REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, March 15, 2010—To raise awareness of the abuse of older adults in Canada, the Government of Canada is providing funding for a project by the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism, through the Elder Abuse Awareness component of its New Horizons for Seniors Program.
Mr. Ray Boughen, Member of Parliament for Palliser, highlighted the funding in Regina today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors).
“The Government of Canada is committed to the well-being of seniors and to combating elder abuse in all its forms, from physical abuse to financial and emotional abuse,” said Mr. Boughen. “This project will support programs and activities that increase awareness of elder abuse while improving the quality of life, safety and security for seniors.”
Today’s celebration follows an announcement on February 8, 2010, of an investment of more than $1.5 million in 16 projects across Canada that will help reduce the incidences of abuse against older adults throughout the country.
The Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism received funding of $99,867 for its project called Saskatchewan Senior Abuse Network. Through this project, the organization will develop a provincial intervention strategy and hold regular network roundtable meetings to coordinate efforts to reduce elder abuse in Saskatchewan.
“Our government takes the fight against elder abuse very seriously,” Mr. Boughen added. “We want everyone to know that it cannot and will not be tolerated, and that help is available.”
The project highlighted today falls under the Elder Abuse Awareness component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which supports national and regional projects. With the two other components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program—Community Participation and Leadership and Capital Assistance—the overall budget of the Program is $35 million per year.
Budget 2010 committed $10 million over two years in increased funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The enhanced funding will support projects that focus on volunteering among seniors and raising awareness of financial abuse of seniors.
Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 6,000projects across Canada, helping seniors to use their leadership, energy and skills to benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
New Horizons for Seniors Program
Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program helps to ensure that seniors are able to actively contribute to and benefit from the quality of life in their communities.
The Program offers three types of funding to organizations:
- Community Participation and Leadership funding (up to $25,000 in 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.
- Capital Assistance funding (up to $25,000 in funding): this funding helps non-profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors’ programs and activities. It enables seniors to continue to lead active lives by participating in existing programs and activities in their communities.
- Elder Abuse Awareness funding (up to $250,000 in funding annually over a maximum of three years): this funding helps 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.
