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Mar.13,2005 -Mar.20,2005 |
Growing cohort of pensioners
Seniors need efficient health care, says Ianno
By Francesco Veronesi
Originally Published: 2005-03-06
According to Statistics Canada, by 2021 one in five Canadians will be over 65. Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the population, a demographic trend similar to that under way in Italy. The federal government seems to have acknowledged this trend to the constant increase in median age. In his 2005 budget, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale set aside $2.7 billion for pensioners, a sum that will not only raise pensions, but also fund projects and programs for seniors. "We activated a new National Seniors' Secretariat," said Minister of State for Families and Caregivers Tony Ianno, "with the specific task of working with pensioners' groups, developing projects and promoting collaboration among the various institutions of our country."
Canada has 4.6-million pensioners. Out of this grand total, 1.6 million receive Guaranteed Income Supplements (GIS), which the 2005 budget raised by about $400 a year for singles and $700 for couples. "Moreover," added Ianno, "thanks to changes enacted within the budget, 50,000 more pensioners will get access to these GIS." Increases will become effective in January 2006.
The budget Goodale presented last week includes new funding for the New Horizons for Seniors program. "This project," explained Ianno, "has already become a great success. It consists of promoting activities in favour of seniors carried out by seniors themselves. Pensioners are an active part of our population. Funding will increase steadily; starting from the initial $10 million, the sum will reach $25 million in 2008."
According to Ianno, any comprehensive assessment of the 2005 budget and its influence on the lives of seniors must include the sums earmarked for public health. "For seniors, being able to rely on an efficient health-care system is of paramount importance. And this budget includes large provisions for health care."
Regarding the funds for pensioners in the 2005 budget, there was also a declaration by Villa Charities executive director Pal Di Iulio. "The 2005 budget includes some positive aspects," said Di Iulio, "such as the increase of the GIS by $36 dollars a month for single seniors and $58 for couples. It may not be much, but it's an increase nonetheless."
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