Canada also announced in October 2022 that the National Seniors Council will serve as an expert panel to examine measures, including a potential aging at home benefit, to further support Canadians who wish to age within the comfort of their own homes.

On the specifics of long-term care investments and initiatives, my colleague, the Honourable Minister of Health, is best placed to talk about the specifics of the program.

Issue

What is the Government doing to support seniors to age at home?

Background

Aging in place means having the health and social supports and services you need to live safely and independently in your home or your community for as long as you wish and are able.

Canadians strongly prefer aging in place. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on long-term care. As many as 96% of Canadians aged 65 and older state that they "would do everything they can" to avoid moving into an institutional setting (National Institute on Ageing, 2021).

Budget 2022 proposed the creation of an expert panel to study the idea of an Aging at Home Benefit. The Minister of Seniors and Minister of Health announced in October 2022 that the National Seniors Council would serve as the expert panel.

The National Seniors Council was established in 2007 by Order in Council to advise the Government of Canada on matters related to the health well-being and quality of life of seniors. The Council provides advice to the Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Health.

The Council has a maximum of 12 members who are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Ministers. The membership is diverse and can include seniors, representatives of organizations that serve the needs or interests of seniors, and experts from fields of study related to seniors and aging.

Given their extensive knowledge and expertise on issues affecting older persons, the National Seniors Council is well positioned to provide advice as well as consult with stakeholders as part of their work on this important issue.

Budget 2022 makes other commitments that could impact seniors aging in place. These commitments include doubling the Home Accessibility Tax Credit $20,000 for the 2022 and subsequent tax years and introducing a Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, which would provide up to $7,500 in support for constructing a secondary suite for a senior or an adult with a disability.

Key facts

According to National Institute on Ageing, as many as 96% of Canadians aged 65 and older state that they "would do everything they can" to avoid moving into an institutional setting (2022).

With the right supports, some older adults can remain in their homes, while others may need to transition to congregate or institutional living. Canadian Institute for Health Information notes that about 1 in 9 of newly admitted long-term care residents potentially could have been cared for at home (2019).

Key messages

Seniors want to live at home and in their communities as long as possible. However, it can become challenging as they age.

The Government of Canada is investing $90 million for the Age Well at Home initiative. This initiative will provide funding to seniors-serving organizations mobilizing volunteers locally to provide practical supports to low income or otherwise vulnerable seniors to help them age in place. Projects will also help seniors navigate and access eligible services, such as home maintenance and light housekeeping, provided by other local organizations.

The Age Well at Home initiative will also support national and regional projects that expand the delivery of services that have already demonstrated positive results in helping seniors to age in place.

The Age Well at Home initiative was launched in summer 2022, with funding calls for both the Scaling Up for Seniors and In-Home Support Pilot Projects streams. We are pleased with the results of this launch and the Department is currently assessing the applications. Projects are anticipated to start as soon as in spring 2023.

The Government of Canada has made additional significant investments to provide supports for older Canadian to age at home in place. This includes:

• $6 billion over 10 years transferred to provinces and territories to support their delivery of home and community care services; and
• $70 million annually for the New Horizons for Seniors Program to help seniors stay active and engaged in their communities, with an additional Budget 2022 investment of $20 million over 2 years to support more projects

While many measures are in place, the Government recognizes that there are issues that remain and that need to be addressed. That is why the Minister of Health and I have asked the National Seniors Council to serve as an expert panel to examine measures, including a potential aging at home benefit, to further support Canadians who wish to age within the comfort of their own homes.

The National Seniors Council met in Ottawa from November 16-18 to discuss supports for aging at home. This was the inaugural meeting for the Council's work as the expert panel tasked with examining measures to further support Canadians who wish to age in their home or community.

I joined the Council members and engaged in some preliminary discussions on this important topic and I look forward to the receiving the Council's recommendations.

Issue

Government of Canada Mental Health Portal – Wellness Together Canada.

Background

To address seniors' mental health, the Government has implemented many measures to help Canadians facing mental health challenges due to COVID-19, including seniors.

For example, in 2020 the Government of Canada launched the Wellness Together Canada (WTC) portal to provide free mental health and substance use supports for Canadians throughout the pandemic. Key objectives were to help address the anticipated increase in mental health needs and the disruptions to normal service delivery resulting from the pandemic. Both were expected to put considerable pressure on provincial and territorial resources.

To date, more than 3.1 million individuals across all provinces and territories have accessed the portal in over 8.74 million web sessions. As the only nationally available platform of its kind, the portal has the capacity to provide free immediate, 24/7 access to a range of mental health and substance use supports available in both official languages.

The Wellness Together Canada portal can benefit seniors by supporting access to timely, high-quality and equitable supports, which include mental health and substance use literacy tools, self-directed courses and programs, online peer support, and access to 24/7 counselling by phone and text. To help users navigate the portal, a dedicated phone line is available for accessing Program Navigators to assist with finding the appropriate resources.

In January 2022, the Government of Canada launched PocketWell, a free companion app to the WTC online portal. This companion app provides another way to help Canadians access online mental health and substance use resources and supports, and allows them to measure and track aspects of their mental well-being. Through PocketWell, people across Canada can connect seamlessly to the supports and services of the WTC portal.

In addition, Budget 2022 provided $140 million over 2 years, starting in 2022 to 2023, to Health Canada for the Wellness Together Canada portal so it can continue to provide Canadians with tools and services to support their mental health and well-being.

Key facts

As the only nationally available platform of its kind, the portal has the capacity to provide free immediate, 24/7 access to a range of supports available in both official languages

To date, more than 3.13 million individuals across all provinces and territories have accessed the portal in over 8.7 million web sessions. The PocketWell mobile app has been downloaded a total of 32,715 times.

