NDP continues to fight for seniors and to make sure they aren’t left behind by the Liberals

OTTAWA – After being left out of the Liberal budget, the NDP’s Critic for Seniors, Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain), wants to reassure Canadian seniors that unlike the Liberals, New Democrats will keep fighting for them and make sure they are not forgotten.

“The government has given little in the way of reasonable justification for leaving out seniors under 75 in their budget. While the Liberals say nice things about seniors having faced economic hardship during the pandemic and that after a lifetime of hard work they deserve a dignified retirement, their actions paint a different picture. The Liberals seem to believe these sentiments apply only to some seniors, leaving out so many seniors in Canada,” said Duvall.

In the last election, the Liberal government promised an increase in the OAS and finally announced their intention to implement it in Budget 2021 and through Bill C-30. However, the changes they are proposing apply only to some seniors and leaves out others. Those who qualify for OAS will receive a one-time payment of $500 in August 2021, but only for those who will be 75 or over as of June 2022, and starting in July of 2022, the regular OAS amount will increase by 10% going forward, but again, this is only for those who are 75 or older.

For over a year, New Democrats have requested that all seniors receive additional financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the government continues to refuse to help. Instead, the Liberals are trying to pass off this one-time payment that will only go to seniors 75 and older as sufficient.

“This government is creating a system of “junior seniors” and “senior seniors”. This is absolutely ridiculous and leaves thousands of people who need help behind,” added Duvall. “In the House of Commons, we have called on the government to end this two-tier system and give this increase to all seniors; 65 and older. New Democrats will continue to fight for seniors and for all seniors to be included in any OAS increase, and stop this two-tier nonsense.”

You can watch Scott Duvall’s statement on the need for more help for seniors here.