KEREMEOS, BRITISH COLUMBIA, May 6, 2008-The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today announced funding for the Old Age Pensioners' Organization in Keremeos under the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).
Minister Day made the announcement 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).
Minister Day announced funding of $25,000 to support a project in Keremeos. This funding will benefit seniors by improving the facilities and equipment they need to stay involved in their communities.
"The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Minister Day. "The project we are funding in Keremeos will enable the continuation of programs and activities that play an important role in ensuring quality of life for seniors."
The Old Age Pensioners' Organization will repair the roof of its facility and replace sports equipment, benefiting approximately 300 seniors. This funding will enable the organization to continue offering programs that encourage seniors to remain actively engaged in their community.
This project is funded under the new Capital Assistance, component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program. This funding enables organizations that offer programs for seniors to replace aging equipment or to make needed renovations to their facilities.
It is part of a commitment made in the 2007 federal budget to provide capital assistance and to raise awareness of elder abuse. This is in addition to funding for the original Community Participation and Leadership component of the Program. This has increased the total amount of funding available under the NHSP to $28 million per year.
Budget 2008 and other recent federal initiatives are also addressing the needs of Canada's seniors through the introduction of a series of important measures that include:
- providing $13 million over three years to help seniors and others recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and to provide information on what support is available;
- proposing to raise the current Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) earned income exemption to $3,500 from $500. This means that the typical GIS recipients will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money without any reduction in GIS benefits;
- enabling 1.6 million low-income seniors to benefit from increased monthly benefits available under the Guaranteed Income Supplement 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 re-apply;
- establishing the National Seniors Council to advise the Government on issues of importance to older Canadians;
- providing more than $1 billion in tax relief to Canadian seniors and pensioners;
- allowing seniors to build their retirement savings in Registered Pension Plans and Registered Retirement Savings Plans for an extra two years until age 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 launch, the NHSP has funded over 2,600 projects across Canada, improving equipment and facilities used for seniors' activities and helping seniors to bring their leadership, energy and skills to benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/community_partnerships/seniors/index.shtml.
This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
Additional information (media only):
Pascal Doucet
Media Relations Coordinator
Service Canada Communications
514-982-2384, ext. 2209
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations
Human Resources and Social
Development Canada
819-994-5559