Key messages

Seniors, especially those with underlying medical conditions and those residing in long-term care, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

The Government has taken a number of actions to respond to COVID-19 and its impact on seniors such as implementing measures for those facing mental health challenges, including the launch of the Wellness Together Canada portal, which is available to everyone in Canada.

As the only nationally available platform of its kind, the Wellness Together Canada portal has the capacity to provide free immediate, 24/7 access to a range of mental health and substance use supports available in both official languages.

My colleague, the Honourable Minister of Health, is best placed to speak on the specifics of Mental Health Portal – Wellness Together Canada.

Issue

What is the Department doing to ensure that seniors receive effective and timely access to centralized information on a wide range of programs and services?

Background

The aging Canadian population is growing and so is the demand for more centralized and timely services for seniors, especially as their needs become more complex and diverse.

The Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development share a Mandate Letter commitment to implement a single point of access for seniors to a wide range of government services and benefits.

While points of access for seniors to many government services already exist by telephone and in-person, the Department is exploring different avenues to centralize information for seniors across various levels of government.

Key facts

As an organization, Service Canada is already the leader in providing Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits. It achieves this through 317 Service Canada centres; 247 scheduled outreach sites (158 reactivated as of January 16, 2023); 15 service delivery partner sites; and, 21 passport service sites.

Service Canada also provides a common web platform for 83 departments; with 869.4M visits in 2021-22 and 603.2M visits this fiscal year to date, Canada.ca is the principal Government website.

Seniors currently have multiple points of access to some, but not all, government programs (for example, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, etc.) by telephone through the Pensions Call Centre and 1 800 O-Canada, in-person through Service Canada centres, through outreach activities, and through eServiceCanada.

Through the Community and Outreach Liaison Service, Service Canada offers alternative service delivery options (including access to the Outreach Support Centre toll-free line) to vulnerable clients, including seniors, by working directly with community organizations to reach seniors who may not otherwise be able to access regular channels.

Improvements continue to be made to provide seniors with a more centralized access to government services.

Key messages

The Department is exploring different avenues to meet the commitments outlined in Ministers Khera and Gould's Mandate Letters.

Measures continue to be implemented to ensure that seniors have timely access to the information and support they require, all while having a positive client experience.

For instance, in recent years, initiatives such as the integrated Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) application and the OAS/GIS Automatic Enrolment eliminated the need for approximately 50% of seniors to apply for OAS/GIS.

The Pensions Call Centre also enhanced its client experience by migrating to a new telephone platform, which allows virtually 100% of clients to choose to wait to speak to an agent, resulting in an increased queue capacity and number of callers that can wait for an agent.

The Pensions Call Centre also implemented various improvements to the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, including streamlined messaging and increased self-serve abilities for seniors.

Seniors, now more than ever, rely on Service Canada to deliver its core services in an efficient, accessible, and timely manner, meeting service standards and the evolving needs of Canadian seniors.

Issue

Strengthening Canada's approach to elder abuse.

Background

The abuse of older persons (also known as elder abuse) remains an often hidden but serious social problem that affects the lives of thousands of seniors in Canada. Elder abuse includes physical abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse and sexual abuse.

The National Seniors Council has supported the Government in its efforts to address elder abuse. To advise Ministers on measures to address financial crimes and harms against seniors, the Council hosted an expert round table and town hall in March 2019. The Council concluded their work on this topic with the release of a ‘what we heard report' summarizing the discussions, which was published on the Government of Canada website in August 2019. In July 2021, the Council supported the Minister of Seniors by co-moderating a series of regional roundtables soliciting input from stakeholders for the development of a federal definition of senior abuse.

In June and July 2021, the Government held consultations with various experts to seek feedback on the development of a proposed federal policy definition on senior abuse. In support of the mandate commitment to strengthen Canada's approach to elder abuse, the Department is moving forward with creating a federal policy definition.

In October 2022, the Government published a report on Enhancement of Canadian Data on the Abuse of Older Persons: An Exploratory Study. This public opinion research was conducted by subject matter expert Professor Marie Beaulieu, Research Chair on Mistreatment of Older Adults at the Université de Sherbrooke. This report highlights the challenges of senior abuse reporting and data collection across the country and identifies pragmatic approaches to address them.

As part of its priorities for 2022-2025, the Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for Seniors is analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abuse, with the objective of informing FPT programming and policies.

Key facts

Since it was created in 2007, the pan-Canadian contributions stream of the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) has supported 149 collaborative projects aiming to increase the social inclusion of seniors, representing an investment of more than $102 million. By increasing seniors social inclusion, all pan-Canadian projects help reduce the risk of elder abuse. In addition, the NHSP's community-based funding stream continues to expand elder abuse awareness through its annual funding of one-year community-based projects for an amount of up to $25,000.

Budget 2021 enhanced the Public Health Agency of Canada's Family Violence Investment with $50M in order to focus on prevention initiatives. The overall aim of this investment is to increase the evidence base and uptake of health promotion programs and interventions that are effective in preventing family violence, including child maltreatment, intimate partner violence and elder abuse, and address its health impacts.

Key messages

We recognize that elder abuse is a serious issue affecting many older people in Canada, and even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has contributed to further isolating seniors.

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable Canadians, especially older Canadians and persons with disabilities living in long-term care facilities.

Through Budget 2021, the Government is investing $50 million over 5 years to design and deliver interventions that promote safe relationships and prevent family violence, including elder abuse.

As highlighted in my mandate letter, I am committed to continue to work to strengthen Canada's approach to elder abuse by finalizing the national definition of elder abuse, investing in better data collection and establishing new offences and penalties in the Criminal code related to elder abuse. I am working with my colleague, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, to advance this work.

