North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney has reached out to two federal ministers to provide a one-time emergency payment to seniors facing dire financial circumstances.
Blaney, along with NDP critic for finance Daniel Blaikie, spoke to media on January 21 about low-income seniors who have been struggling to pay bills or afford groceries after the federal government cut guaranteed income supplements (GIS) months ago. On January 20, NDP MPs wrote to finance minister Chrystia Freeland and minister of seniors Kamal Khera, imploring them to provide money for affected seniors, according to a media release.
“I have heard heartbreaking stories from seniors across the country,” stated Blaney. “They’re living through an unprecedented global health crisis; they’re already stressed and frustrated, and then the government cut the GIS support they rely on to survive. If that wasn’t bad enough, the cost of necessities like food is getting higher and higher. Seniors need help now more than ever.
“Instead of having people’s backs like Justin Trudeau said they would during the election, this government has cut their financial support and refuses to act quickly to fix it. Canadian seniors deserve much better.”
The release stated that for months, New Democrats have received calls and emails from seniors who are desperate for help and the situation is only getting worse. Earlier this week, Statistics Canada reported that the country’s inflation rate rose to a new 30-year high. The price of groceries increased by six per cent—the biggest gain in 10 years, the release stated.
“After months of raising the issue, the government finally acknowledged their mistake and committed to fixing it, but the money won’t arrive for months,” stated Blaikie. “That will be too late for many seniors going hungry, struggling to pay for medication and experiencing homelessness.
“It’s absolutely unacceptable for the government to make them wait until May for help. That’s why we’re asking the minister to get money out the door and into seniors’ pockets now.”
Blaikie and Blaney were joined in their media conference by Janet McLeod, a senior who shared her story, and the national director of Campaign 2000, Leila Sarangi, an anti-poverty advocate.
