Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, March 14, 2007 —The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Blackstrap and Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today celebrated $70,944 to fund five projects in Saskatoon through the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
"Canada's New Government recognizes the important and continuing role seniors play in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Parliamentary Secretary Yelich. "It is community-based groups, organizations, and associations that play an invaluable role in the quality of life of our seniors in Saskatoon."
The Government has recently announced that more than $580,000 has been invested in over 40 New Horizons for Seniors projects across Saskatchewan. New Horizons provides grants to support community-based projects that encourage seniors to contribute to their communities through social participation and active living.
Canada's New Government has been working hard to improve the lives of seniors. In just one year, it has:
created the position of Secretary of State (Seniors);
created the National Seniors Council, which will advise the federal government on all matters related to the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors;
provided tax relief by allowing pension income splitting for pensioners, beginning in the 2007 tax year;
provided tax relief by increasing the age credit by $1,000 (from $4,066 to $5,066), effective in the 2006 tax year;
provided tax relief by increasing the maximum amount of eligible pension income that can be claimed under the pension income credit to $2,000 from $1,000, putting almost $900 million back in the hands of seniors over the next two years and removing 85,000 pensioners from the tax rolls;
increased the Guaranteed Income Supplement maximum benefit, benefiting more than 50,000 seniors, and proposed legislation to make it easier for seniors to apply for and receive the Supplement;
increased the Refundable Medical Expense Supplement tax credit by more than 30 per cent to $1,000;
expanded the Compassionate Care Benefit, making more Canadians eligible; and
introduced a Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
For more information on the New Horizons for Seniors Program, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
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The list of five projects funded in Saskatoon is included in the attached backgrounder.
For more information (media only):
Carrie Zdunich,
Assistant to Parliamentary Secretary Yelich
306-260-0708
Media Relations
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
backgrounder
FUNDING TO NEW HORIZONS FOR SENIORS PROJECTS IN SASKATOON
Organization
Project Description
Location
Amount
Fédération des aînés fransaskois
Ados et Aînés, la création radiophonique: The Féderation des aînés Fransaskois seniors will work with local youth to create a 12-part community radio play, which will then be reproduced onto DVD.
Saskatoon
$25,000
Clinkskill Manor Tenants' Association, Saskatoon Housing Authority
Falls Prevention Awareness Project: The seniors of Clinkskill Manor will invite local seniors to attend a series of educational demonstrations/presentations on Fall Prevention.
Saskatoon
$12,460
Oliver Place Residents' Council
The Oliver Place Seniors Community Song Project: The Oliver Place Resident's Council has partnered with St. Edward and Mount Royal Collegiate students to create eight Community Sing-Along concerts, as well as a large-type song book.
Saskatoon
$14,590
Harris Tessier New Horizons
Basic Computer Training for Seniors: Seniors from the Harris and Tessier communities will get together to provide computer training for other seniors in their area.
Harris
$3,894
Spalding New Horizons Seniors
Spalding Community Recreation Enhancement Project: Local-area seniors will work with community groups to design, plan and construct a mini golf course for use by the entire community.
Spalding
$15,000
backgrounder
New Horizons for Seniors Program
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) provides funding to support a range of community-based projects across Canada that encourage seniors to contribute to their communities through social participation and active living. By focusing on seniors' important role in Canada's communities, the program also gives seniors more opportunity to share their wealth of knowledge and help others.
Funded projects are inspired, implemented, and led by seniors; they support broad national objectives and regional priorities set by Review Committees in each province. Review Committees consist of members who are active in seniors' and community issues and include representation from the federal and provincial or territorial governments. The committees also review and recommend proposals for funding.
Individual proposals are eligible for up to $25,000 in funding, and the maximum length of a project is one year. The 2006-2007 Call for Applications resulted in 775 seniors' projects approved for funding of nearly $14 million.
For more information, please consult http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/isp/horizons/toc.shtml.
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