In summer 2021, the Government held nation-wide consultations to seek feedback on a federal policy definition of senior abuse. In support of my mandate letter commitment to "strengthen Canada's approach to elder abuse", the Government will be moving forward with creating a federal definition.

Once endorsed, the definition will help raise awareness and inform Government programs and policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of elder abuse in Canada. In addition, the Government will encourage wide use of this definition, including with provinces and territories.

Issue

Why does Employment and Social Development (ESDC) require additional authorities in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fiscal year ending March 31, 2023?

Key facts

Supplementary Estimates seek parliamentary approval for changes to departmental spending plans for the current fiscal year.

ESDC is requesting a total of $411.4 million in additional authorities through the Supplementary Estimates (B).

• $164.5 million in Vote 1 Operating expenditure
• $225.7 million in Vote 5 Grants and contributions, and
• $21.2 million in Statutory

Response

ESDC is requesting adjustments for:

Background

Key quotes

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Issue

Why is Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requesting $46.4 million to increase Old Age Security workload capacity in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fiscal year ending March 31, 2023?

Key facts

Baseline financial authorities for the delivery of the OAS program have not been adjusted since they were established in 2004-05.

An aging population and rising life expectancy have increased the OAS client base and resulted in an unprecedented growth in workload. For instance, the number of OAS beneficiaries has grown by 67% over the last 18 years, from 4.2 million in 2004-05 to 6.9 million in 2021-22. This is in addition to the increased complexity of the program, labour market changes and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2012-13, the Department has had to supplement its A-base funding on an annual basis to address evolving workload requirements and to offset workload pressures. To mitigate the funding gap, ESDC has returned 6 times to the Department of Finance (via Budget requests) and Treasury Board Secretariat since 2012-13 to renew or seek incremental funding to offset workload pressures.

In spring 2022, the Department received approval for OAS Workload in the amount of $282.7 million over 3 years (2022-23 to 2024-25). Of that, $46.4 million was approved for 2022-23 for personnel and operating costs, excluding Employee Benefit Plans and Shared Services.

Response

The allocations in the Supplementary Estimates (B) will enable the Department to maintain processing capacity and increase the Pensions Call Centre's call handling capacity to better respond to client enquiries and minimize impacts to wait times.

The stabilization of OAS inventories is key to ensuring that seniors receive the OAS benefits to which they are entitled in a timely manner. With the Supplementary Estimates (B) funding and the additional funding announced in the Fall Economic Statement, ESDC expects to be able to meet service standards and improve overall results for both this and future years.

In the absence of these funds, the Pensions Call Centre forecasts that wait times would increase to an estimated average of 60 minutes in 2023-24, with some being over an hour and longer during periods of high call volume. In addition, without this funding, inventory levels are expected to rise to close to 3 million work items by the end of 2023-24.

Background

The Old Age Security (OAS) program is one of the largest programs of the Government of Canada. In 2021-22, the program paid $60.8 billion in benefits to 6.9 million seniors. For a significant number of these seniors, the OAS benefits (in particular, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and other income tested benefits) represent their only source of income. Not receiving these core benefits on time can cause serious financial hardship.

The OAS workload refers to the processing of OAS applications, revisions to benefits and appeals, as well as the supporting elements that provide oversight, ensure timeliness, and quality. An aging population and rising life expectancy has increased the OAS client base, and therefore the workload.

The number of OAS clients has grown by 67% since 2004-05. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the number will grow by 53% over the period of 2020 to 2035, reaching 10.1 million by 2035. Approximately 62,000 new work items are received on a weekly basis. Any work items that are not completed within 30 working days become inventory.

Since 2012-13, the Department has had to supplement its A-base funding on an annual basis to address evolving workload requirements and to offset workload pressures. To mitigate the funding gap, ESDC has returned 6 times to the Department of Finance (via Budget requests) and Treasury Board Secretariat since 2012-13 to renew or seek incremental funding to offset workload pressures. This has represented on average 40% of the OAS processing budget since 2016-17, going as high as 48% in 2020-21.

At the end of 2021-22, there were close to 775,000 work items in the OAS inventory. As of January 15, 2023, the current inventory level for year-to-date is 949,858 work items. The current processing state shows that service standards can be achieved with an inventory level of 650,000 to 750,000.

In 2021-22, the average wait time for the Pensions Call Centre was 24 minutes. As of January 20, 2023, the year-to-date average wait time is 42.6 minutes.

The stabilization of OAS inventories is key to ensuring that seniors receive the OAS benefits that they are entitled to in a timely manner consistent with the Department of ESD's service standards. With the Supplementary Estimates (B) funding and the additional funding announced in the Fall Economic Statement, ESDC expects to be able to meet service standards and improve overall results for both this and future years.

Key quotes

NIL

Issue

Why is Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requesting $10.0 million to enhance the New Horizons for Seniors Program in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fiscal year ending March 31, 2023? 

Key facts

Since its introduction in 2004, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 33,500 projects in hundreds of communities across the country.

Response

The $10 million in Supplementary Estimates (B) is from Budget 2022 which announced $20 million over 2 years, beginning with $10 million in 2022-2023, for an expanded New Horizons for Seniors Program.

The New Horizons for Seniors Program supports the Government of Canada's overarching goals to enhance the quality of life and promote the full participation of individuals, including seniors, in all aspects of Canadian life.

This program is making a difference in communities, and there is very substantial unmet demand for funding. In its last funding call, held in fall 2021, the program received over 4,200 applications and was able to fund over 3,000 projects.

