Jagmeet Singh and the NDP urge Liberals to help Canadian seniors

OTTAWA – Seniors across the country were shocked to learn that benefits they rely on such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) have been cut because they received pandemic supports like the CERB. New Democrats are calling on the Liberal government to fix this devastating situation that has left many seniors worried they won't be able to afford their rent, food and medication.

Yesterday, the NDP’s Critic for Seniors, Rachel Blaney and the Critic for Employment and Workforce Development, Daniel Blaikie, sent a letter to Ministers Khera, Lebouthillier and Qualtrough asking for immediate action to address this crisis facing so many seniors.

“Seniors have had to endure a lot during this pandemic, whether it’s been poor living conditions in long-term care homes or being more vulnerable to COVID-19. Now, some of Canada’s most vulnerable low-income seniors have lost the GIS help they relied on simply for following the government’s advice,” said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. “The Liberal government can’t abandon our seniors like this. We’re urging Justin Trudeau to act immediately and ensure Canadian seniors have the help they need."

In August, NDP MPs sent a letter to the Liberal government asking them to find an urgent solution to fix the problem they have created for seniors. Instead of taking action to help low-income seniors and support Canadians through a pandemic, Justin Trudeau chose to call an early election for the government's own political gain.

“Was it not enough for Liberals to drag their heels getting financial support to seniors in the early days of the pandemic? Now they’re trying to claw back some of the support that actually made it to seniors in need,” said NDP Critic for Finance Daniel Blaikie. “While the Liberals rush to give money to the richest corporations without any strings attached, they are nickel and diming seniors. It’s just not good enough.”

“We have heard from many seniors across the country who were shocked to learn they would be losing the benefits they rely on to get by. Canadian seniors deserve much better than the treatment they have gotten from the Liberal government, ” said NDP Critic for Seniors Rachel Blaney. “We are ready to work with the government to find an immediate fix so we can help the seniors they have turned their backs on.”