Federal Government Right to Create Seniors Secretariat

SENIOR CITIZENS' SECRETARIAT--Federal Government Right to Create Seniors Secretariat

Canada's seniors need a central federal support agency similar to Nova Scotia's Senior Citizens' Secretariat, Angus MacIsaac, chair of the provincial body said today, Feb. 18.

Media reports out of Ottawa indicate that the federal government will spend $700 million on the creation of a secretariat and a boost to the guaranteed annual income supplement to improve the standard of living of seniors.

The move -- expected in next week's federal budget -- will place greater emphasis on the issues surrounding Canada's 4.1 million seniors, said Mr. MacIsaac.

"I hope that media reports of this are accurate and that the federal government announces this positive initiative. Certainly, when I met with the federal minister of state for families and caregivers I encouraged him to create a federal secretariat," he said.

Mr. MacIsaac met with Tony Ianno when the federal minister, who headed a federal task force on aging in 2004, was in Halifax in January to host a roundtable.

"We've found that seniors are much better served under one umbrella. Our secretariat is now 25 years old. It's positive to have one entry point to government that can respond to seniors' issues," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Having one place they can turn to for support and direction is very important."

The Nova Scotia Seniors Citizens' Secretariat also works with seniors to develop plans, policies and programs in partnership with the departments of Community Services, Health, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, Health Promotion and Education.

The secretariat leads the Nova Scotia Task Force on Aging initiative, which conducted 34 public consultation meetings across the province last fall following the release of a discussion paper. "The more than 700 people who attended task force meetings, and those who submitted written responses, shared many of the concerns Mr. Ianno addressed in his report last year," said Valerie White, executive director of the secretariat.

"The range of programs being proposed -- increased income, affordable housing, caregiver tax credits, and mentoring programs -- will have a tremendously positive impact on the lives of seniors."