The additional funding will support more projects that will not only improve the well-being of seniors, they will also help communities to benefit from the increased participation and contribution of seniors to community life.

Background

The New Horizons for Seniors Program is a Grants and Contributions program created in 2004 to help ensure that seniors can benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life in their communities through the following program objectives:

• promote volunteerism among seniors and other generations
• engage seniors in the community through mentoring of others
• expand awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
• support social participation and inclusion of seniors, and
• provide capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors

The 2022 to 2023 existing funding for the Program of $87.3 million includes 2 distinct funding streams (community-based and pan-Canadian) as well as the Age Well at Home initiative announced in Budget 2021 and launched in June 2022.

The current annual budget of the NHSP is $63.14 million in Vote 5, plus administration:

• the Community-based stream's annual budget is $50.04 million
• the Pan-Canadian stream's annual budget is $13.10 million, and
• the administration of the program is $5.84 million in Vote 1 plus $0.44 million EBP (employee benefits)

The 2022 to 2023 budget of the Age Well at Home Initiative is $13.6 million in Vote 5, plus administration of $3.48 million in Vote 1 plus $0.85 million EBP (employee benefits).

A modest amount of additional corporate costs also support administration, but can only be estimated, and are not included in the table above.

Budget 2022 announced $20 million over 2 years, beginning with $10 million in 2022 to 2023, for an expanded New Horizons for Seniors Program to support more projects that improve the quality of life for seniors and help them continue to fully participate in their communities.

Additional funding received through Supplementary Estimates "B" in 2022 to 2023 will enable the Department to fund an estimated additional 500 more community-based projects.

Every year, organizations are invited to apply for New Horizons for Seniors Program community-based funding through a call for proposals. Community-based projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding. The 2022 to 2023 funding call was open from September 21, 2022 to November 1, 2022.

Key quotes

NIL

Issue

Why is Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requesting $6.0 million for government advertising programs in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fiscal year ending March 31, 2023?

Key facts

In line with Budget 2022, one of the Government of Canada's goals is putting in place measures to address barriers faced by persons with disabilities to finding meaningful and well paid work.

Budget 2022 focused on ensuring that Canadian seniors have a secured and dignified retirement and that programs and services are developed to respond to Canada's aging population.

Budget 2022 stated that the government is focused on connecting workers to good jobs in growing sectors, by creating new opportunities and increasing diversity in the trades, and helping Canadians gain the foundational skills needed to succeed in today's economy.

The Government communicates with the public in both official languages to inform Canadians of policies, programs, services and initiatives, and of Canadians' rights and responsibilities under the law.

Response

For the 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (B), the Department requested $6 million for advertising campaigns.

A budget of $0.5 million will be allocated to the "Inclusive Workplaces" campaign. This campaign promotes hiring persons with disabilities.

A budget of $2.5 million will be allocated to the "Services for Seniors" campaign. This campaign promotes programs and services related to seniors.

A budget of $3 million will be allocated for the "National Skilled Trades" campaign. This campaign promotes the skilled trades as a first choice career.

Background

Key quotes

NIL

Alternate format

ESDC is requesting a total of $411.4 million in additional authorities through the Supplementary Estimates (B), which would bring the total planned spending to $174.8 billion.

Figure 1: Text version for ESDC Total planned spending and estimates to date

Figure on the left – ESDC total planned spending is $174.8 billion:

• EI Benefits planned spending is $24.8 billion or 14.2% of total planned spending
• CPP Benefits planned spending is $57.2 billion or 32.7% of total planned spending
• Other EI and CPP Recoveries and Workers Compensation planned spending is $2.5 billion or 1.4% of total planned spending
• EI and CPP Operating Costs planned spending is $2.6 billion or 1.5% of total planned spending
• Estimates to date (Main Estimates plus Supplementary Estimates A plus Supplementary Estimates B) represents $87.7 billion or 50.2% of total planned spending

Figure on the right – ESDC Estimates to date is $87.7 billion:

• Statutory planned spending is $75.7 billion or 86% of total Estimates to date
• Vote 1 – Operating Expenditures planned spending is $1.4 billion or 2% of total Estimates to date
• Vote 5 – Grants and Contributions planned spending is $10.6 billion or 12% of total Estimates to date

Of the $174.8 billion in planned spending, $87.7 billion is reported in the Estimates, out of which $86.3 billion are statutory and voted transfer payment programs. The following voted and statutory programs for Seniors, are included in ESDC's planned spending:

• Old Age Security Program (including Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance) (statutory) = $67,906.0 million
• One-Time Payment for Guaranteed Income Supplement Recipients who received Pandemic Benefits (voted) = $740.0 million
• New Horizons for Seniors Program (voted) = $86.7 million

Of the $411.4 million requested through Supplementary Estimates (B), the following items are linked to Seniors:

• Funding to increase Old Age Security workload capacity = $46.4 million
• Funding for the Benefits Delivery Modernization = $13.5 million^{Footnote 1}
• Funding to enhance the New Horizons for Seniors Program (Budget 2022) = $10.0 million
• Funding for government advertising programs (horizontal item) ($2.5 million out of the total $6.0 million requested is for the Services for Seniors campaign) = $2.5 million

Figure 2: Text version for Canadians have access to ESDC services at 600 points of service

• ESDC has 338 Service Canada Centres (including Passport Offices out of which 15 are consolidated and 21 standalone)
• ESDC provides services to 247 Scheduled Outreach sites (146 were reactivated as of November 21, 2022)
• ESDC has access to 15 Service Delivery Partner sites

ESDC footprint has a total of 405 sites, which include the above Service Canada Centres, general office spaces, passport print, processing and call centre locations.

