Looking back on what we've accomplished so far
Below is an comprehensive catalogue of policy changes we’ve successfully advocated for on behalf of our national network of members, partners and supporters.
Items are organized by level of government, province/territory, alignment with our policy book VOICES and other criteria you can use to drill down and find what you’re looking for.
Our 6 VOICES letters represent 6 priority policy areas in our policy book, VOICES: A Roadmap to an Age-Inclusive Canada. Items are categorized by these areas in the table below:
- V – Violence and Abuse Prevention
- O – Optimal Health and Wellness
- I – Infection Prevention and Disaster Response
- C – Caregiving, Long-Term Care, Home Care and Housing Resources
- E – Economic Security
- S – Social Inclusion
This list will be kept up to date.
Impact Report 2020-21
Get a snapshot of the change we've been able to make and how much we've grown since Spring 2020.
2020-21
VOICES
These are policy “wins” (policy changes for which we successfully advocated) that directly align with recommendations in our policy book.
Government | Prov/Territory | Party | Event | Announcement | VOICES Letter | Issue | Recommendation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Provincial | AB | United Conservative | Budget | $3.5 billion for community care, continuing care and home care programs, including $20 million over 4 years for palliative and end of life care | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | AB | United Conservative | Budget Drop | Seniors’ lodges received an additional $30 million in 2020-21 to support them in meeting COVID-19 related public health orders. This will help cover personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies as well as additional staffing costs. | I | 19 | 77 |
Provincial | AB | United Conservative | Budget Drop | Seniors’ lodges received an additional $30 million in 2020-21 to support them in meeting COVID-19 related public health orders. This will help cover personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies as well as additional staffing costs. | C | 23 | 76 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget Drop | The Senior’s Supplement will be doubled, benefitting up to 80,000 low-income seniors. | E | 29 | |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget Drop | Budget 2021 will create even more affordable housing options for growing families, seniors, women and children leaving violence, students and Indigenous peoples. This includes supporting the creation of nearly 9,000 homes for middle income households and families through a new $2-billion investment in the HousingHub. | C | 27 | 94 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget Drop | $12 million over the fiscalplan for the Home Health Monitoring Initiative which supports patients with moderateto highly complex chronic and episodic health conditions to self-manage their healthfrom the comfort of their homes, using blue-tooth-enabled devices that communicateblood pressure and other health indicators to monitoring nurses in their local healthauthority. | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget Drop | $68 million over three years will increase the number of care aides and other community care providers to deliver better home care and to help seniors withdaily living. | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget Drop | Stable base funding of $40 million over the plan to further invest in the Province’s connectivity strategy. Providing reliable high-speed broadband to rural, remote and Indigenous communities supports a more inclusive society, improves access to health care and education and helps unlocks opportunities for businesses to better reach and access local, regional and global markets. | S | 36 | 120 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget Drop | Budget 2021 provides permanentfunding to support the Province’s commitment to grow the workforce that will supportB.C.’s aging population. This includes an investment of $585 million over the fiscalplan period for the Health Career Access Program that will recruit, train, and employ upto 3,000 health care workers over the next three years. This will introduce more healthcare support workers into long-term care homes and assisted living facilities across theprovince. | C | 21 | 70 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget | Mental health and addictions support ($39 million): Funding includes mental health supports such as expanded virtual mental health supports for seniors, adults and youth and a Mobile Response Team to support the mental well-being and psychological safety of front-line health-care workers. | O | 8 | |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget | Cowichan Secondary will be replaced by 2024 by a $82-million, partially funded by the Cowichan Valley School District. The neighbourhood learning centre will include a Gathering Place, Elder Place and an Audio Recording Room for Indigenous language. | S | 39 | 129 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget | Cowichan Secondary will be replaced by 2024 by a $82-million, partially funded by the Cowichan Valley School District. The neighbourhood learning centre will include a Gathering Place, Elder Place and an Audio Recording Room for Indigenous language. | S | 39 | 131 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget | Cowichan Secondary will be replaced by 2024 by a $82-million, partially funded by the Cowichan Valley School District. The neighbourhood learning centre will include a Gathering Place, Elder Place and an Audio Recording Room for Indigenous language. | S | 40 | 133 |
