June 01, 2010

As you may know, June is Seniors’ Month. With this in mind, I am pleased to update you on the Government’s efforts on behalf of Canadian seniors.
The 2010 Jobs and Growth Budget provides $10 million over two years to increase funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The enhanced funding will support projects that focus on volunteering among seniors and raising awareness of financial abuse and exploitation of seniors.
This builds on other investments since 2006, which include:

• Increasing funding for the New Horizons Program for Seniors in Budget 2007 by $10 million per year;
• Funding for the construction of new housing units for low-income seniors in Budget 2009 of $400 million over two years.
• Increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) earnings exemption in Budget 2008 to $3,500 from $500. Working GIS recipients earning $3,500 or more can now keep up to an additional $1,500 in annual GIS benefits; and
• Helping fight elder abuse with $13 million over three years in Budget 2008.

On a more local level, our office held a senior’s clinic in January, at which over 250 people took in speakers from Revenue Canada and Service Canada while enjoying breakfast and lunch. During the course of this meeting, various non-profit agencies also took the opportunity to present their information to the attendees.

In sum, it is clear that this government has made seniors’ issues a key plank of our vision for Canada. If you have any questions relating to these issues, please do not hesitate to contact my office by telephone at (519) 624-7440 or by email at info@garygoodyear.com.


Gary Goodyear, P.C., M.P.
Cambridge-North Dumfries