As of January 1st, 2023, ESDC's total number of FTEs (including Passport employees) is 37,234.

Mandate letter commitment 1

Building on our commitment to Old Age Security, increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement by $500 for single seniors and $750 for couples starting at age 65.

Mandate letter commitment 2

Establish an expert panel to provide recommendations for establishing an Aging at Home Benefit. You will be supported by the Minister of Health in this work.

Mandate letter commitment 3

Assist community-based organizations in providing practical support that helps low-income and otherwise vulnerable seniors age in place, and support regional and national projects that help expand services that have already demonstrated results in helping seniors stay in their homes.

Mandate letter commitment 4

Work with the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development to provide seniors with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits.

Mandate letter commitment 5

Continue to work with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to strengthen Canada's approach to elder abuse by finalizing the national definition of elder abuse, investing in better data collection and establishing new offences and penalties in the Criminal Code related to elder abuse.

Mandate letter Commitment 6

Support the Minister of Health in their work to improve the quality and availability of long-term care (LTC) homes and beds. This includes working with provinces and territories to improve infection prevention and control measures, identify shared principles, and develop national standards to ensure seniors get the care they deserve.

Mandate letter commitment 7

Represent the Government of Canada at the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum.

Mandate letter commitment 8

Continue leading work within ESDC on seniors' programming including the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Mandate letter commitment 9

Ensure seniors' eligibility for the Guaranteed Income Supplement is not negatively impacted by receipt of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).

Overview

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) has invited you to appear in view of its study of the Supplementary Estimates (B), 2022-23.

Committee proceedings

The appearance is scheduled to take place on February 10, 2023, from 9:45 am until 10:45 am.

You are invited to appear for one hour as part of a panel, virtually or in person. You will be supported by the following senior officials:

• Jean-François Tremblay, Deputy Minister
• Cliff Groen, Business Lead, Benefits Delivery Modernization
• Karen Robertson, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister
• Nisa Tummon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Program Operations Branch
• Elisha Ram, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch
• Karen Hall, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security and Social Development Branch

You will have up to 5 minutes for opening remarks.

HUMA has agreed that questioning of witnesses would be allocated as follows:

• In round one, there are 6 minutes for each party in the following order:
  • Conservative Party
  • Liberal Party
  • Bloc Québécois; and
  • New Democratic Party
• For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning is as follows:
  • Conservative Party, 5 minutes
  • Liberal Party, 5 minutes
  • Bloc Québécois, 2 and a half minutes
  • New Democratic Party, 2 and a half minutes
  • Conservative Party, 5 minutes; and
  • Liberal Party, 5 minutes

Income supports

• Funding to increase Old Age Security workload capacity
• Increase to the Old Age Security Pension for seniors aged 75 and over
• Increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Impact of inflation on seniors and pensions
• Income Supports / Guaranteed Livable Basic Income
• Poverty in Seniors in Canada
• Pharmacare/Dental care/Medications

Protecting vulnerable seniors

• Funding for New Horizons for Seniors Program (Budget 2022) $10.0 million
• Funding for government advertising programs (horizontal item) $6.0 million
• National Strategy for Seniors
• Caregiving: Long-term care / Aging at Home
• Wellness Portal
• Seniors Single Point of Entry
• Elder Abuse/Abuse of older persons

Committee members biography (title included for accessibility)

Chad Collins, Liberal Party Hamilton East—Stoney Creek - Ontario

Brief biography

Chad Collins was first elected to the House of Commons for Hamilton East - Stoney Creek on September 20, 2021. A lifelong resident of Hamilton East - Stoney Creek, Chad resides in the Davis Creek area with his wife Mary and 2 children, Chase and Reese. He attended Glendale Secondary School, the University of Western Ontario, and McMaster University. Chad was first elected to City Council in 1995, at the age of 24, making him one of the youngest elected representatives in the City's history.

Chad is passionate about engaging local residents and community stakeholders, focusing on revitalization of infrastructure, development of social housing and stream-lining municipal programs.

As President of City Housing Hamilton, Chad has been committed to addressing the City's aging affordable housing stock by pressuring all levels of government to invest in the much needed repair of over 7,000 publicly owned units. He continues to work on nearly a dozen new projects across the City and in the riding that will provide new affordable housing units to those in need.

From the creation and development of new community parks and trails to the opening of a new food bank, Chad knows community consultation is an integral part of improving quality of life for everyone in Hamilton East - Stoney Creek.

Of note:

• Key issues of interest:
  • affordable housing

Michael Coteau, Liberal Party Don Valley East – Ontario

Brief biography

Michael Coteau was first elected to the House of Commons for Don Valley East on September 20, 2021. He has served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East since 2011. During his time in the Ontario government, his ministerial roles include: Minister of Children and Youth Services; Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism; Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games; and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Prior to entering the provincial government, Michael was elected as a school board trustee for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in 2003, 2006 and 2010. As a trustee, Michael advocated for student nutrition, community use of space and the use of educational technology. He initiated the ‘Community Use of Schools' motion that drastically cut user fees and made schools more accessible to groups that offer programs for children. He helped introduce nutritional changes in schools that supported healthy food programs and increased awareness of student hunger.

Michael worked as an ESL instructor and curriculum developer before becoming a community organizer for a United Way agency in Scarborough. He was also the Marketing Manager for ABC Life Literacy, where he was responsible for the organizing of the Family Literacy Day across Canada, and was Executive Director of Alpha Plus, a national literacy organization mandated to support adult education through the use of technology.

Michael grew up in Don Valley East and attended Don Mills Middle School and Victoria Park Collegiate Institute. He holds a degree from Carleton University in Political Science and Canadian History. He and his wife Lori live in Toronto with their 2 daughters, Maren and Myla.

