(Pictured) Cheryl Gallant, MP attends a prayer and dedication ceremony in Calabogie led by Hank Schaly, dedicating the flower beds to deceased members of the Calabogie Seniors Club.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, Ontario – Cheryl Gallant, MP is pleased to encourage the celebration of National Seniors Day on October 1st.
“Seniors in our local communities and across Canada deserve our gratitude and recognition for all the valuable contributions they have made and continue to make within our families, workplaces and communities,” said Cheryl Gallant, MP.
The Government of Canada officially established National Seniors Day in 2010 to provide an occasion for all Canadians to celebrate and appreciate seniors. It coincides with the United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
“What is more important, our Conservative government has taken firm action with a variety of measures to assist and improve the lives of our seniors,” observed MP Gallant.
The Government of Canada is working hard to help improve the lives of seniors on many fronts. These efforts included introducing a new Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) top-up benefit to help Canada’s most vulnerable seniors in 2011. This was the largest increase in 25 years to the GIS, for the lowest-income seniors. This measure further improves the financial security and well-being of more than 680 000 seniors across Canada. It represents an investment of $1.5 billion over five years.
“We increased funding to the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) in Budget 2011 by $5 million, bringing the Program’s annual budget to $45 million. The Program helps seniors use their leadership abilities, energy and skills to benefit communities across Canada.”
The Government of Canada is providing Canadians with close to $76 billion this year through Canada’s public pension system as well as providing $2.5 billion in additional tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as enabling pension income splitting and increasing the Age credit in 2012–13. We are providing $400 million over two years under Canada’s Economic Action Plan for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors.
“For more information about programs and services for seniors, I encourage interested individuals to contact my office,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.