Provincial | BC | New Democratic Party | Budget | $495 million over the fiscal plan to continue to fund the successful strategy to reduce diagnostic imaging and surgery backlogs exacerbated by the pandemic. DOES THIS COUNT? | O | 11 | 37 |
Provincial | MB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $10 million to reduce wait times for hip, knee andcataract procedures | O | 6 | 14 |
Provincial | MB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $10 million to reduce wait times for hip, knee andcataract procedures | O | 11 | 37 |
Provincial | MB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $9.3 million for personal care home expansions in Steinbach and Carman that will add more than 120 beds, with a focus on a small house model of care with safer single resident rooms. | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | MB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $9.3 million for personal care home expansions in Steinbach and Carman that will add more than 120 beds, with a focus on a small house model of care with safer single resident rooms. | C | 24 | 82 |
Provincial | MB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Digital Health and Diagnostics: an increase of $350 thousand to expand digital resources and enhanced safety and to enable stroke patients to live safely in the comfort of their own home rather than within a hospital or health centre. | O | 15 | 51 |
Provincial | NB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $10.3 million for the operation of three new nursing home facilities. This funding will support the replacement of 214 nursing home beds in Miramichi, and the addition of 148 new beds in Fredericton, Miramichi, and Moncton. | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | NB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $12.4 million this year to increase wages for home support workers, community residence workers, special care home workers, and family support workers. | C | 23 | 77 |
Provincial | NB | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $25 million is being allocated over the next three years to improve cellular and broadband service | S | 36 | 120 |
Provincial | NB | Progressive Conservative | News Release | High dose flu shot will be offered to residents aged 65 years and older living in long-term care facilities (licensed nursing homes and adult residential facilities). Universal Seasonal Influenza Program at no cost to New Brunswick residents | I | 16 | 52 |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | Transportation: $300,000 to support community initiatives that increase healthy, inclusive communities through the Community Transportation Program | S | 38 | 121 |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | Transportation: $300,000 to support community initiatives that increase healthy, inclusive communities through the Community Transportation Program | S | 38 | 124 |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | Transportation: $300,000 to support community initiatives that increase healthy, inclusive communities through the Community Transportation Program | S | 38 | 128 |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | Connectivity: $95,000 for the Age-Friendly Communities Program, which helps community partners plan for changing demographics and implement activities that make communities more inclusive; | S | 38 | 128 |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | Social Inclusion: $200,000 for the Seniors’ Social Inclusion Initiative which supports activities that promote social inclusion, including a focus this year on an intergenerational program guide to increase interaction between youth and adults. | S | 35 | 116 |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | $57 million for the Seniors’ Benefit, which supports approximately 49,000 seniors and their families annually | E | 29 | |
Provincial | NL | Liberal | Budget Drop | $300,000 for SeniorsNL to support information and referral services for seniors and those who support seniors | V | 2 | 4 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget Drop | $22.6 million increase, for a total of $27.8 million, to implement findings of the Expert Panel on Long Term Care, including long-term care assistants, expanding access to Allied Health providers, and implementing primary care coverage in nursing homes | C | 25 | 85 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $6 million increase to support the continuing care sector with COVID-19 related expenses | C | 25 | |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $12.3 million to extend Regional Care Centres for long term care patients with COVID-19 | C | 25 | |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $8.6 million for the first year of the multi-year Long Term Care Infrastructure Renewal Plan to replace or significantly renovate seven nursing homes and add more than 230 beds across the province by 2025 | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget Drop | $3.9 million to support long-term care facilities with lost revenues during the pandemic | C | 25 | |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $2.7 million increase to the Supportive Care program to support people with cognitive impairments | O | 7 | 20 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $500,000 to advance the Blueprint for Change in Long Term Care | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $500,000 to advance the Blueprint for Change in Long Term Care | C | 24 | 82 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $500,000 to advance the Blueprint for Change in Long Term Care | C | 24 | 83 |
