Ministers highlight Government support for seniors including the new Home Accessibility Tax Credit

VAUGHAN, ON, May 22, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), and the Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, met with seniors' organizations as well as service and health providers to highlight the Government of Canada's family tax cuts and benefits and to discuss issues facing seniors in Canada.

In her remarks, Minister Wong highlighted the 2015–16 New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) Call for Proposals (CFP) for Pan-Canadian projects, which will be launched on May 29, 2015. Through this CFP, organizations can apply for funding for projects that will help prevent and reduce social isolation among seniors using collaborative approaches and with an emphasis on results. The annual CFP for community-based projects under the NHSP will be launched on the same day.

Minister Wong spoke of a number of programs and activities designed to raise awareness and address the social isolation of seniors. She also outlined supports and initiatives to help caregivers.

She also underscored the over $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors, implementing pension income splitting and introducing a new Home Accessibility Tax Credit for seniors and persons with disabilities to help with the costs of ensuring their homes remain safe, secure and accessible. These changes to income security programs have given older Canadians more choice and flexibility in regard to life, work and retirement.

To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit. The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB would provide $160 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $60 per month for each child aged 6 through 17.

Quick Facts

• The Government is committed to supporting and promoting seniors' health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.
• In September, the Government of Canada released the Government of Canada Action for Seniors report, a comprehensive information resource highlighting federal programs and services, which can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers at Canada.ca/Seniors.
• Today, 1 in 7 Canadians is aged 65 or over. By 2036, nearly 1 in 4 Canadians will be a senior.

Quotes

"Canadian seniors have played a central part in building this country. They have earned our respect and admiration, and they deserve our support to help them enjoy the best quality of life possible. That's why our Government provides more than $2.8 billion in annual tax relief to seniors and pensioners across Canada, which has led to one of the lowest rates of poverty among seniors in the world."
– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

"I'm proud of our Government's accomplishments in supporting Canadian seniors in their communities. We will continue to work with organizations across Canada to improve the lives of seniors and make independence a reality for them. Together, we can promote seniors' health and well-being by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed."
– The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence

Associated Links

Canada.ca/Seniors
Seniors in Canada (Facebook)
www.canada.ca/taxsavings
Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Justin Wood, Office of the Minister of State (Seniors), 613-852-3761; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]