Better aging is everyone’s issue.
It’s official – we’re hitting the polls on September 20th.
With older people holding the most powerful and influential vote (numbers show 80% of seniors voted in the last federal election), this is your chance to shape the future of aging in our country.
After all, the issue of better aging crosses party lines.
We’ve all suffered in our own ways since the onset of the pandemic, and no one more so than seniors. Long-term care residents have wasted away in neglect, retirees have watched their life savings dwindle as costs have risen, and older people everywhere have had their rights and well-being threatened at every turn.
No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, we can all agree on one thing: older Canadians deserve better.
The campaign trail can be loud, confusing and full of empty promises. As Canada’s National Seniors’ Advocacy Organization, we’re here to cut through the noise and get to the heart of the issues that matter most to you so you can cast your vote with confidence.
UPDATE: We've released an official statement on the election results
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Our Asks
We’ve distilled our top policy priorities into a concise list of 3 clear calls to action on behalf of our members.
When federal leaders ask us what needs to be done to improve and protect the lives of older Canadians, this is our answer:
1 – Fix seniors’ care
Older Canadians deserve to live safely and with dignity, whether they’re aging in place at home or are living in long-term care. The devastating loss of life during the COVID-19 pandemic paints a stark picture of how far we have to go in providing the quality of care aging adults deserve.
The time for transformation of seniors’ care is now.
We’re asking all federal parties to commit to creating a new Seniors’ Care Transfer, which would provide dedicated funds to improve long-term care and home care supports, including real steps taken to prevent elder abuse.
2 – Prioritize vaccinations to keep older Canadians healthy
Only about 8-10% of older Canadians are up to date with the routine vaccinations they need to stay safe due to major gaps in access and funding. As a result, countless older people in our country today are needlessly at risk of serious complications caused by the flu, shingles and pneumonia. With COVID-19 now an on-going part of our lives, on top of these other infectious diseases, we’re facing a recipe for disaster.
The reality is that vaccines save people, and people save economies.
Further compounding the problem are the federal government’s painfully out of date processes for the approval, procurement and prioritization of the vaccines we all need to stay out of hospitals and doing the things we love. Our world has changed and our vaccination systems need to keep up. It is no longer good enough to ignore immunization, calling it “the provinces’ problem”. COVID-19 has taught us that we need the federal government’s focus on vaccines now and in the future.
It is quite literally a matter of life and death.
We’re asking all federal parties to commit to increasing immunization rates in older adults by increasing domestic vaccine production and streamlining processes for reviewing, approving, purchasing and tracking vaccines.
3 – Protect older adults’ financial well-being
No one should need to worry about money after a lifetime of contributions to our society. Yet, across the country, older Canadians are facing a precarious future of poverty having outlived their savings because the rules around retirement savings are outdated, companies are not required to protect pensioners, and incidents of elder abuse are skyrocketing.
We’re asking all federal parties to protect the economic wellbeing of people 50+ by ensuring pensioners are protected from unfair bankruptcy laws, that employers do not discriminate against older workers, and to end mandatory RRIF withdrawals at 71. Our federal leaders must also commit to real financial support for caregivers and home modifications to allow Canadians to age safely in place.
As Canada’s National Seniors’ Advocacy Organization, we’re pushing all Parties to include these asks in their platforms.
Party Promises
We’re putting each Party platform under the microscope, zeroing in on the issues that matter most to you.
Promises are grouped under headings taken from our comprehensive policy book, VOICES: A Roadmap to an Age-Inclusive Canada.
The WINS column on the right tracks the issues that we’ve been advocating on leading up to the election, and which have been included in each party’s platform. Depending on whether our recommendation was completely, or only partially, included, these wins are indicated with 1 of 2 checkmark symbols (see below).
In either case, these checkmarks represent real impact we’ve been able to make on behalf of our members, caregivers and older people across Canada!
An item with this symbol next to it means the party addressed the issue with a solution that's in line with CanAge's recommendation.
An item with this symbol next to it means the party took action on one of our key issues
Liberal Party
Leader: Justin Trudeau
Political Spectrum: Centre-left
The Liberals are determined to finish the fight against COVID-19 with mandatory vaccination for federal employees, travellers and proof of vaccination programs. Plans for both a healthier economy and environment include creating supports for businesses and new green jobs. In acknowledgment of the distress and disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, expansions to the Canada Workers Benefit and mental health programs will focus on those most impacted including low-income workers, healthcare workers and seniors.