Provincial | NS | Liberal | Budget | $814,000 increase for Adult Day Programming to provide personal assistance, supervision, and health, social, and recreational activities for community-based seniors | C | 21 | 72 |
Provincial | NT | N/A | Budget | $1.120 million for workforce planning and long-term care training programs | C | 23 | 76 |
Provincial | NT | N/A | Budget | $406,000 for increased costs of long-term care services provided by AVENS – A Community for Seniors | C | ||
Provincial | NT | N/A | Budget | $290,000 for home care and community care under the Canada-Northwest Territories Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | NT | N/A | Budget | $138,000 for fall prevention from the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program Agreement | O | 10 | |
Provincial | NT | N/A | Budget | $1.1 million to train more personal support workers and licensed practical nurses through Aurora College to care for long-term care residents with graduates who have gained their skills within our Territorial community | C | 23 | 80 |
Provincial | NT | N/A | Budget | $290,000 increase in the Budget to further support the Paid Family Caregiver Project and fund project software to improve service delivery. | C | 21 | 70 |
Provincial | NU | N/A | Budget | $0.7 M to boost the supplementary benefits program for low-income seniors. | E | 29 | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Investing up to $4.9B over four years to increase average daily direct care per resident to four hours | C | 23 | 76 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Building four new LTC homes faster through the innovative Accelerated Build Pilot Program | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Investing another $933M over the next four years to build more LTC beds, in addition to the initial investment of $1.75B, for a total of over $2.6B | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget Drop | The government is working to establish a new vision for long-term care homes in consultation with residents, families and the sector, including establishing a resident quality of care framework which will outline performance measures to guide oversight and quality improvement in long-term care homes. | C | 22 | 73 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Extending the wage enhancement for over 147,000 workers until June 30, 2021 who deliver personal support services | C | 23 | 77 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | 4.9 billion dollars over four years to increase direct daily care to four hours a day. Will hire more than 20,000 new support positions. | C | 23 | 76 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Providing $160M over three years to support the Community Paramedicine for LTC program in 33 communities | C | 15 | 51 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Three phase plan - By phase three (July 2021 onwards) - the plan is to have all people 59 and over vaccinated | I | 17 | 58 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $50 million to vaccination programs in Indigenous communities | I | 17 | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Ontario is expanding the use of rapid testing in highpriority areas, such as schools, congregate settings, workplaces and high priority communities. | I | 19 | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Ontario is investing $50 million in 2021–22 to ensure IPAC resources andexpertise are available across the health system including hospitals and public health units as wellas other congregate settings. | I | 19 | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $2.8 billion in broadband infrastructure toensure that every region in the province has access to reliable broadband services by 2025. | S | 36 | 120 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | The Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit is worth 25 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses for a senior’s principal residence in Ontario. | C | 28 | 96 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Ontario is investing $3.7 million in 2021–22 to help remove barriers and provide safe, accessible transportation for persons with disabilities and older adults with limited mobility to travel to their COVID‑19 vaccination appointments. | I | 16 | 56 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Highlight from Capital plan: Fast-tracking the development of four new long-term care homes in Mississauga, Ajax and Toronto to create 1,280 long-term care beds by the end of 2021, as part of the Accelerated Build Pilot Program, which supports the government’s plan to create new long-term care beds across the province. | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $540 million in new funding to protect residents, caregivers and staff in long-term care homes from future surges of COVID‑19. This includes: $405 million to help homes continue prevention and containment of COVID‑19 including enhanced screening, staffing supports and purchasing