I have always embraced my life journey and my transition to becoming a senior has been no exception. Seniors are valuable voices who have, and continue to, work hard for their families and our community.
I continually connect with my fellow seniors through the Constituency Seniors’ Advisory Council. The Council ensures I have a first-hand understanding of the issues seniors are facing, how the federal government can help, and what we can do better.
Since being your Member of Parliament, our government has put hundreds of thousands of dollars in our community through the New Horizons for Seniors Program providing:
- $24,500 to Greyhounds Masters Track and Field in 2018
- $24,480 to the Tri-City Iranian Cultural Society in 2018
- $25,000 to the Poco Legion in 2018
- $24,883 to RJ Kent Housing Society in 2018
- $25,000 to the Hawthorne Seniors Centre in 2018
- $24,714 to the Hawthorne Seniors Centre in 2017
- $24,994 to the Hawthorne Seniors Centre in 2016
- $25,000 to the Shree Guru Nanak Yog Mission
To ensure our seniors have enough money to retire, we have increased benefits for our seniors by investing in Old Age Security (OAS) Pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Allowances and Canada Pension Plan.
As of July 1, 2018, OAS benefits have increased. This increase means that a single senior receiving OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) with no other income may receive $1,728.84 more than in November 2015.
In Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam alone, over 14,000 seniors are receiving an average of $5,960 from their OAS pension and over 5,500 seniors are receiving an average of $7,800 in total GIS allowances.
As your Member of Parliament, I…
- Attend events at Wilson Centre (such as teas and lunches).
- Visit local seniors’ homes, such as Parkwood Manor.
- Consult with the Constituency Seniors Council, who recommended I co-second a national organ donor registry (Bill C-316), and who provided a brief to the HUMA report on Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Life for Canadian Seniors.
- Conducted and endorsed a study regarding the implementation of a National Pharmacare strategy as a member of the Standing Committee on Health.