Layton will introduce national home care plan

WINNIPEG- Standing alongside Premier Gary Doer of Manitoba, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton announced that, as Prime Minister, he will begin building a program to assist older Canadians to live in dignity in their homes.

The New Democrat Leader blasted the Prime Minister, saying “Stephen Harper has let down our older generation, the women and men who built this nation.”

Layton also pointed to the difficulties experienced by family care-givers, saying “a generation of Canadians is burning out, caring for their parents as well as their kids.”

Pointing to the leadership of Premier Doer, Layton said that Manitoba’s comprehensive home care strategy, including innovative initiatives to support care-givers, is the kind of strategy Ottawa needs to support.

“As a basic first step, working in close collaboration with the provinces,” said Layton, “we’ll create a national home care program, providing 100,000 more Canadian families with access to home care.”

“Canada’s senior citizens built this country, and we are all in their debt. It’s time for a Prime Minister who will repay that debt.”