Celebrating National Seniors Day - October 1, 2010

Canadians from all walks of life are celebrating National Seniors Day, being held October 1

VANCOUVER, Sept. 30 /CNW/ - "On October 1 seniors are proud to celebrate our continuing great contribution to Canada," said Art Kube, the president of the National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation (NPSCF). "It is our generation who fought the Second World War and helped to establish the social programs like Medicare, Public Seniors Housing, the Old age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Canada Pension Plan."

"While we worked to build a more civil society, protecting people from the vagaries of the marketplace, many seniors today are still struggling," said Kube. "Seniors are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, lack of seniors housing has hit a crisis and there is a lack of home care, home support and long-term care beds."

Many seniors' incomes no longer cover the essentials, like food, housing and clothing.

"Regrettably, some in society see seniors as a burden, putting extra pressure on social programs like housing, and home support," Kube said. "Governments are cutting taxes for the rich, regardless of the consequences, leaving many important programs unfunded."

"Seniors call on the government to stop dividing Canadians over issues like the gun registry and to start dealing with issues that impact seniors and Canadians: Medicare, the elimination of poverty, the improvement to pensions and creating good jobs," said Kube.

"Let's use National Seniors Day to start rebuilding Canada," said Kube.

"It is our generation which created a better Canada and we can not stand idly by and see our inheritance for the next generations be destroyed by tax cuts. We had to fight to build that better society, and we will fight to protect it," Kube said.

The National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation (NPSCF) represents 350 different seniors organization with a membership across Canada of over 1,000,000 members.

For further information:

Art Kube, President, NPSCF. Toll free: 1-877-251-7042,  www.npscf.org.