New Democrats call on Harper to show leadership on Canada’s aging population

OTTAWA – New Democrats today renewed their call for the Government to take action on the challenges arising from Canada’s aging population.

“We have known for some time that we have a rapidly growing community of seniors in this country yet the government continues to drag its feet,” said New Democrat Critic for Senior and Pensions issues, Wayne Marston (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) “All we have had so far is announcements and re-announcements but no action. Harper seems prepared to let this crisis develop unchecked. Our seniors deserve better.”

The Canadian Medical Association warned this week that Canada’s aging population presented significant challenges to our Health Care system.

“The New Democrats have presented legislation to improve the Canada Pension Plan and to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement in order to bring all seniors out of poverty,” explained Marston. “The link between poverty and health is well documented. The first step in preventing a health care crisis is to ensure that our seniors are not living in poverty.”

New Democrat Health Care Critic Megan Leslie, who attended the recent Canadian Medical Association Conference, echoed Marston’s statements and noted that there are several ways to reduce Health Care costs while maintaining our treasured public medicare, such as heeding the New Democrat call for a National Pharmacare Plan. Experts have estimated that a pharmacare program could reduce drug costs by billions which would ease the strain on the Provinces’ stretched health care dollars

“Neither the Prime Minister or the Minister of Health attended the CMA annual general meeting, that is indicative of this Government’s lack of leadership on this issue,” said Leslie. “There is no need to panic, there is no need to start talking about privatisation and user fees. What we need is to keep Canadians healthier earlier on in life. We need Stephen Harper to take action now. ”