Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

Comité permanent des ressources humaines, du développement des compétences, du développement social et de la condition des personnes handicapées

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 14, 2022 -

The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis of a magnitude not seen in recent history, and it has affected all Canadians in a variety of ways. Some population groups, however, have been disproportionately affected by this crisis. In particular, seniors have experienced considerable hardship due to the pandemic and the associated public health measures.

On Monday, June 13, 2022, Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John—Rothesay and member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, presented the Committee’s third report in the House of Commons.

Entitled The Impacts of COVID-19 on the Well-Being of Seniors, the report was inspired by a motion sponsored by Rosemarie Falk (Member of Parliament for Battlefords-Lloydminster) and adopted by the Committee during the 43rd parliament, on February 2, 2021. In the motion, the Committee agreed to “undertake a study on the impact of COVID-19 on the financial, social, health and overall well-being of seniors; that the committee review existing and announced programs for seniors, including federal transfers to provinces and territories and Indigenous governments, and make recommendations to improve support for seniors”.

The Committee’s report summarizes oral and written testimony provided by a variety of witnesses, including federal officials, advocacy and community organizations, researchers, health care professionals and individuals. It also provides an overview of the key challenges Canadian seniors have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the issues to consider when making changes to better support this growing population.

In the report, the Committee makes 17 recommendations related to various themes that are key to Canadian seniors’ well-being: fighting ageism; health care, including long-term care and federal funding for health care; accessible and affordable housing; home care and support; breaking social isolation; internet access and digital literacy; combating elder abuse; financial security; and creating and improving different government programs and supports for seniors.

The Committee is composed of 12 Members of Parliament. It is chaired by Robert J. Morrissey (Egmont) and its vice-chairs are Louise Chabot (Thérèse-De Blainville) and Stephanie Kusie (Calgary Midnapore). The other committee members are as follows: Chad Collins (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek); Michael Coteau (Don Valley East); Marc Dalton (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge); Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton); Ron Liepert (Calgary Signal Hill); Wayne Long (Saint John—Rothesay); Soraya Martinez-Ferrada (Hochelaga); Tony Van Bynen (Newmarket—Aurora) and Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam).