In the December 14 fiscal update, the federal government announced a one-time payment to seniors affected by guaranteed income supplement (GIS) cuts related to CERB and CRB payments.
In a media release, North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney stated that it’s encouraging to hear that the Liberal government has decided to listen and address the problem they created when they cut the guaranteed income supplement (GIS) seniors rely on.
“For months, New Democrats have been calling on the government to correct the problem,” stated Blaney. “NDP MPs across the country received hundreds of emails, calls and letters from desperate seniors who were abruptly cut off from the GIS support they needed simply for taking the pandemic help like CERB and CRB that they were eligible for.
“People shared their heartbreaking stories with us. We heard from seniors who have already been evicted and others that are facing eviction this month. Seniors in their 70s and 80s contacted us to say they cannot buy their groceries or afford the prescription medicine they needed to be healthy. These were dire circumstances and the government left them struggling and worrying with little support for months.”
After weeks of questions in the House of Commons from New Democrats, and letters written to ministers urging them to act, the government finally outlined its proposal for a solution: a one-time payment to alleviate the financial hardship the Liberals’ claw back has caused for vulnerable, low-income seniors, according to Blaney.
“This is some much-needed hope for seniors, but so many questions remain, and the government needs to act urgently to get the money in people's pockets right away and explain how it will help them pay their rent for the remaining half a year before their GIS is reassessed, stated Blaney. “It’s also very important that this payment be tax-free and not counted as income, otherwise, it will further impact the help seniors are eligible to receive next year.
“These seniors have been through so much in the past months. The government made the mistake – now they need to fix it by getting this money to seniors now.”
