Chris's Posts

I am delighted to be here today, both as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain (and the NDP critic for Seniors and Pensions), and as a member of the Income Security Working Group.

Let me take you back just a little bit to explain how I came to participate in this important community initiative.

As some of you may know, I have been politically active in Hamilton for quite some time. And you can’t be an aspiring politician without knocking on thousands of doors. Let me tell you, that what’s been happening behind these doors to seniors in our community is an absolute disgrace.

Hamilton – Over 200,000 low income seniors in Canada who were eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in 2001 were not receiving it according to Human Resources Development Canada (now known as Service Canada). That includes an estimated 4,000 seniors currently living below the poverty line in Hamilton. The GIS is one of 3 major income support programs for seniors available through Services Canada.

Wendy Roy, Executive Director of St. Matthew’s House and a member of the newly formed Hamilton Seniors and Poverty Working Group, says the high number of seniors not accessing the income supplement is due to many factors including, “language and literacy challenges, a complex application process and a general lack of information and awareness of the benefits.”

I am delighted to be here at Grace Villa today, both as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, and as the NDP Critic for Seniors and Pensions.

It is a privilege to stand with Andrea Horwath, my provincial colleague from Hamilton East, who has led the charge at Queen’s Park in fighting for quality care in Ontario’s nursing homes.

Both of us are keenly aware that residents and their families often contemplate a move to nursing homes with great trepidation. Will our loved ones still get the care and attention they need? Will they be comfortable and safe? Will they be in caring hands?

HAMILTON – NDP Critic for Seniors and Pensions Chris Charlton joined Hamilton East M.P.P. Andrea Horwath and representatives from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today to demand that all levels of government invest in appropriate standards of care for nursing home residents.

“The Harper government is standing idly by as the McGuinty Liberals break election promise after election promise, charging an additional $300 health care tax but ignoring the staff shortage in nursing homes, and abdicating their responsibility for oversight and remediation, ” said Charlton.

The Hamilton Mountain M.P. made her comments at a press conference announcing the release of a report by the SEIU that blasts the Government of Ontario for low Long Term Care staffing levels throughout the province.

This budget offers absolutely nothing to our seniors.

They’ve worked hard all their lives, they’ve played by the rules, and yet they’re finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.

Despite a compelling report entitled “Aging in poverty in Canada” by the government’s own National Advisory Council on Aging, the Conservatives have done nothing to address any of its key recommendations.

Instead of offering income tax credits that will do nothing to improve the lives of most Canadian seniors, the government should lift seniors out of poverty by increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement to at least the low income cut-offs recognized by Statistics Canada.