Of note:

• spent 10 years in the Ontario legislature
• Key issues of interest:
  • low-income families
  • Supporting Black Canadian Communities

Wayne Long, Liberal Party Saint John — Rothesay - New Brunswick

Brief biography

Wayne Long was first elected to the House of Commons for Saint John — Rothesay in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He is a member of the Saint John community with national and international business experience. Wayne currently serves as President of the Saint John Sea Dogs, and his efforts have helped turn the team into one of Canada's most successful CHL hockey franchises winning the cherished Memorial Cup in 2011. That same year, Wayne was recognized with the John Horman Trophy, awarded to the Top Executive in the QMJHL.

Prior to his work with the Sea Dogs, Wayne was President of Scotiaview Seafood Inc. He was also a successful large-scale product manager with Stolt Sea Farm Inc. Wayne's work has seen him travel across North America, negotiating contracts with national restaurant distributors, restaurant chains, and retail chains. He earned the North American Excellence in Sales and Marketing award twice. Wayne is a former Board Member for Destination Marketing and Salmon Marketing.

Wayne was born in the riding, and currently calls the area home alongside his wife, Denise, and their 2 children, Khristian and Konnor.

Of note:

• Has been a member of HUMA since the beginning of the 42nd Parliament (2015)
• Key issues of interest:
  • poverty
  • mental health
  • outspoken support of the Energy East oil pipeline project
  • previously broken ranks with party (Energy East, tax policy, SNC-Lavalin) which resulted in being kicked off House committees as punishment
  • frequently makes sports parallel (hockey)
  • government programs and support that benefit his constituents

Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal Party PS for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing) Hochelaga – Québec

Brief biography

Soraya Martinez Ferrada was first elected to the House of Commons for Hochelaga in 2019 and re-elected in 2021. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in 20219 and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport in 2021. She has also served on the Standing Committee on Official Languages in the last Parliament.

She is a proud resident of the east end of Montréal. Originally from Chile, her family settled in the area in the 1980s. Soraya has deep roots in the community where she currently resides with her son and daughter.

Before being elected, Soraya worked for more than 20 years in the community where she specialized in communications and developed multiple cultural and political projects. Among her achievements, she created the very first cultural and socio-professional integration program at TOHU, a unique example of sustainable development in Montréal.

In 2005, she was elected as a city councillor and appointed by the mayor to the position of Associate Advisor for Culture on the City's Executive Committee. In 2009, she became Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition at Montréal City Hall. She transitioned to the federal government in 2015 as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

She created the Vedette d'Hochelaga video clips in which she highlights the commitment of citizens, community organizations, and entrepreneurs in the riding of Hochelaga. She has also set up virtual roundtables and regular newsletters that present federal programs directly serving the people of her riding.

Of note:

Parliamentary Secretary – Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing)

• Key issues of interest:
  • poverty
  • Quebec-focused
  • multiculturalism

Robert (Bobby) J. Morrissey, Liberal Party Egmont Prince Edward Island

Brief biography

In 2015, Bobby was elected to the House of Commons and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He served as a Member on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, as well as the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Previously, he was elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly in 1982 and has dedicated his career and volunteer life to serving the residents of PEI.

Having served as MLA for nearly 20 years, Bobby has a deep understanding of his communities' needs. He has held a number of high-profile roles within the Assembly, such as Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Opposition House Leader. He was also responsible for the redevelopment of the Canadian Forces Base Summerside and the surrounding community following its closure by the federal government in 1989. Bobby left politics in 2000 to join the private sector as a consultant specializing in government relations, fisheries, and the labour market. Bobby has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI. He was the founding member and former president of the Tignish Seniors Home Care Co-op, and Vice-Chair of Tignish Special Needs Housing.

Of note:

• Chair of HUMA
• former member of HUMA in 2019 (briefly before the general election)

Tony Van Bynen, Liberal Party Newmarket — Aurora – Ontario

Brief biography

Tony Van Bynen was first elected to the House of Commons for Newmarket-Aurora in 2019 and re-elected 2021. A resident of Newmarket for over 40 years, Tony and his wife Roxanne raised their 2 daughters there.

Community service, volunteerism, and helping those who need it most is what drives Tony every day. He and Roxanne have volunteered at the Southlake Hospital, and the Inn from the Cold, for over 10 years. They also deliver food for the Newmarket Food Bank, and Tony was instrumental in creating Belinda's Place, which is a multi-purpose facility for homeless and at-risk women.

He also had the privilege of serving as the Mayor of Newmarket for 12 years. During that time, community building is what guided Tony on his mission to revitalize Main Street, renew the historic Old Town Hall, and build the Riverwalk Commons so families and friends can enjoy great public places.

Through his previous role as the President of the Chamber of Commerce, and his 30-year career in banking, Tony understands what local businesses need to thrive and grow. He's delivered innovative solutions to help local business owners find success, including creating the Envi broadband network, so businesses in the community have ultra-high-speed connectivity, which has been particularly crucial during the pandemic.

Of note:

Key issues of interest: Focused studies to help Canadians, especially getting through the pandemic

Rosemarie Falk, Conservative Party Associate Labour Critic— Battlefords-Lloydminster Saskatchewan

Brief biography

Rosemarie Falk is the Conservative candidate for Battlefords-Lloydminster. Rosemarie was born and raised in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Along with her husband Adam, she is now raising her children there. She has always been actively engaged in her community. Throughout her social work career and extensive volunteer work she has worked with some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

Rosemarie was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election on December 11, 2017. Prior to this, Rosemarie worked as a registered Social Worker in Saskatchewan and has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary. She also has experience as a legal assistant specializing in family law and as a legislative assistant in federal politics.

