Ottawa, Ontario, April 18, 2013—The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), was pleased to meet with international counterparts and stakeholders to discuss seniors’ issues while on a recent trade mission to China and Japan with the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
“During my visit, I had the opportunity to engage with organizations to discuss not only the challenges and opportunities presented by our aging populations, but also to share best practices,” said Minister of State Wong. “We all share the same objective: to advance the overall well-being of seniors and encourage them to stay active, engaged and informed in their communities.”
Minister of State Wong met with individuals and various organizations including: Japan’s Minister of Justice, Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki, to discuss their approach to protecting seniors from various forms of elder abuse; Mr. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Secretary of Labour and Welfare, Hong Kong SAR, to discuss efforts which promote the financial security of seniors; as well as with Mr. Chen Chuanshu, Executive Vice President of the Chinese National Committee on Aging, to discuss demographic change and approaches to enhancing seniors’ participation in their communities.
Minister of State Wong was pleased to discuss the Government’s actions to improve the lives of seniors, such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program and; the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative; as well as the development of the seniors.gc.ca website, a central resource for seniors that provides quick and easy access to all government-related benefits, programs and initiatives.
For more information on Government of Canada programs and initiatives for seniors, please visit www.seniors.gc.ca.
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For further information (media only):
Mark Wall
Director of Communications
Office of Minister of State (Seniors), Alice Wong
1-613-617-7993
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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The Government of Canada is working hard to help improve the lives of seniors on many fronts. These efforts include:
- introducing in 2011 a new Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) top-up benefit to help Canada’s most vulnerable seniors. This was the largest increase in 25 years to the GIS for the lowest-income seniors. This measure further improves the financial security and well-being of more than 680 000 seniors across Canada;
- increasing funding to the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) in Budget 2011 by $5 million, bringing the Program’s annual budget to $45 million. The Program helps seniors use their leadership abilities, energy and skills to benefit communities across Canada;
- providing Canadians with close to $76 billion this year through Canada’s public pension system;
- providing $2.7 billion in additional tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as pension income splitting and increasing the Age credit in 2012–2013;
- providing $400 million over two years under Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors;
- supporting positive and active aging through the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults, and falls-prevention initiatives;
- actions to address elder abuse, which include: awareness campaigns; the NHSP, which funds projects to raise awareness of elder abuse; and legislation that would help ensure consistently tough penalties for offences involving the abuse of elderly persons; and
- developing seniors.gc.ca as a central resource for seniors on government benefits and services, including finances, housing, health and wellness.