additional supplies and PPE;$61.4 million for minor capital repairs and renovations in homes to improve infection prevention and control;$40 million to help stabilize the homes as they transition to lower occupancy rooms, to stop admissions of third and fourth residents to larger rooms;$30 million to allow long-term care homes to hire more infection prevention and control staff and train new and existing staff; and$2.8 million to extend the High Wage Transition Fund to ensure that gaps in long-term care staffing can continue to be addressed during COVID‑19. | C | 23 | 77 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $540 million in new funding to protect residents, caregivers and staff in long-term care homes from future surges of COVID‑19. This includes: $405 million to help homes continue prevention and containment of COVID‑19 including enhanced screening, staffing supports and purchasing additional supplies and PPE;$61.4 million for minor capital repairs and renovations in homes to improve infection prevention and control;$40 million to help stabilize the homes as they transition to lower occupancy rooms, to stop admissions of third and fourth residents to larger rooms;$30 million to allow long-term care homes to hire more infection prevention and control staff and train new and existing staff; and$2.8 million to extend the High Wage Transition Fund to ensure that gaps in long-term care staffing can continue to be addressed during COVID‑19. | C | 24 | 83 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | The government will continue to stand behind PSWs and direct support workers on the front lines of protecting the most vulnerable by providing $461 million in temporary wage increases for over 147,000 workers who deliver publicly funded personal support services. | C | 23 | 77 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Committed to investing $1.75 billion to increase long-term care capacity and access for residents by building 30,000 long-term care beds, which will include air conditioning for any new and redeveloped homes. To accelerate the construction of urgently needed long-term care projects, the Province has introduced a modernized funding model that will ensure timely bed availability that is responsive to the needs of the people of Ontario. The new funding model will help speed up construction by making needed changes to the Construction Funding Subsidy (CFS). | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Launching a Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program to help seniors remain stable in their own homes while also providing peace-of-mind for caregivers. This new program will provide individuals eligible for long-term care with 24/7 access to non-emergency support, through home visits and remote monitoring. | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | New Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit for the 2021 taxation year to help seniors, and intergenerational families who have seniors living with them, make their homes safer and more accessible. The Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit would be worth 25 per cent of up to $10,000 in eligible expenses for a senior’s principal residence in Ontario. The maximum credit would be $2,500. | C | 28 | 96 |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Seniors Active Living Centres, $3.1 million in 2021–22 for a total of $17.2 million, which represents a 22 per cent increase to funding. This additional funding will offer remote and virtual programming to connect seniors at home and provide safe in-person programming when their local public health unit says it is safe to do so. | S | 35 | 116 |
Provincial | PEI | Progressive Conservative | Budget | $1.5 million for a free shingles vaccine for Islanders aged 65 and older, which will be the most comprehensive program in the country. | I | 16 | 52 |
Provincial | PEI | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Transportation"$250,000 for a rural transit system pilot program beginning fall 2021." | S | 37 | 121 |
Provincial | PEI | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Home Care, Palliative and Geratric Care: Appropriations provided for operation of the Home Care and Support Program, the stand-alone Palliative Care Facility and the Provincial Geriatrician Program. | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | PEI | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Home Care, Palliative and Geratric Care: Appropriations provided for operation of the Home Care and Support Program, the stand-alone Palliative Care Facility and the Provincial Geriatrician Program. | O | 14 | 45 |
Provincial | PEI | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Home Care, Palliative and Geratric Care: Appropriations provided for operation of the Home Care and Support Program, the stand-alone Palliative Care Facility and the Provincial Geriatrician Program. | O | 15 | 49 |
