Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2022-02-15 13:15:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mrs. Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, Lib.)",
        "fr": "Mme Jenica Atwin (Fredericton, Lib.)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"6939727\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for <a data-HoCid=\"278684\" href=\"/politicians/francesco-sorbara/\" title=\"Francesco Sorbara\">Vaughan\u2014Woodbridge</a> for sharing his time with me today and thank all members for engaging in this important debate.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939728\" data-originallang=\"en\">We know how difficult this pandemic has been on seniors and how it has impacted them, their livelihoods, their quality of life, their mental health and even their safety. We all agree in the House that we need to do more to help seniors and their communities. As announced in the fiscal update, we will be delivering a one-time payment to fully compensate those affected in 2020, and today we introduced Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C-12</a> to exclude any pandemic benefits for the purposes of calculating the guaranteed income supplement going forward.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939729\" data-originallang=\"en\">I had many conversations at the doorsteps with individuals who were affected. Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C-12</a> would go a long way in demonstrating that as parliamentarians we are listening and our government is responding. The fact remains that far too many seniors in Canada have been living in poverty. It was an issue long before this pandemic, but COVID, an unprecedented global health crisis, has made matters worse. Seniors who lost income and were financially struggling accessed emergency support to help them get by. Bill C-12 would protect seniors from losing their income-tested GIS payments going forward and would rectify any loss of GIS as a result of receiving COVID benefits. This would protect struggling seniors from falling deeper into poverty and rectify the unintended consequences of pandemic benefits that were designed to help.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939730\" data-originallang=\"en\">Many seniors have been trying to survive paycheque to paycheque, and in New Brunswick the situation is worse. One in five seniors in my province lives below the poverty line and many more are just at the cusp. This is well above the Canadian average. These seniors depend on GIS to pay their rent, heat their homes and buy groceries, particularly at a time when the cost of living continues to rise. In Fredericton, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is now close to $1,000. Seniors desperately need the action our government is proposing. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939731\" data-originallang=\"en\">Passing Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C-12</a> also matters for our commitment to advancing gender equality, furthering reconciliation and combatting systemic discrimination. The loss of GIS payments would disproportionately impact women, indigenous people and racialized Canadians, demographics that statistically experience higher rates of poverty. It is urgent that we pass this bill and help the estimated 90,000 seniors across the country who have been impacted. Failing to pass this bill would further threaten the economic security of thousands.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939732\" data-originallang=\"en\">I am optimistic that through the leadership of the <a data-HoCid=\"278919\" href=\"/politicians/kamal-khera/\" title=\"Kamal Khera\">Minister of Seniors</a>, real and tangible change will be felt across the country. This government is committed to building a better future for seniors. As a member from Atlantic Canada, this positive change cannot come soon enough. By 2036, Canada's senior population could be close to 11 million. As the Canadian population continues to age, so does the number of older adults expecting to be living in subsidized housing. We need to look at the future and take measures now to avoid having seniors, who spent their lives building this beautiful country, reach their golden years and live under the poverty line.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939733\" data-originallang=\"en\">I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to suggest that we can go further to support seniors and many others facing poverty. I am proud that this government is seriously looking to implement pilot projects on a guaranteed livable income and is moving forward on its objective to reach agreements with provincial and territorial partners to implement national universal pharmacare. I truly feel these measures, in particular, could usher in deep and lasting systemic change.