May 28, 2015– Toronto, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), today highlighted the Government of Canada’s work to tackle issues facing seniors in Canada at the 10th annual NICE Knowledge Exchange Conference. This conference, hosted by the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), provides an important opportunity for members of the community, clinicians, academics, students and business leaders to come together to exchange ideas, present insights and innovations, and promote concrete solutions to help address seniors’ issues.
In her remarks, Minister Wong highlighted the 2015-2016 New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Call for Proposals (CFP) for Pan-Canadian projects, which will be launched on May 29, 2015. Through this CFP, organizations will be invited to apply for funding for projects that will help prevent and reduce social isolation among seniors using collaborative, partnership-based approaches and with an emphasis on results.
The annual CFP for community-based projects under the NHSP will be launched on the same day.
Minister Wong also spoke of a number of programs and activities that help support seniors and address the issue of social isolation. These include the publishing of a National Seniors Council’s report on social isolation and the Council’s ongoing work that will include a focus on examining ways to encourage local communities to reach out to socially isolated seniors. The social isolation of seniors is also one of the priorities to be examined this year by the Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors.
Minister Wong also discussed how the Government is providing over $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors and pensioners, implementing pension income splitting and introducing a new Home Accessibility Tax Credit for seniors and persons with disabilities to help with the costs of ensuring their homes remain safe, secure and accessible. These changes to income security programs have given older Canadians more choice and flexibility in regard to life, work and retirement.
To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB would provide $160 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $60 per month for each child aged 6 through 17.
Justin Wood
Office of the Minister of State (Seniors)
613-852-3761
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
The NSC advises on matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, including the opportunities and challenges arising from a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse seniors population.
- The Council reports to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and the Minister of Health. The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), is responsible for the day‑to‑day operations of the Council.
- NSC members include seniors, representatives of organizations that serve seniors and/or experts on seniors and aging.
The Government of Canada established the NSC in 2007 to provide advice on the overall well-being of seniors, both now and in the future.
For more information, please visit Canada.ca/Seniors.
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.
The objectives of the NHSP are:
- promoting volunteerism among seniors;
- engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
- expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
- supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
- providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.
NHSP funding supports community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects.
Community-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year, per organization in grant funding. Over 1,850 projects were approved through the NHSP 2014-2015 Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects.
Pan-Canadian projects funded through the 2015-2016 call for proposals will help to prevent and reduce social isolation among seniors. Successful projects will be up to three years in duration and funded between $150,000 and $750,000.
For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.
The Forum of Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Ministers Responsible for Seniors was established in 1992 by F/P/T governments to advance issues of common concern. The focus is on concrete, collaborative projects and actions that will have an impact on the lives of seniors. The Ministers meet regularly to discuss issues of importance to seniors and to share information on seniors’ well-being from their respective jurisdictions.
For more information on the Forum, visit http://www.seniors.gc.ca/eng/working/fptf/index.shtml.