Provincial | PEI | Progressive Conservative | Budget | Provincial Dental Program: appropriations provided for services to achieve and maintain good dental health under the children's dental care program, Low Income and Seniors Dental Program, Preventative Orthodonic Program, Long-Term Care Facilities Dental Program and Cleft Palate Orthodonic Treatment funding program: $5,407,100 | O | O | Sensory Health |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $70 million for more than 900 new beds and residential spaces | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $1.8 billion over five years to add 10,000 new patient-care attendants in CHSLDs and $1.2 billion to upgrade existing ones to full time | C | 23 | 76 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $1.2 billion to upgrade existing part-time patient-care attendants in CHSLD's to full time | C | 23 | 77 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $534.0 million to hire a manager per CHSLD ($49 million in 2020-2021 and $97 million over each of the next five years) - $485 million in new money | C | 23 | 77 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $95 million over five years to improve quality of life for informal caregivers | C | 21 | 70 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $750 million over 5 years to increase the supply ofpublic home support services | C | 26 | 92 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | $334 million over 5 years: Strengthening health care and services in residential and long-term care centres for seniors with diminishing autonomy. | O | 7 | 20 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Budget | Financial assistance to help bring private seniors’ homes up to standard. | C | 24 | 82 |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | Bill 56 | The purpose of this bill is to guide the Government in planning and carrying out actions aimed at fostering awareness and recognition of the contribution of caregivers and to support them in their role.To that end, the bill provides that the Government is to adopt a national policy for caregivers. It sets out the guiding principles of the policy and establishes the key areas its policy directions are to focus on. | C | 21 | 70 |
Provincial | SK | Saskatchewan | Budget | $6.0 million will be used to hire approximately 100 continuing care aides who help long-term care clients with personal care, mealsand medication. | C | 23 | 76 |
Provincial | SK | Saskatchewan | Budget | Through a $6.7 million increase in this Budget, Seniors will have ambulance fees reduced to $135 per trip, down from $275 | E | 29 | |
Provincial | SK | Saskatchewan | Budget | $3.5 million in additional funding for the SeniorsIncome Plan (SIP). The investment will help lowincome seniors enjoy a better quality of life withmaximum payments increasing by $30 a month. | E | 29 | |
Provincial | SK | Saskatchewan | Budget | $3.6 million for the future Grenfell long-term care facility, $7.6 million for the 80-bed La Ronge long-term care facility and $1.1 million to begin planning activities for long-term care facilities in Estevan, Watson and Regina. | C | 24 | 81 |
Provincial | YT | Liberal | Budget | $87 million for continuing care, home care, respite care, palliative care and community day programs for seniors and Elders across theterritory | C | 26 | 92 |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $50 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, for the Public Health Agency of Canada to design and deliver interventions that promote safe relationships and prevent family violence, including intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse. | V | 3 | 5 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to provide up to $443.8 million over ten years, starting in 2021-22, in support of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. | O | 13 | 43 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to provide $140 million over five years starting in 2021-22, and $6 million ongoing, to Veterans Affairs Canada for a program that would cover the mental health care costs of veterans with PTSD, depressive, or anxiety disorders while their disability benefit application is being processed | O | 8 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to provide $597.6 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, for a distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategy with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation. The strategy will renew funding for the Indian Residential Schools Health Supports Program and Crisis Line, which provide healing supports for survivors of childhood trauma and residential schools. It will also stabilize and expand community-based supports and capacity, increase substance use treatment and prevention, and support workforce development. | O | 8 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $774.6 million over five years, beginning in 2021-22, to ensure continued high-quality care through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program, which supports First Nations and Inuit people with medically necessary services not otherwise covered, such as mental health services, medical travel, medications, and more. | O | |||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to provide $45 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to help develop national mental health service standards, in collaboration with provinces and territories, health organizations, and key stakeholders. | O | 8 | 29 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to provide funding of $13.2 million over five years, beginning in 2021-22, with $2.6 million per year ongoing, to Health Canada to ensure that Canada’s medical assistance in dying framework is implemented consistently and with all appropriate safeguards. Funding would support training and the development of guidance materials for practitioners, as well as support research