In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, she was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Associate Shadow Minister for Labour and Associate Labour Critic.

Of note:

• She has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities
• Rosemarie is committed to being a strong voice for seniors, families, taxpayers and rural communities
• Associate Critic- Labour in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet

Michelle Ferreri, Conservative Party for Families, Children and Social Development Critic Peterborough Kawatha- Ontario

Brief biography

Michelle is the Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha and was elected in the 2021 federal election. Michelle was appointed as Shadow Minister for Tourism as part of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet for the 44th Parliament. In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, she was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Minister for Families, Children and Social Development.

Prior to being elected, Michelle was a well-known community advocate, an award-winning entrepreneur, a committed volunteer, and a highly sought-after public speaker and social media marketer.

Michelle has over 20 years' experience in media, marketing and public speaking. During her time as a reporter, one of Michelle's most memorable experiences was when she had the opportunity to visit the Canadian Forces Base, Alert and fly to the station on a C-17 Globemaster.

Michelle is a graduate of Trent University (Biology/Anthropology) and Loyalist College (Biotechnology). Her education in science has led her to be a passionate advocate for physical and mental health.

She is a proud mother of 3 children, between the ages of 12 and 17, and shares her life with her supportive partner, Ryan, and his 3 daughters.

Of note:

• She is a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women since December 9, 2021
• Michelle is interested in physical and mental health, housing, the economy and food security
• Critic- Families, Children and Social Development in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet

Tracy Gray, Conservative Party Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Critic Calgary Midnapore – Kelowna- Lake Country- British Columbia

Brief biography

Tracy was elected to serve as Member of Parliament for the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country in October 2019. In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, she was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. She previously served as Shadow Minister for Interprovincial Trade and as the Shadow Minister for Export Promotion and International Trade.

Tracy has extensive business experience and worked most of her career in the BC beverage industry. She founded and owned Discover Wines VQA Wine Stores, which included the number one wine store in BC for 13 years. She is has been involved in small businesses in different sectors including financing, importing, oil and gas service and a technology start-up.

The daughter of a firefighter and Catholic School teacher, Tracy grew up around service and a strong work ethic. She has one son and been married for 27 years.

Tracy has received many accolades including RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the year, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award and 100 New Woman Pioneers in BC.

Tracy served with many organisations over the years. She was appointed to serve by BC Cabinet to the Passenger Transportation Board and elected to the Board of Prospera Credit Union for 10 years. In addition, she served on the Okanagan Film Commission, Clubhouse Childcare Society, Okanagan Regional Library Trustee and Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board.

Of note:

• Critic – Employment, Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet
• Sponsor: Bill C-283, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (addiction treatment in penitentiaries) and M-46 National Adoption Awareness Month (outside order of precedence)

Scott Aitchison, Conservative Party Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Critic—Parry Sound—Muskoka - Ontario

Brief biography

Scott Aitchison was born and raised in Huntsville, Ontario. After leaving home at 15, Scott was raised by the character of his hometown. In October 2022, under the new Conservative Party leader, he was named to the new Official Opposition's Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.

Scott was first elected at the age of 21 to Huntsville Town Council. After serving as Town Councillor, District Councillor and Deputy Mayor, he was elected as Mayor of Huntsville in 2014 on a promise of fiscal discipline, responsible governance and excellent customer service. As Mayor, he built a reputation as a consensus-builder relentlessly focused on breaking down barriers and finding solutions.

Of note:

Critic – Housing and Diversity and Inclusion in the Official Opposition's shadow cabinet

Bonita Zarrillo, New Democratic Party Disability Inclusion Critic Port Moody—Coquitlam British Columbia

Brief biography

Bonita Zarrillo was first elected as Member of Parliament for Port Moody-Coquitlam in 2021. She is known to be a voice for equality and drives systemic change that puts people first. She entered public service so she could advocate for working people and to support the needs of the most vulnerable in the community. She championed buy-local as a tool for small businesses to thrive and to enable them to hire locally, challenged pipeline corporations to pay their fair share, and completed a successful housing affordability strategy that generated the most rental housing starts in her region.

On Coquitlam Council, Bonita served on the following: Fraser Health Municipal Government Advisory Council, Multiculturism Advisory Committee, Metro Vancouver Indigenous Relations Committee, Universal Access Ability Advisory Committee, and past Board Member for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. She sat on the board of 2 local Not-For-Profits that advocate for gender equality and speaks regularly at The Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.

Before being elected to municipal government, Bonita worked in consumer products as a Business Analyst for companies across North America and Europe. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Manitoba, a Human Resource Management Certificate from the University of Calgary and has a Computer Science Degree from CDI Montreal.

Of note:

• Critic – Disability Inclusion
• pledged to help Canadians through collaborative committee work
• key issues of interest:
  • mental health and suicide prevention
  • women's issues and gender equality
  • workers' conditions
  • care economy

Louise Chabot, Bloc Québecois Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic Thérèse-De Blainville - Quebec

Brief biography

Louise Chabot was first elected as Member of Parliament in 2019 and was re-elected in 2021. She was born in 1955 in Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, Quebec, is a Quebec trade unionist and politician. She was president of the Centrale des Syndicates du Québec (CSQ) from 2012 to 2018. The organization initially represented nearly 200,000 members, including 130,000 in the education and early childhood sector. She coordinated a major unionization project that resulted in the consolidation of more than 15,000 family day care managers, a first in the union world in Canada.

