M.P. David Tilson Says Federal Program Helps Seniors Participate More Fully In Their Communities

February 08, 2021

ORANGEVILLE, ON — David Tilson, Member of Parliament for Dufferin-Caledon, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Secretary of State (Seniors), today congratulated the Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County, on being selected to receive funding under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). This will ensure that seniors in Dufferin will have the opportunity to participate and take an active leadership role within their community.

Total funding of $20,020 is being provided for the project entitled Making Connections: Bridging Youth and Seniors for Fun and Learning.

“The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country,” said Mr. Tilson. “This project will encourage seniors to continue sharing their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit our youth.”

In Budget 2007, the Government of Canada announced an additional investment of $10 million per year for two new components of the NHSP, in order to raise awareness of elder abuse, and to provide capital assistance for upgrades to facilities and equipment used for existing seniors’ programs. Projects funded under these new components will be announced in the spring of 2008.

“As our population ages, it will be more important than ever to enable our senior citizens to remain connected to the community and to keep healthy,” says Laurie Turza, Executive Director of Alzheimer Dufferin. “This is an opportunity to bring young people together with individuals suffering from dementia or those in caregiver roles, to share in a fun time and learning opportunities on health for the brain, body and spirit.”

The federal government is also acting to address the needs of Canada’s seniors through the introduction of a series of important measures that include:

• establishing the National Seniors Council to advise the Government on issues of importance to older Canadians;
• enabling 1.6 million low-income seniors to benefit from increased monthly benefits available under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and to make a one-time application for the GIS. As long as these seniors file income tax returns every year, they will never have to reapply;
• providing more than $1 billion in tax relief to Canadian seniors and pensioners in Budget 2007;
• enabling seniors to build their retirement savings in Registered Pension Plans and
• Registered Retirement Savings Plans for an extra two years until age 71; and
• raising the amount that seniors can claim under the age credit on their tax returns for 2007. With less income taxed, seniors save more.
  

Since its launch, the NHSP has funded over 2,600 projects across Canada, inspiring seniors to bring their leadership, energy and skills to projects that benefit our communities. For more information about the Program, please visit: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/community_partnerships/
seniors/index.shtml.