to guide the evolution of medical assistance in dying in Canada. | O | 14 | 47 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $3 billion over five years, starting in 2022-23, to Health Canada to support provinces and territories in ensuring standards for long-term care are applied and permanent changes are made. | C | 22 | 73 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $90 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Employment and Social Development Canada to launch the Age Well at Home initiative. | C | 26 | 92 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $600 million over seven years, starting in 2021-22, to renew and expand the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, which encourages new funding models and innovative building techniques in the affordable housing sector. To date, this program has committed funding to support the creation of over 17,600 units, including more than 16,300 affordable housing units and units for persons with accessibility challenges. This new funding will support the creation of up to 12,700 more units, bringing the total to over 30,000 units. | C | 28 | 97 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $1 billion Safe Long-term Care Fund to ensure seniors, and those who help them, are well protected and well supported through the pandemic and for years to come. | C | 19 | 64 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | $41.3 million over six years, and $7.7 million ongoing, starting in 2021-22, for Statistics Canada to improvedata infrastructure and data collection on supportive care, primary care, and pharmaceuticals. | O | |||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | The government also proposes to provide an additional 4 weeks, up to a maximum of 42 weeks, for the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit. | C | 21 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to meet the immediate needs of this group of seniors by providing a one-time payment of $500 in August 2021 to OAS pensioners who will be 75 or over as of June 2022. | E | 29 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 then proposes to introduce legislation to increase regular OAS payments for pensioners 75 and over by 10 per cent on an ongoing basis as of July 2022. | E | 29 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Provide funding of $27.6 million over three years for my65+, a Group Tax-Free Savings Account offered by the Service Employees International Union Healthcare. | E | 29 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | Budget 2021 proposes to provide an additional $15 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Veterans Affairs Canada to expand and enhance the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund for projects that will support veterans during the post COVID-19 recovery, including addressing homelessness, employment, retraining, and health challenges | E | |||
Federal | Liberal | Budget | We propose to provide another $1 billion over six years for the Universal Broadband Fund, to support access to high-speed internet by Canadians in rural and remote communities | S | 36 | 120 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | In February 10, 2021, the government announced $14.9 billion over eight years, starting in 2021-22, for public transit projects across Canada. This included new permanent funding of $3 billion per year for communities across Canada, beginning in 2026-27.This funding will support new subway lines, light-rail transit and streetcars, electric buses, active transportation infrastructure, and improved rural transit, | S | 37 | 121 | |
Federal | Liberal | Budget | In February 10, 2021, the government announced $14.9 billion over eight years, starting in 2021-22, for public transit projects across Canada. This included new permanent funding of $3 billion per year for communities across Canada, beginning in 2026-27.This funding will support new subway lines, light-rail transit and streetcars, electric buses, active transportation infrastructure, and improved rural transit, | S | 37 | 124 | |
Federal | Liberal | Federal funding of high-dose flu vaccine for all residents of long-term care across the country for the 2020-2021 flu season. | I | 16 | 52 | ||
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $1 million to engage with third parties to help identify resources to conduct readiness assessments in long-term care facilities and facilitate training on infection prevention and control. | I | 19 | 63 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $1 million to engage with third parties to help identify resources to conduct readiness assessments in long-term care facilities and facilitate training on infection prevention and control. | I | 19 | 64 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $186.8 million over two years, starting in 2020-21 to address needs and gaps in supportive care facilities and provide additional home care in Indigenous communities. | C | 26 | 92 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $186.8 million over two years, starting in 2020-21 to address needs and gaps in supportive care facilities and provide additional home care in Indigenous communities. | C | 39 | 130 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $1 billion Safe Long-Term Care Fund to help with COVID-19 response. | S | 19 | 64 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $38.5 million to train 4,000 PSWs and address staffing shortages. | C | 23 | 76 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | Through the Safe Restart Agreement, the federal government invested $740 million to help provinces and territories address immediate needs of vulnerable populations, including those in long-term care. | C | |||