Of note:

• Critic – Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Critic
• sponsored the Committee's study on the Review of the EI Program in 2021; critical of the EI program in general and very outspoken about seasonal workers' trou noir and inadequate sickness benefits
• interested in seniors' financial security and their purchasing power
• seek to enact federal anti-scab legislation
• supporter of labour unions – Former president of Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)
• member of the consultative committee for Quebec's Pay Equity Commission
• advocate for increase in health transfers
• respect for provincial jurisdictions
• labour shortages
• nurse by profession

Issue

ESDC/Service Canada terminated the employment of departmental employees upon finding that they had misrepresented their circumstances in order to obtain COVID-19 Emergency Benefits to which they were not eligible.

Background

As part of its mandate to develop and implement a modern, resilient, secure and reliable service and benefit delivery system for Canadians, ESDC/Service Canada continues to strengthen and enhance its controls mechanisms to prevent, detect and address fraud, error and abuse. To preserve the integrity of the program and maintain the trust of Canadians, ESDC/Service Canada promotes early detection and resolution.

ESDC/Service Canada remains committed to the protection of its information holdings, its assets and people, including from insider risks and in times of crisis that entail higher risk.

Due to the urgency in getting money in the hands of eligible Canadians as quickly as possible, the rollout of COVID-19 Emergency Benefits programs provided for post payment rather than pre payment eligibility verification, thus increasing the potential for fraud, error and abuse. However, the questions were in plain language, with "Yes/No" answers, requiring the applicant answer "Yes" to all to be eligible and certify to the truthfulness of their answers.

The Minister of Employment and Social Development is responsible for COVID-19 Emergency Benefit Programs, as per the applicable Acts. Departmental employees are expected to support ministers in their responsibilities.

Every day, ESDC/Service Canada provides numerous services and benefits to Canadians in accordance with the provisions of various Acts governing those services and benefits. In general, departmental employees have better knowledge and a greater understanding of eligibility requirements than the ordinary applicants.

Key facts

While conducting internal investigations pertaining to other allegations, ESDC/Service Canada discovered that some departmental employees were in receipt of COVID-19 Emergency Benefits while continuing to receive their full pay from employment with the department.

Pursuant to the Departement of Employment and Social Development Act, ESDC/Service Canada compared data from its human resources and pay systems with COVID-19 Emergency Benefits program data to identify employees who received benefit payments as well as pay from employment with the department for the same periods.

ESDC/Service Canada conducted internal investigations and, in accordance with the Treasury Board Secretariat's Standard on Security Screening, reviewed the reliability status of employees who misrepresented their circumstances in order to obtain COVID-19 Emergency Benefits to which they were not eligible.

As of January 12, 2023, 49 employees have been terminated following the administrative investigations of their Security status where the employees in question were receiving their pay from employment with the Department and claimed emergency benefits. As of January 12, 2023, 8 other administrative investigations are still ongoing. Neither managers nor executives were found to have misrepresented themselves.

Recoveries of ineligible payments occur following the completion of the investigative process. Employees that misrepresented themselves have been terminated. Whomever is deemed ineligible will have to pay back the benefits.

Key messages

Protecting the integrity of its programs and departmental information holdings, its assets and people is of the utmost importance and requires that ESDC/Service Canada maintains rigorous security practices, including taking proactive measures against the risks posed by departmental employees.

ESDC/Service Canada actively promotes a strong ethical culture by providing all employees with resources, tools, training, communications, and support on values and ethics. They are required to complete a training curriculum within the first year of their employment that includes courses on the Value and Ethics Code for the Public Sector as well as the ESDC Code of Conduct. This also includes a cyclical requirement to recertify specific training, such as the Stewardship of Information and Workplace Behaviours training.

In addition to active monitoring programs, such as access monitoring of Program databases, ESDC has in place a robust system to report security breaches as well as alleged wrongdoing. This includes internal communications portal, education and outreach products, as well as reporting tools.

Potential breaches of the ESDC Code of Conduct, particularly those that present a possible security risk, are investigated by the Internal Integrity and Security Directorate. In addition to an administrative investigation, a review for cause of the employee's security status may be conducted.

In all 49 cases, ESDC/Service Canada's Chief Security Officer found that the employee misrepresented their circumstances in order to obtain COVID-19 Emergency Benefits they were not eligible to receive. In doing so, they lost the employers trust and were terminated as they no longer met their terms of employment by their security status being revoked.

Issue

What is ESDC doing to ensure the proactively monitor and detect unusual or suspicious activity of departmental systems and ensure the integrity of benefit programs and services delivered to Canadians?

Key facts

As part of the Department's internal integrity measures, it was determined that 49 ESDC employees had claimed the CERB payment.

As a result, those employees had their security status revoked and their employment terminated.

Response

ESDC/Service Canada has robust controls and mechanisms in place that actively monitor and identify potential cases of error, fraud or abuse in our systems.

Employees of ESDC not respecting the ESDC Code of Conduct may face administrative and/or disciplinary measures, up to and including termination of employment.

During the investigation, these 49 employees were found to have breached the Code, and as a result, had their reliability status revoked and their employment terminated with ESDC/Service Canada.

These measures support the sound stewardship of public funds.

Background

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada remained committed to ensuring that Canadians be provided with the financial supports and services they needed as quickly as possible to get through this difficult time.

We know that in times of crisis, the risk of fraud is heightened. ESDC has robust data analytics capabilities that have been actively monitoring and identifying cases of potential fraud in our systems since the launch of the CERB.

ESDC implemented several initiatives and measures to review the situation and identify irregularities.

As a result, it was ascertained that certain employees received the CERB that were not eligible.

All employees who took advantage of CERB were terminated because they broke the employer's trust in them and no longer meet their terms of employment.

Key quotes

NIL