CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT TAKES MAJOR STEPS
TO SUPPORT SENIORS
Kamsack, Esterhazy, Rama, and Margo to receive funding through New Horizons for Seniors Program

YORKTON — Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, was pleased to learn that senior citizens in the riding will benefit directly from a major announcement made Monday.

The Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Secretary of State for Seniors, and the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, further demonstrated the Conservative government’s commitment to seniors by announcing nearly $14 million in funding for 775 projects across Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors Program, a program designed to help seniors lead active lives and participate in their communities.

“This Conservative government has listened to seniors across Canada express their interest in becoming more active in making long-lasting differences in their communities,” said Breitkreuz. “In response, our government will invest in 775 projects across Canada through our New Horizons program and ensure that our seniors can contribute to community life in ways they feel will make a difference. Among those included under the New Horizons for Seniors Program are projects in Kamsack, Esterhazy, Rama, and Margo.”

The New Horizons for Seniors Program provides grants to support a range of community-based projects across Canada that encourage seniors to contribute to their communities through social participation and active living. Projects support broad national objectives and regional priorities. The local projects are as follows:

In just one year, the Conservative government has made significant improvements in the lives of seniors by:

• creating the position of Secretary of State for Seniors;
• providing tax relief by allowing pension income splitting for pensioners, beginning in the 2007 tax year;
• providing tax relief by increasing the age credit by $1,000 (from $4,066 to $5,066), effective in the 2006 tax year;
• providing tax relief by increasing the maximum amount of eligible pension income that can be claimed under the pension income credit to $,2000 from $1,000, putting almost $900 million back in the hands of seniors over the next two years and removing 85,000 pensioners from the tax rolls;
• increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement maximum benefit, benefiting more than 50,000 seniors, and proposing legislation to make it easier for seniors to apply for and receive the Supplement;
• increasing the Refundable Medical Expense Supplement tax credit by more than 30 per cent to $1000;
• expanding the Compassionate Care Benefit, making more Canadians eligible; and
• introducing a targeted initiative for older workers.

Other Government of Canada seniors-focused initiatives include projects to make cities more accessible for seniors, help seniors become prepared for emergencies, prevent fall-related injuries, and develop guidelines on seniors’ mental health issues.

“Seniors helped build this country and made it what it is today,” said Breitkreuz. “During the last federal election, our government promised to create a Council to allow Canadian seniors to have a say in the issues that mattered to them. Today, Ministers LeBreton and Solberg have fulfilled that promise with the creation of a National Seniors Council.”

The National Seniors Council will advise the government on seniors’ issues of national importance. It will help ensure that government policies, programs and services meet the evolving needs of seniors. Its members will report to Minister Solberg, in light of his responsibilities for seniors, and to the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, in recognition of the importance of health-related issues for older Canadians. The Ministers will be supported by Minister LeBreton, who will work closely with the Council in its day-to-day operations.

“The Seniors Council will build on the work that the Conservative government has already been doing to improve the health and well-being of our seniors, including increasing the refundable medical expense by more than 30 per cent to $1,000 a year and improving the financial security of seniors by reducing the amount of taxes they owe,” said Breitkreuz.

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