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $6.4 million over two years, starting in 2020-21, to the Canadian Foundation for Health Improvement to expand its LTC+ initiative, which allows long-term care facilities and seniors residences to register via an online portal and submit a self-assessment of eligibility for coaching and seed funding to help address gaps. | C | 15 | 49 | |
Federal | Liberal | Fall Economic Statement 2020 | $1.5 billion to continue to procure PPE and provide warehousing and logistics support to rapidly deliver critical PPE and medical supplies to provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities, as well as to maintain the readiness of the National Emergency Strategic Stockpile. | I | 19 | 64 | |
Provincial | ON | Dental Announcement | The new Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program is a government-funded dental care program. It provides free, routine dental services for low-income seniors who are 65 years of age or older. | O | 6 | 16 | |
Provincial | NB | Seasonal influenza vaccine is available free of charge to all New Brunswick residents by many different immunization providers through a variety of programs. Those NB residents 65 years and older will receive a high dose influenza vaccine which is intended to give seniors a stronger immune response, and therefore, better protection against influenza. | I | 16 | 52 | ||
Federal | Throne Speech | Working with the provinces and territories to set new, national standards for long-term care so that seniors get the best support possible. | C | 22 | 73 | ||
Federal | Throne Speech - | Invest in reducing the impact of climate-related disasters, like floods and wildfires, to make communities safer and more resilient. | I | 20 | 67 | ||
Federal | Throne Speech - | The Government will...Take additional action to help people stay in their homes longer. | C | 28 | |||
Federal | Throne Speech - | The Government will continue to expand capacity to deliver virtual health care. | S | 36 | 120 | ||
125 |
Budget
These are policy “wins” (policy changes for which we successfully advocated) that don’t exactly reflect our policy book, but do represent positive change on one or more of our advocacy issues and were included in a government’s budget.
Government | Prov/Territory | Party | Announcement | VOICES Letter | Issue | Recommendation from Pre-Budget Submission |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Providing up to $246M over the next four years to prioritize upgrades, such as air conditioning | C | Provide immediate investment to ensure LTC meets fire codes, has modern HVAC and air conditioning in residents’ rooms. | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | $30M Annually to recruit, retrain and train staff in LTC homes in infection prevention and control practices. | C | Mass-hire and train personal support workers (PSW) and other LTC staff, for good jobs with pensions and benefits, similar to Quebec’s COVID-19 hiring model. | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | $3m over three years to Francophone Community Grant program | C | 15 | Invest in programs to ensure Franco-Ontarians and multicultural seniors receive appropriate care and services. |
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | 394.2 million over 5 years ($268.5 million over five years to increase the tax credit rate from 35% to 40%; $125.7 million to enhance financial assistance for seniors living in apartmentbuildings.) | C | 20 | Raise and amend the Seniors Assistance Tax Credit according to FADOQ’s recommendations. Make this tax credit refundable. |
Federal | Liberal | Establishing a National Framework for Diabetes - Budget 2021 proposes to provide $25 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, to Health Canada for additional investments for research on diabetes . This framework will be developed in consultation with provinces and territories, Indigenous groups, and stakeholders, and will help to support improved access to prevention and treatment, and better health outcomes for Canadians. | O | Targeted Investments in Health Care. Make targeted investments in health care that will improve access to primary care, mental health supports, and virtual care in provincial health care systems to older Canadians | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget 2021 proposes to provide $29.8 million over six years, starting in 2021-22, to Health Canada to advance the government’s palliative care strategy and lay a better foundation for coordinated action on long-term and supportive care needs, improving access to quality palliative care. | O | Fund Palliative Care. Work with provinces to adequately fund palliative care | ||
Federal | Liberal | Budget 2021 proposes to provide $100 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to the Public Health Agency of Canada to support projects for innovative mental health interventions for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID 19, including health care workers, front-line workers, youth, seniors, Indigenous people, and racialized and Black Canadians. | O | Mental Health. Create specific funding to support seniors' mental health impacts due to social isolation and COVID19 | ||