In order to improve long-term care, the Liberals have proposed $9 billion along with their Safe Long-term Care Act to ensure standards of care are maintained; funds will also hire 50,000 new personal support workers and increase their minimum wage to $25 p/h. Liberals will also co-develop an Indigenous Long-term and Continuing Care Framework that ensures culturally appropriate care in Indigenous communities. To help seniors with finances and aging at home, they have proposed $90 million to implement the Aging Well at Home initiative, a new Multigenerational Home Renovation tax credit, doubling the Home Accessibility Tax Credit and increasing OAS and GIS.
Conservative Party (Official Opposition)
Leader: Erin O’Toole
Political Spectrum: Centre-right
In order to recover from COVID-19, the Conservatives are focused on restoring jobs and addressing the widespread mental health impacts.
For Canadian seniors, the long-term care crisis is addressed with a promise of $3 billion for infrastructure funding, boosting the number of personal support workers through immigration programs, and amending the Criminal Code to make operators of licensed care facilities legally responsible for residents’ necessities of life.
To help seniors stay at home, the conservatives are introducing the Canada Seniors Care benefit, amending the Home Accessibility Tax Credit, and allowing the Medical Expense Tax Credit to cover home care.
New Democratic Party (NDP)
Leader: Jagmeet Singh
Political Spectrum: Centre-left
The New Democrats plan to increase affordability through housing, guaranteed livable income, universal public pharmacare/dental care and more. Supporting Canada’s industries and environment are also integral to the NDP platform.
For seniors, plans to eliminate for-profit homes and introduce national care standards include $5 billion tied to meeting those standards, and more secure staffing and wages that lead to higher quality care.
Their National Seniors Strategy and other policies include protections for pensioners, elder abuse prevention, a funded dementia strategy and making the Canada Caregiver Tax Credit refundable.
Green Party
Leader: Annamie Paul
Political Spectrum: Left
The Green Party continues to emphasize the need for renewable energy, protecting the natural world, planting trees and reducing single use plastics. Guaranteed Livable Income is another staple of their platform which will impact all citizens, including seniors.
Stating eldercare reform is long overdue, the Green Party intends to eliminate for-profit care homes and expand alternative options such as cooperative, supportive and affordable housing. Their plans to develop national standards for eldercare and staffing will result in better pay for staff, eliminating the need to work in multiple facilities and improving care continuity.
They also plan to fully fund high-dose flu vaccines, implement national universal pharmacare, improve mental health supports and invest in dementia care.
Bloc Quebecois
Leader: Yves-François Blanchet
Political Spectrum: Centre-left (Quebec)
Quebec sovereignty remains a key aspect of the Bloc Quebecois platform with calls to protect the French language and increase Quebec’s independence. They have also included plans for greater sustainability and reduced support for fossil fuels, as well as the repurposing of unused federal properties and increased funding for more affordable housing.
Regarding public health, the Bloc is suggesting an increase of the Canada Health Transfer to cover 35% of provinces’ total health care costs.
For seniors, an increase to Old Age Security of $110 a month, hiring more workers for the long-term care sector and removing barriers for low-income seniors to work.
Exclusive Events
We’re hosting a series of interactive virtual events to empower you to vote with your voice in this fall’s federal election.
Elections Canada Voter Information Session
September 8th, 2:30 PM ET
This free interactive session will tell you everything you need to know about voting in the federal election, including what makes this year different. Co-hosted by Elections Canada.
Federal Party Leader Town Halls
Exact dates and times to be confirmed
We’ve invited each federal party leader to participate in a series of virtual town halls. These free virtual events will give each candidate the chance to speak directly to our members about how their election platform meets the needs of caregivers and older voters. You’ll also have the chance to ask them your burning questions.
Voter Toolkit
We’ve created a handy downloadable voter toolkit that you can use to vote your voice with confidence.
You’ll find explanations of all the different ways you can vote, answers to common questions and a step-by-step guide on engaging with your local candidates!
Sign up for federal election updates
For details on the member survey, contact info@CanAge.ca