SoVote

Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Seniors, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 3:01:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree just how challenging this pandemic has been on seniors. Every single step of the way, our government has been there to support seniors, especially those who are most vulnerable by strengthening their GIS. We have also moved very quickly to provide immediate and direct financial supports to seniors this year. When it comes to CERB and GIS, we are aware of this issue. I want to assure the hon. member that we are working extremely hard on this to find the right solution to help those who are affected, and as always, we will be there for them.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Seniors, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 3:02:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, strengthening income security for seniors has been a priority for our government, and that is why our government strengthened GIS for vulnerable seniors. We provided one-time payments during the pandemic to help seniors afford the things that they needed. We will be increasing support through OAS for those who are age 75 and above. We recognize that GIS adjustments have been hard on some seniors this year. I can assure the hon. member and all members in this House that we are working hard to find a solution to help those affected. As always, we will be here for them.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Hon. Kamal Khera (Minister of Seniors, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 7:03:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. member on her re-election and on her role as shadow minister for seniors. Before I respond to my hon. colleague's question, allow me to briefly take a moment to thank the constituents of Brampton West, who have elected me to the House for the third time as their voice. I will continue to fight for the priorities that matter to them. Allow me to also briefly thank my volunteers and supporters, who made this possible, and of course my family and friends, who have always had my back. Being my community's voice in Parliament is truly the greatest privilege of my life, and as the new Minister of Seniors, I look forward to working with the hon. member and indeed all members of the House to find the best ways to serve Canada's seniors and ensure that the most vulnerable get the support they need. My connection to seniors is a very personal one. During the pandemic, I volunteered to go back to my roots as a registered nurse. I spent my time on the front lines vaccinating health care workers and members of my community, and standing alongside the Canadian Armed Forces, who came to a long-term care home in my city of Brampton. It was one of the hardest hit long-terms care homes in my province. The experiences I had remind me every day to continue to fight for the most vulnerable. The health and social well-being of seniors across Canada has been top of mind for many, and the financial situation for seniors has been a challenge. However, when it comes to supporting seniors, I am proud of our record to date. One of the first things we did as a government when we were elected in 2015 was to reduce the eligibility of OAS to age 65 from 67. The Conservatives had attempted to raise the age of retirement and take money out of the pockets of Canadians who need retirement benefits to make ends meet. We enhanced the CPP in a historic way that was mirrored by QPP. We also strengthened the OAS and raised the GIS for single seniors, which made a real difference in the lives of many seniors. For immediate support during the pandemic, we provided a one-time $500 payment for older seniors this year and will be increasing OAS by 10% for those age 75 and older next year. This historic increase will be their first real increase in decades, beyond inflation increases. This will make a difference for older seniors as they live longer and as their needs increase. Canadians re-elected a government on a bold, ambitious plan that will help seniors who need it the most. I look forward to working with all members of the House on delivering this ambitious agenda. We can all agree that the pandemic has been challenging for many seniors, but every step of the way, our government has been there to support seniors, especially the most vulnerable. We moved very quickly to provide immediate and direct financial support to seniors. Every year seniors across Canada benefit from programs and funding that our government provides through the New Horizons for Seniors program. I am extremely excited to announce that this year's call for proposals for NHSP is now open, and I encourage all members to apply. When it comes to the CERB and GIS issue, to remind the hon. member once again, we are aware of it, as I mentioned earlier. We know it has been hard on some seniors this year, and I can assure the hon. member that we are working on this issue to find the right solution to support those who are affected.

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Context: House Hansard - 9 - Dec/2/21

Hon. Kamal Khera

Dec/2/21 7:08:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, I think we can all agree with how challenging the pandemic has been on seniors, especially the most vulnerable seniors, but every step of the way, our government has been there to support seniors by strengthening their GIS and ensuring they have the supports and services they need. When it comes to the CERB and GIS issue, as I reminded the hon. colleague earlier, I understand it has been hard on some seniors this year. I can assure the hon. member that it is a priority for me. We are working actively on this file right now, and we are going to be there to support the most vulnerable, as we always have been.

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