Federal | Liberal | $478.1 million on a cash basis to continue to support the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities, including support to hire nurses, help at-risk people to isolate, and distribute personal protective equipment | I | 34 | Work with provincial, territorial and municipal governments and professional associations, such as pharmacists, to ensure that vaccinations can be easily accessed. Work specifically to ensure that vulnerable seniors in long-term care, persons with disabilities, immunocompromised persons and indigenous persons and people living in rural and remote areas are prioritized for barrier-free vaccinations. | |
Federal | Liberal | $478.1 million on a cash basis to continue to support the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 in Indigenous communities, including support to hire nurses, help at-risk people to isolate, and distribute personal protective equipment | I | 35 | Centralize purchase for vaccines for indigenous populations. Invest in supports for improved distribution and uptake of adult vaccines in indigenous communities. Promote culturally appropriate information on the importance of vaccination in indigenous communities. | |
Federal | Liberal | $59.2 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, for the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization to support the development of its vaccine candidates and expand its facility in Saskatoon. | I | 31 | Vaccine Research and Innovation. Invest in technology and innovation in vaccine research, development, tracking and uptake | |
Federal | Liberal | Nearly $3 billion for Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. | C | 54 | Invest in accessible transitional and shelter options for seniors who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, as part of Canada’s Housing Strategy. | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Investing over $121M to support the accelerated training of almost 9,000 PSWs | C | 19 | Create a provincial integrated health and human resources staffing strategy across home care and LTC. Provide educational grants and paid training incentives. |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | $18.5 M over three years, for housing support for victims of domestic violence and survivors of human trafficking. | V | Increase funding for Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO), which has not received a funding raise since 2008 to equal levels of domestic violence and intimate partner violence funding. This will allow EAPO to cover more ground and return to more effective and local interaction with community partners. Move EAPO oversight to the Ministry of Health. | |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | Three phase plan - By phase three (July 2021 onwards) - the plan is to have all people 59 and over vaccinated | I | 58 | Designate all people 60+ immunocompromised due to COVID-19 - DesignateImmunocompromised Status to Seniors 70+ - During the COVID-19 pandemic, include all people 70 and older as “designated immunocompromised” due to their high-risk status for infection. Being designated as immunocompromised will provide seniors with immediate increased coverage for certain vaccines such as the most effective pneumonia vaccines. |
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | $243 million in support immediately provided to long-term care homes in March for emergency capacity and virus containment measures | I | Increase funding in Ontario LTC to address challenges with outbreaks, infection control management, and inadequate resident care. | |
15 | ||||||
Level Government (Government) | Province/Territory | Party | ||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | ||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | ||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | ||||
Provincial | QC | Coalition Avenir Quebec | ||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Federal | Liberal | |||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | ||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | ||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative | ||||
Provincial | ON | Progressive Conservative |
Other
These are policy “wins” (policy changes for which we successfully advocated) that don’t exactly reflect our policy book, but do represent positive change on one or more of our advocacy issues and don’t fit into any particular announcement format.
Government | Prov/Territory | Party | Event | Announcement | VOICES Letter | Issue | Recommendation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Federal | NDP | A Care Guarantee for our Loved Ones Launch Event | Increase pay for LTC staff | C | 23 | 77 | |
Federal | NDP | A Care Guarantee for our Loved Ones Launch Event | 10 Paid sick days for LTC staff | C | 23 | 77 | |
Federal | NDP | A Care Guarantee for our Loved Ones Launch Event | Invest in LTC and Home care following principles of Canada Health Act | C | 22 | 75 | |
Federal | NDP | A Care Guarantee for our Loved Ones Launch Event | "Tether" federal funding to new Long-term Care National Standards | C | 22 | 75 | |
Municipal | Ontario | Toronto Public Library/CanAge | Educational Speaker Series | S | 35 | 116 | |
Municipal | Ontario | Toronto Public Library/CanAge | Educational Speaker Series | S | 26 | 119 |