Your Conservatives in Ottawa are working to support the seniors who helped build our country. When we became government in 2006, we established a new Ministry for Seniors with the mandate to set policy to help seniors enjoy a secure retirement.
We can all think of a senior who has made a difference in our lives. They are mentors, teachers, grandparents and loved ones. They are volunteers and role models. They deserve our gratitude and recognition for the valuable contributions they have made, and continue to make in our communities, workplaces, and families.
Through the Economic Action Plan in 2012, we are expanding tax relief for home care services, supporting palliative care and supporting the construction and renovation of accessible community facilities. Our government is proud to show its appreciation through measures that improve seniors’ quality of life and help them keep more of their hard-earned dollars at tax time. Since 2006 our government has provided seniors and pensioners with more than $2.7 billion in tax relief, including, pension income splitting, increasing the age credit and doubling the pension income credit.
We also delivered the largest guaranteed income supplement (GIS) increase in more than 25 years, and increased the amount recipients can make before seeing a reduction in their GIS.
Through our tax cuts, we’ve removed more than 380,000 seniors from the tax rolls. Our tax free savings account has been useful to seniors and those saving for their senior years.
To further demonstrate this commitment, the seniors.gc.ca website was recently redeveloped to include a ‘New Information for Seniors’ portal, bringing together a variety of federal, provincial/territorial and municipal resources about relevant programs and benefits.
We also support positive and active aging through the collaborative Age-Friendly Communities Initiative, Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults, and falls-prevention initiatives. Information on these initiatives can be found in the Active, Engaged, Informed section of www.seniors.gc.ca.
As announced in Economic Action Plan, we are working to better safeguard the well-being of seniors through initiatives to improve financial literacy, fight elder abuse and provide affordable housing.
Our government will continue to listen to seniors and, through the Ministry of Seniors. continue to work to show the appreciation that we have for those that served and built this great nation.