Support for Seniors - QP

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : My question is for the Premier. The government likes to point to the Seniors Care Grant as evidence of their targeted support, but that's the problem: it's too targeted. It can't be used for medication, food, or rent, three essential categories. The Premier will know that the rate of poverty for seniors in Nova Scotia is the highest of any province in this country. Thousands of people who have worked their whole lives are now filled with dread at every trip to the grocery store and are going without for the last part of the month.

Will the Premier commit to doing more to help the pocketbooks of seniors in this province?

THE PREMIER « » : We understand the pressures that Nova Scotians are under, for sure. That's why we've made changes to the Seniors Care Grant. I think we've increased it once or twice so far. We'll continue to look at that. We've made increases to the Nova Scotia Child Benefit in both of the last two budgets. We'll continue to look at that to support families. That's why we're working to reduce child care fees. That's why, for seniors specifically, there's been no fee increase for Seniors' Pharmacare - and Family Pharmacare, for that matter.

We are taking a number of targeted supports. I thank the member for recognizing just one of those, but there are a number of targeted supports that we've initiated under this government.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : With respect, Speaker, programs that help parents and children don't help seniors. Every other province, except for Prince Edward Island, has a benefit that is automatically paid to seniors to top up their incomes, no matter the expense. In Alberta, it's up to $3,637 a year for a single senior. In Newfoundland, it's up to $1,516 each quarter. In Saskatchewan, it's $360 a month, and so on.

In P.E.I., seniors can apply to the Seniors Independence Initiative for reimbursement of up to $1,700 a year for expenses. Every other province but one has something better than what we have in Nova Scotia.

My question to the Premier is: Why does the Premier think that seniors here deserve less than seniors in the rest of our country?

THE PREMIER « » : Of course our government has great respect for seniors, and to imply anything but is just completely unfair. We are looking for ways to support our seniors. We'll continue to look for additional ways.

The member mentioned a bunch of innovative initiatives in other provinces. We're open to looking at that. I'm sure there's probably an Opposition member in each of those provincial legislatures talking about Nova Scotia having the innovative Seniors Care Grant and asking, "Why don't we have that?" That's an innovative thing that we have.

We'll continue to look for ways to support seniors. I'm very proud of the work that the Minister of Seniors and Long-term Care is doing to make sure that we're investing in seniors, that we're there to support seniors and their families, which is equally important.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I don't think anyone across the country is looking for less support than they have, but if the Premier wants to do more, we have some ideas. He could waive the Seniors' Pharmacare fees. Freezing them is not enough, but he's already refused to do that, so let's try this: He could introduce a seniors' income benefit, as there exists in other provinces, so that no matter the expense, seniors here can live in dignity.

My question to the Premier is: Will the Premier commit to making sure that seniors have enough to make ends meet, and introduce a guaranteed seniors' income benefit for every older person in Nova Scotia?

THE PREMIER « » : I get that the Opposition doesn't know where to go with the innovative Seniors Care Grant, other than to be negative about it. It's not something to be negative about. It's an important initiative that matters to seniors in this province. They know that it's a good thing. Is there more work to be done to support seniors? Absolutely there is, and we'll continue to do that under the guidance of the minister as we move forward.