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939734\" data-originallang=\"en\">Simply put, to improve the lives of senior citizens, we must make life more affordable. I am proud to say that this government is doing just that by investing in better public transportation, affordable housing and creative programs, such as the multi-generational home renovation tax credit to help families add a secondary unit to their homes for an immediate or extended family member. This government is also working to establish an aging at home benefit so that seniors can afford to stay in their homes longer, while increasing the quality of long-term care for those who need it. We are also creating opportunities for seniors to be more connected, supported and active members of their communities through the New Horizons for Seniors program. These initiatives will help to enhance the quality of life for all Canadian seniors, and we should not stop there. It is long overdue that we return elders in our communities to their positions of honour and respect.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939735\" data-originallang=\"en\">I want to acknowledge the organizations in my community that have been working hard to support older adults. They are making a real difference in my riding. The Stepping Stone Senior Centre and the Senior Wellness Action Group are but two great examples of those working to help connect hundreds of seniors in the greater Fredericton area to work collaboratively to develop and deliver affordable and accessible activities to meet physical, mental and social needs. They provide volunteer matching, assist with emergency preparedness, support food security and much more. They are providing opportunities for seniors to meet, to learn, to develop new skills, to socialize, to entertain, to be entertained and to be entrepreneurs, and they are serving as an information source for seniors and those who work with them, like me, while promoting the growth and development of seniors in our community.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939736\" data-originallang=\"en\">There are important lessons that we must take forward from this pandemic, and providing adequate supports for seniors must be at the top of our priority list. We must invest in seniors and ensure that people can live in dignity and safety in their older years. We have seen many examples of Canadians being there for each other throughout this pandemic, and this must continue. In many communities around the world, elders are celebrated, they are seen as the head of their family and their knowledge is precious. We need to do more to cherish them here in Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939737\" data-originallang=\"en\">The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elder. Let us listen to what they have been telling us. Let us pass Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C-12</a> without delay.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"6939727\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, je remercie le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"278684\" href=\"/politicians/francesco-sorbara/\" title=\"Francesco Sorbara\">Vaughan\u2014Woodbridge</a> de partager son temps de parole avec moi aujourd\u2019hui et je remercie tous les d\u00e9put\u00e9s de participer \u00e0 cet important d\u00e9bat.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939728\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous savons \u00e0 quel point la pand\u00e9mie a \u00e9t\u00e9 difficile pour les a\u00een\u00e9s et \u00e0 quel point elle a eu des r\u00e9percussions sur eux, leurs moyens de subsistance, leur qualit\u00e9 de vie, leur sant\u00e9 mentale et m\u00eame leur s\u00e9curit\u00e9. Nous convenons tous \u00e0 la Chambre que nous devons en faire plus pour aider les a\u00een\u00e9s et leurs collectivit\u00e9s. Comme nous l\u2019avons annonc\u00e9 dans la mise \u00e0 jour financi\u00e8re, nous verserons un paiement unique pour indemniser enti\u00e8rement les personnes touch\u00e9es en 2020. Aujourd\u2019hui, nous avons pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C\u201112</a>, qui vise \u00e0 exclure toute prestation li\u00e9e \u00e0 la pand\u00e9mie aux fins du calcul du Suppl\u00e9ment de revenu garanti \u00e0 l\u2019avenir.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939729\" data-originallang=\"en\">J\u2019ai eu de nombreuses discussions avec des personnes touch\u00e9es. