Federal Budget addresses home care and
palliative care; financial literacy but little else
on priority concerns– financial security,
reduce seniors’ poverty, access to healthcare,
drugs, home care: CARP
March 21, 2013
Toronto, ON: CARP members will be disappointed that the federal budget contained little
to address their priority concerns – retirement security, seniors’ poverty and equitable
access to healthcare, affordable drugs and home care. The modest measures are still
welcome. Any other improvements would have had some immediate impact but would
mostly set the stage for the kind of future Canadians can expect in retirement.
CARP staff was in the Budget Lockup in Ottawa on March 21st to see first hand what the
government proposed to address our priority concerns.
There is little of note to report to CARP members but there are some modest but important
measures. These consist of:
1. The GST/HST exemption for publicly funded home care services will now extend to
personal care services. While this will make it easier for the provinces to afford to
provide more such services, it will depend on the provinces to choose to offer such
services. This a priority need for older Canadians and their family caregivers – so every
bit helps. More direct income support for the family caregivers would have been better.
Nonetheless, $5 million in foregone GST/HST revenues is budgeted for each of 2013-14
and 2014-15.
2. Funding for training in palliative care to front line health care providers to the extent of
$3 million over three years. Palliative care as part of the whole care continuum is a
critical need and more training is an important first step. Much more resources need to be
allocated to the sector immediately so that those getting the training will have the jobs
and programs to actually provide more palliative care to Canadians.
3. Protection against Financial Fraud, especially against seniors is a welcome measure
although it consists of plans for consultations, raising awareness and improving financial
literacy for seniors. While attention to this issue is commendable, the government failed
to bolster the one existing agency. OBSI, that had the investor protection mandate. No
other investor protection agency exists that would champion investor rights including
being able to get restitution for losses due to predatory practices or inappropriate advice.
The government’s proposed Common Securities Regulator held the promise of creating
such an investor protection agency and remains a needed measure.
4. Older workers can also benefit from the Canada Job Grant providing matching funds for
needed training. Together with the job match programs under the Third Quarter initiative
from the 2012 budget, older workers will have a better chance at getting and keeping
needed jobs.
“These modest measures certainly acknowledge some of the important concerns that CARP
members have identified – the need for more and better home care and palliative care. While
primarily a provincial responsibility, federal leadership and funding is needed and the modest
measures are welcome but insufficient on their own to make a material difference in how
people today can access these services.” Said Susan Eng, VP Advocacy for CARP.
“Financial literacy measures are certainly welcome and we look forward to working with the
government to develop that measure. It will also be an opportunity to press for progress on the
investor protection arm of he Common Securities regulator.” Added Eng
CARP has called for broad policy shifts that would improve the quality of life for all Canadians
as we age. Specifically,
1.
2.
3.
4.
Universal Pension Plan to help Canadians save for their own retirement
Income support levels that ensure that no senior lives in poverty, reverse OAS decision
Stable funding and national standards for home care, caregiver support and end of life care
Equitable access to affordable drugs regardless of postal code
“The Federal Budget tells us what kind of country we will be living in and sets the fiscal
[taxing and spending] priorities that determine whether people can adequately provide for
themselves, get the help they need when they are ill and generally expect to live in dignity
through their retirement. The social safety net has been fraying through neglect or deliberate
government action. The question is what’s next, in which direction are we heading?” said
Susan Eng, VP, Advocacy for CARP
Government response has been mixed. After acknowledging that Canadians were indeed undersaving, the Pooled Registered Pension Plans [PRPPs] were established by the federal
government but the provinces have been slow to follow suit. There has been modest enthusiasm
for the PRPPs – considered flawed and inadequate by CARP members – and growing support for
enhancement to the CPP in addition or instead of the PRPPs, most recently from Gerry
McCaughey, the CEO of the CIBC http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1117061/cibc-ceo-calls-foradditional-voluntary-contributions-to-cpp-to-reignite-culture-of-savings who called for a
voluntary layer to the CPP – a proposal which parallels CARP’s UPP.
CARP has welcomed the GIS top-up provided in the 2011 federal budget for 680,000 of
Canada’s worst off seniors. More is needed to ensure that no senior lives in poverty. Especially
hard hit are single seniors.
However, in the 2012 budget, the federal government announced plans to raise the eligibility age
for Old Age Security [OAS], which CARP members rejected immediately and continue to call
for a reversal of that decision. In the interim, CARP has called on the federal government to fund
support for those unable to wait the extra two years for their OAS and GIS. In the 2012 budget,
the government committed to funding the provinces for any expenditures incurred to address the
needs of people who could not wait the extra two years. However, no plans are in place at the
provincial level. The government should provide some assurance for those facing serious
financial need as they reach retirement.
The lack of federal involvement to replace the expiring Health Accords has the potential to
further fracture the standards and access to affordable home care, support for caregivers and
quality end of life care. CARP has called for national standards, better coordination and stable
funding which requires federal involvement and funding and is now advocating its One
Patient model to each province. http://www.carp.ca/2012/09/21/carp-proposes-new-outlook-onhealthcare/
Drug costs continue to climb forcing many to forego or limit
treatment. http://www.carp.ca/2012/10/05/carp-health-care-update-report/ Drug coverage for
seniors varies wildly among provinceshttp://www.carp.ca/2012/09/20/the-case-for-a-nationaldrug-strategy/. Government and household spending on drugs is becoming unsustainable. A
dramatic restructuring of how drugs costs are regulated and funded holds the promise of
providing first dollar drug coverage to all Canadians on an income tested basis
[Pharmacare].http://www.carp.ca/2010/09/23/study-calls-for-universal-pharmacare-plan/
CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to advocating for a New
Vision of Aging for Canada, social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to
health care and freedom from discrimination. CARP seeks to ensure that the marketplace serves
the needs and expectations of our generation and provides value-added benefits, products and
services to our members. Through our network of chapters across Canada, CARP is dedicated to
building a sense of community and shared values among our members in support of CARP’s
mission.
For further information, please contact:
Sarah Park 416.607.2471
Media Relations, Policy Researcher and Coordinator
s.park@carp.ca
Michael Nicin 416.607.2479
Director of Policy
m.nicin@carp.ca
Pam Maher 416.607.2475
Communications coordinator
p.maher@carp.ca
for
Susan Eng
Vice President, Advocacy
CARP, A New Vision of Aging for Canada
or visit our website: www.carp.ca