Adam Bramburger
Beaver Staff
Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP Mike Bossio welcomed a high-profile minister to town this week to help tout the federal government’s recent pre-election budget.
After attending a gathering with local Liberals Sunday evening, agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau joined Bossio for a tour of Lennox and Addington Seniors Outreach Services Monday morning. After seeing respite beds that tuck away to offer more functional space and smelling homemade macaroni in a busy Meals on Wheels kitchen, Bibeau joined L&A SOS executive director Wendy McDonald, Greater Napanee Mayor Marg Isbester and Tyendinaga Township reeve Rick Phillips to talk about four key areas the government says its policy is helping seniors.
“We’re very proud of what we’ve done for the seniors. I’ll take a step back and say we’re very proud of the Canada Child Benefit as well. With everything we are doing for seniors and the Canada Child Benefit, we’ve brought 825,000 people out of poverty since 2016. This fight against poverty is very important to us,” Bibeau said.
The federal government’s policy, she said, has been shaped by conversations in the field by people affected. She said her riding, Quebec’s Compton-Stanstead, has a similar rural character to Hastings-Lennox and Addington and together, members of the government’s rural caucus which Bossio chairs has been able to advocate for initiatives that will help rural Canadians.
First, Bibeau said through the 2019 budget, the government will be enhancing earning exemptions to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) that allow seniors to work. Seniors collecting the GIS that make $5,000 would see no clawback on the benefit. Those making between $5,000-$15,000 a year would only see half of their supplement cut back. Currently, the trigger is at $3,500.
“Looking at Old Age Security, the GIS, and CPP, the maximum a senior could earn was $17,500. Now, that’s $22,000 with no clawback and $31,000 with only 50 per cent,” Bossio said. “That’s much more liveable for a senior today.”
Bibeau said there could be other beneficial impacts beyond dollars and cents.
“To contribute to your community is very important. It’s a way to not be isolated where you feel value. We have a labour shortage in some regions, so it’s good for business to have access to these people with experience.”
A second area of focus is in automatically enrolling contributors to the Canada Pension Plan to receive benefits when they hit age 70. Bibeau explained when they had to register, many vulnerable people didn’t get the benefit, with Bossio adding that nearly 40,000 eligible Canadians don’t receive what they’re entitled to. Those who don’t wish to receive the benefit could opt out.
Measures to increase the security of workplace pensions are also planned. Bibeau said changes to legislation would give judges more flexibility to review payments made to executives in the lead-up to insolvency and clarifying in Canadian pension law that terminated pensions must provide the same benefits as if they were ongoing. Federal companies would also be required to have stronger oversight with regard to their corporate behaviour.
Bossio was among 20 MPs that made recommendations to Minister of Finance Bill Morneau about pension reform. He said many pensioners groups wanted to see pension payments receive super-priority status in insolvency hearings — meaning they were paid out first, but the budget didn’t adopt that idea. Instead, he explains its changes will work to ensure pensions are properly funded so they never get into that position.
Lastly, the government plans to continue to increase funding in its New Horizons For Seniors program that offers funding to organizations like L&A SOS to equip seniors centres, offer educational programs, and create volunteer opportunities. An additional $100 million was pledged over a five-year period.
Bibeau is pleased with response to the plan.
“We’re very proud of what we’ve done and we’ve heard back from the field. We’ve been doing a lot and now we’re doing even more. We recognize the importance of seniors in our community. We’re working hard to take care of them and make sure they have a great life.”
Also, Tuesday, Bibeau joined Bossio for a closed-door roundtable with local farmers. In a news release, Bossio indicated there was discussion about providing offering support for supply managed farmers, creating a Food Policy for Canada, and working with the Comphrensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership deal which could increase the country’s agricultural exports by more than one-third.
In a news release, beef producer Kara Enright said its as a positive experience.
“I am happy that the government is looking for input from our local producers and that time is being taken to determine where our thoughts are on the issues that matter to us, along with where we think the government should be focusing,” Enright said. “This roundtable was a positive experience and we are encouraged by the government actively responding to our concerns in this industry.”
Bossio has another appearance in Greater Napanee planned this weekend as he’ll host a town hall meeting on climate change Saturday at the Selby Hall from 10-11:30 a.m.