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C\u201112</a> contribuera grandement \u00e0 montrer que les parlementaires savent \u00e9couter et que le gouvernement sait passer \u00e0 l\u2019action. Il n\u2019en demeure pas moins que beaucoup trop d\u2019a\u00een\u00e9s au Canada vivent encore dans la pauvret\u00e9. C\u2019\u00e9tait un probl\u00e8me bien avant la pand\u00e9mie, mais la COVID, une crise sanitaire mondiale sans pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent, a aggrav\u00e9 la situation. Les a\u00een\u00e9s qui ont subi une perte de revenus et qui avaient des difficult\u00e9s financi\u00e8res ont eu acc\u00e8s \u00e0 une aide d\u2019urgence pour les aider \u00e0 joindre les deux bouts. Le projet de loi C\u201112 prot\u00e9gera les a\u00een\u00e9s contre la perte de leurs prestations du SRG fond\u00e9es sur le revenu \u00e0 l\u2019avenir et il corrigera toute r\u00e9duction du SRG d\u00e9coulant du fait d'avoir re\u00e7u des prestations li\u00e9es \u00e0 la COVID. Cela permettra de prot\u00e9ger les a\u00een\u00e9s en difficult\u00e9 contre une plus grande pauvret\u00e9 et de corriger les cons\u00e9quences impr\u00e9vues des prestations li\u00e9es \u00e0 la pand\u00e9mie qui avaient \u00e9t\u00e9 con\u00e7ues pour les aider.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939730\" data-originallang=\"en\">De nombreuses personnes \u00e2g\u00e9es essaient de survivre d\u2019un ch\u00e8que de paie \u00e0 l\u2019autre, et la situation est pire au Nouveau-Brunswick. Dans ma province, un a\u00een\u00e9 sur cinq vit sous le seuil de la pauvret\u00e9 et beaucoup d\u2019autres en sont menac\u00e9s. Ces chiffres sont largement sup\u00e9rieurs \u00e0 la moyenne canadienne. Ces a\u00een\u00e9s d\u00e9pendent du Suppl\u00e9ment de revenu garanti pour payer leur loyer, chauffer leur maison et faire l\u2019\u00e9picerie, surtout \u00e0 un moment o\u00f9 le co\u00fbt de la vie ne cesse d\u2019augmenter. \u00c0 Fredericton, le loyer moyen d\u2019un appartement de deux chambres est maintenant de pr\u00e8s de 1 000 $. Les a\u00een\u00e9s ont d\u00e9sesp\u00e9r\u00e9ment besoin des mesures que le gouvernement propose.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939731\" data-originallang=\"en\">L\u2019adoption du projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C\u201112</a> est \u00e9galement importante pour notre engagement \u00e0 promouvoir l\u2019\u00e9galit\u00e9 entre les sexes, \u00e0 favoriser la r\u00e9conciliation et \u00e0 lutter contre la discrimination syst\u00e9mique. La perte des prestations du SRG aurait des r\u00e9percussions disproportionn\u00e9es sur les femmes, les Autochtones et les Canadiens racialis\u00e9s, des groupes d\u00e9mographiques qui, statistiquement, sont davantage touch\u00e9es par la pauvret\u00e9. Il est urgent que nous adoptions ce projet de loi et que nous aidions les quelque 90 000 a\u00een\u00e9s du pays qui ont \u00e9t\u00e9 touch\u00e9s. Si ce projet de loi n\u2019est pas adopt\u00e9, la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 \u00e9conomique de milliers de personnes sera encore plus menac\u00e9e.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939732\" data-originallang=\"en\">J\u2019ai bon espoir que, gr\u00e2ce au leadership de la <a data-HoCid=\"278919\" href=\"/politicians/kamal-khera/\" title=\"Kamal Khera\">ministre des A\u00een\u00e9s</a>, des changements r\u00e9els et tangibles se feront sentir partout au pays. Le gouvernement est d\u00e9termin\u00e9 \u00e0 b\u00e2tir un avenir meilleur pour les a\u00een\u00e9s. \u00c0 titre de d\u00e9put\u00e9e du Canada atlantique, je peux vous dire que ce changement positif ne se produira jamais assez t\u00f4t. D\u2019ici 2036, la population \u00e2g\u00e9e du Canada pourrait atteindre pr\u00e8s de 11 millions de personnes. \u00c0 mesure que la population canadienne vieillit, le nombre d\u2019adultes \u00e2g\u00e9s qui s\u2019attendent \u00e0 vivre dans des logements subventionn\u00e9s augmente. Nous devons nous tourner vers l\u2019avenir et prendre des mesures d\u00e8s maintenant pour \u00e9viter que les a\u00een\u00e9s, qui ont pass\u00e9 leur vie \u00e0 b\u00e2tir ce beau pays, vivent leur \u00e2ge d\u2019or sous le seuil de la pauvret\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939733\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je m\u2019en voudrais de ne pas profiter de l\u2019occasion pour dire que nous pouvons faire plus pour soutenir nos a\u00een\u00e9s et bien d\u2019autres personnes vivant dans la pauvret\u00e9. Je suis fi\u00e8re que le gouvernement envisage s\u00e9rieusement de mettre en place des projets pilotes de revenu de base garanti et qu\u2019il avance vers son objectif de conclure des ententes avec des partenaires provinciaux et territoriaux en vue de la mise en \u0153uvre d\u2019un r\u00e9gime national universel d\u2019assurance-m\u00e9dicaments. Je crois sinc\u00e8rement que ces mesures pourraient ouvrir la voie \u00e0 un changement profond et durable.