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

Dec/7/22 3:02:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we recognize the challenges that seniors are facing, and that is precisely why we have been there delivering for them, whether it was the increase to the guaranteed income supplement, which has helped over 900,000 seniors and lifted 45,000 of them out of poverty, or the fact that we moved forward on increasing the old age security by 10% for those 75 and over, or the fact that we doubled the GST credit or provided dental and rental support. On this side of the House, we are going to continue to deliver for seniors and all Canadians.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Ms. Rachel Blaney (North Island—Powell River, NDP)

Dec/7/22 3:58:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling a petition from seniors across Canada who have identified very clearly that single seniors have a much harder time financially and that we need to see significant changes by the government to support them. They note that senior couples can split their pension income, thereby allowing them to pay less tax and qualify for key things like old age security. That is not available for seniors who are single. The petitioners note that the cost of living for a single person is two-thirds of the cost of living for a couple; that single-person households are continuing to grow and are the fastest-growing population in Canada, according to Statistics Canada; that of the six million seniors in Canada, over one-third are single, many of them women; and that this demographic will continue to grow. This group is asking for justice on this issue and I hope they see it.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Ms. Kristina Michaud (Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, BQ)

Dec/7/22 4:31:37 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, my riding likely has one of the fastest-aging populations in the country. We just learned that groceries are going to cost even more next year and that the Bank of Canada increased its key interest rate for the seventh time. Given these circumstances, it seems to me that the economic update would have been the right time for the government to finally announce that it is increasing the old age security pension for all seniors. Regardless of whether a person is 65 or 77, I think that it would have been good news for them to find out that seniors would be getting an increase in their OAS starting at age 65. One in four people in the Lower St. Lawrence region is 65 or older. My question is simple. Why did the government not use the economic update as an opportunity to stop creating two classes of seniors and provide financial support to all of them, regardless of age?

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mrs. Salma Zahid

Dec/7/22 4:32:31 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her concern for seniors. As I mentioned in my remarks, it is important that we support seniors on fixed incomes through the inflationary period. Lower-income seniors are benefiting from the doubling of the GST tax credit and from the Canada housing benefit one-time special payment. We lowered the retirement age from 67 to 65. The Conservatives had changed it, and we brought it back down. As well, we introduced the age well at home initiative to help our seniors continue to live safely and independently in their homes. We also increased the old age security for seniors above the age of 75. We will continue to make sure we are there for our seniors.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mr. Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, NDP)

Dec/7/22 4:33:25 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, one of the things the member pointed out is that the Liberals have created a special and extra benefit for seniors over 75. While I would not at all dispute that seniors over 75 face extra costs in terms of their lives, somehow it seems to imply that those between 65 and 75 are okay, when we all know they are suffering from those same effects of inflation and those same inabilities to make ends meet when it comes to housing and associated medical costs. I wonder if the hon. member would support the idea that the increase that went to those over 75 should have gone to all seniors.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mrs. Salma Zahid

Dec/7/22 4:34:11 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, definitely seniors need more help, and I will continue advocating to make sure we are there for seniors. We have been there for our seniors. The increase we brought to the guaranteed income supplement was to help seniors keep up with inflation. They will benefit from the doubling of the GST tax credit. Low-income seniors will also benefit from the $500 one-time top-up allowance for housing. We will continue raising our voices to do more for our seniors.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mr. Frank Caputo

Dec/7/22 4:46:49 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we did not preside over the doubling of house prices in Canada. We did not preside over the doubling of the national debt after saying we would not do that. We are the party that lowered the GST. Millennials, and other people, could actually afford a house under Conservatives. They cannot afford a house now under the Liberal government, which is propped up by the NDP. When it comes to their saying, “We have your backs”, seniors are writing to me and saying they cannot afford any food. They are saying they cannot afford— Mr. Kevin Lamoureux: Table the letter. Mr. Frank Caputo: Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to, if he would like. I would be happy to table the letter. If the hon. parliamentary secretary wants to doubt that seniors are writing to me saying they cannot afford things, shame on him.

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Context: House Hansard - 143 - Dec/7/22

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)

Dec/7/22 5:33:31 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-32

Madam Speaker, I appreciate a number of the comments that the member made. One of the issues I would like to raise is in regard to the support programs that are inside the legislation. One of the things is the intergenerational housing credit that will provide incentive for people to build a suite for seniors, possibly a parent or an individual with a disability. It is a substantial credit to encourage that to take place. The previous speaker talked about the issue of homelessness and how important it was for him. I am wondering if she could provide her thoughts on that specific credit.

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