e-4948 (Social affairs and equality)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• Statistics Canada's data on the elderly poverty rate reflects that a percentage of seniors have historically lived below the poverty line contributing to inadequate diets, failing health, isolation and depression;
• Seniors are experiencing food insecurity and having to access food banks and soup kitchens;
• Food Bank Canada, reports that in 2023, 8% of their clientele were seniors;
• An increasing number of seniors are homeless or facing homelessness due to inflation beyond their means;
• Seniors are being forced to get reverse mortgages on their homes and work, past the age they intended to, often with health issues;
• The Old Age Security (OAS), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) ceiling, which is below the poverty level of $23,513.00, cannot cover the current cost of living;
• Seniors who work past 70, either by choice or necessity, cannot contribute to the CPP to increase their post-retirement benefits for additional income;
• Many Canadians, especially women, were not in a working position to save for retirement and now they must rely solely on OAS, CPP and GIS; and
• The Government of Canada's one-time payments to seniors are helpful and appreciated, but seniors need a sustainable living income to elevate them above the poverty level.