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939734\" data-originallang=\"en\">Autrement dit, pour am\u00e9liorer la vie de nos a\u00een\u00e9s, nous devons leur rendre la vie plus abordable. Je suis fi\u00e8re de dire que c\u2019est exactement ce que fait le gouvernement en investissant dans de meilleurs transports en commun, dans des logements abordables et des programmes novateurs, comme le cr\u00e9dit d'imp\u00f4t pour la r\u00e9novation d'habitations multig\u00e9n\u00e9rationnelles destin\u00e9 aux familles qui souhaitent ajouter un logement d\u2019appoint \u00e0 leur maison pour un membre de leur famille imm\u00e9diate ou \u00e9largie. Le gouvernement travaille \u00e9galement \u00e0 la mise en \u0153uvre de l\u2019allocation Vieillir chez soi qui donnera aux a\u00een\u00e9s les moyens de rester chez eux plus longtemps, tout en am\u00e9liorant la qualit\u00e9 des soins de longue dur\u00e9e pour ceux qui en ont besoin. Nous cr\u00e9ons \u00e9galement des possibilit\u00e9s pour aider les a\u00een\u00e9s \u00e0 entretenir plus de liens, \u00e0 obtenir du soutien et \u00e0 \u00eatre des membres actifs de leur communaut\u00e9 gr\u00e2ce au programme Nouveaux Horizons pour les a\u00een\u00e9s. Ces initiatives contribueront \u00e0 am\u00e9liorer la vie de tous les a\u00een\u00e9s canadiens, et ce n\u2019est qu\u2019un d\u00e9but. Il est plus que temps que nous redonnions aux a\u00een\u00e9s leur place dans nos collectivit\u00e9s, o\u00f9 ils seront honor\u00e9s et respect\u00e9s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939735\" data-originallang=\"en\">J\u2019aimerais saluer les organisations de ma collectivit\u00e9 qui travaillent sans rel\u00e2che aupr\u00e8s des a\u00een\u00e9s. Elles changent vraiment les choses dans ma circonscription. Le centre pour a\u00een\u00e9s Stepping Stone et le groupe Senior Wellness Action Group sont deux excellents exemples parmi bien d\u2019autres de personnes qui s\u2019efforcent de mettre en contact des centaines d\u2019a\u00een\u00e9s de la r\u00e9gion du Grand Fredericton afin qu\u2019ils travaillent ensemble pour cr\u00e9er et proposer des activit\u00e9s abordables et accessibles r\u00e9pondant \u00e0 leurs besoins physiques, mentaux et sociaux. Elles font du jumelage entre a\u00een\u00e9s et b\u00e9n\u00e9voles, aident les a\u00een\u00e9s \u00e0 se pr\u00e9parer aux situations d\u2019urgence, veillent \u00e0 leur s\u00e9curit\u00e9 alimentaire et leur apportent beaucoup d\u2019autres formes d\u2019aide. Elles offrent aux personnes \u00e2g\u00e9es des occasions de se rencontrer, d\u2019apprendre, d\u2019acqu\u00e9rir de nouvelles comp\u00e9tences, de socialiser, de recevoir, de se divertir et de devenir des entrepreneurs. Elles servent de source d\u2019information pour les a\u00een\u00e9s et les personnes qui travaillent aupr\u00e8s d\u2019eux, comme moi, tout en favorisant leur \u00e9panouissement au sein de notre collectivit\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939736\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous avons de grandes le\u00e7ons \u00e0 tirer de cette pand\u00e9mie. Apporter un soutien ad\u00e9quat aux personnes \u00e2g\u00e9es doit \u00eatre en t\u00eate de nos priorit\u00e9s. Nous devons investir dans les a\u00een\u00e9s et nous assurer que les Canadiens pourront couler des jours paisibles dans la s\u00e9curit\u00e9 et la dignit\u00e9. Tout au long de la pand\u00e9mie, nous avons vu de nombreux exemples d\u2019entraide parmi les Canadiens, et cela doit continuer. Dans de nombreuses collectivit\u00e9s du monde, les a\u00een\u00e9s sont honor\u00e9s, ils sont consid\u00e9r\u00e9s comme des chefs de famille et leur savoir est valoris\u00e9. Nous devons faire plus pour les ch\u00e9rir ici au Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"6939737\" data-originallang=\"en\">C'est aupr\u00e8s des a\u00een\u00e9s qu'on apprend le plus de choses. \u00c9coutons ce qu\u2019ils ont \u00e0 dire. Adoptons le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11545366\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-12/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)\">C\u201112</a>.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2022/2/15/jenica-atwin-2/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/jenica-atwin/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4599/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "11524775",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": "Ordres \u00e9manant du gouvernement"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Government Business No. 7\u2014Proceedings on Bill C-12",
        "fr": "L'affaire \u00e9manant du gouvernement no 7 \u2014 Les d\u00e9lib\u00e9rations sur le projet de loi C-12"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2022/2/15/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2022%2F2%2F15%2F"
    }
}