ST. GEORGE, NEW BRUNSWICK, February 19, 2008 — The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors), today celebrated the funding received for two projects under the New Horizons for Seniors Program to ensure that seniors in St. George and Bonny River have the opportunity to participate and take an active leadership role within their communities.
Speaking at the St. Mark's Anglican Church, Minister Thompson celebrated funding of $27,449 for the two projects.
The St. George Community Access Centre received funding of $10,044 from the New Horizons for Seniors Program for their project Memories Through Pictures. This project will help seniors restore, repair, and catalogue photos. They will then produce a book of photos to help share their past with younger generations in their community.
The Granite Town Senior Citizens Club received $17,405 for their project Outreach to Seniors. The project will help participants plan and organize activities, travel, and social time for rural seniors, which will promote interaction among the seniors and youth.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Minister Thompson. "These projects will encourage seniors in St. George and Bonny River to continue sharing their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit others."
In the 2007 federal budget, the Government of Canada announced an additional investment of $10 million per year for two new components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program-to raise awareness of elder abuse, and to provide capital assistance for upgrades to facilities and equipment used for existing seniors' programs. Projects funded under these new components will be announced in the spring of 2008.
The federal government is also addressing the needs of Canada's seniors through the introduction of a series of important measures that include the following:
establishing the National Seniors Council to advise the Government on issues of importance to older Canadians;
enabling 1.6 million low-income seniors to benefit from increased monthly benefits available under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and to make a one-time application for GIS. As long as they file income tax returns every year, these seniors will never have to reapply;
providing more than $1 billion in tax relief to Canadian seniors and pensioners in Budget 2007;
enabling seniors to build their retirement savings in Registered Pension Plans and Registered Retirement Savings Plans for an extra two years until the age of 71; and
raising the amount that seniors can claim under the age credit on their tax returns for 2007. With less income taxed, seniors save more.
Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 2,600 projects across Canada, inspiring seniors to bring their leadership, energy and skills to benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit the following Web site:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/community_partnerships/seniors/index.shtml .
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
backgrounder
New Horizons for Seniors Program
Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) helps to ensure that seniors are able to benefit from and contribute to the quality of life in their communities through their social participation and active living. This is achieved through funding community projects that help seniors share their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit others, while reducing their social isolation.
Building on the success of the NHSP, in Budget 2007 the Government of Canada increased the Program's budget by $10 million per year to provide capital assistance for repairs to facilities and equipment related to existing seniors' programs, and to raise awareness of elder abuse across Canada. This has increased the total budget for the NHSP to $35 million per year.
As a result, the Program now offers three types of funding to organizations:
Pre-existing component
Community Participation and Leadership Funding: This funding supports community-based projects across Canada. The projects encourage seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.
New funding components
Capital Assistance Funding: This funding will help non-profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors' programs and activities. It will enable seniors to continue to lead active lives by participating in existing programs and activities in their communities.
Elder Abuse Awareness Funding: This funding will help non-profit organizations and coalitions raise awareness of the abuse of older adults on a national or regional level. Through this funding, new educational and awareness resources about elder abuse will be available to improve quality of life, safety and security for seniors.
