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, March 29, 2018 -

Today, Bryan May, Chair 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 eighth report in the House of Commons.

Entitled Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Life for Seniors, the report was inspired by a motion authored by Marc Serré (Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt). The goal of MP Serré’s private Members’ motion was to study how to improve quality of life for seniors and provide better support to caregivers via the development of a National Seniors Strategy.

“I’m proud of the work accomplished by our committee which dug deeply into the critical issues that seniors face today including financial security, housing, and community inclusion. Our report brings forward important and innovative recommendations to the Government with real ideas to support Canadian seniors” said Mr. May.

The report examines important themes related to income security, housing, accessible services that support aging in place, fostering age friendly communities, and supporting caregivers.

The Committee’s report is based upon a breadth of oral and written testimony provided by a variety of witnesses – including researchers, service providers, advocacy groups, representatives from various levels of government, as well as seniors themselves – between the months of June and November 2017. It also includes recently released Statistics Canada data from the 2016 Census. At its conclusion, the report makes twenty-nine recommendations about how to improve the lives of Canadian seniors, which will work to inform the government’s strategy around seniors issues in the future.

The report finds that there are both tremendous challenges as well as opportunities that go along with Canada’s aging population. In addition, the report discusses that the retirement income security system has worked well for many but needs updating and that there are still too many vulnerable seniors who are falling through the cracks. Notably, the study recommends a National Seniors Strategy, which provides a framework for the federal government, other orders of government, and stakeholders to work together towards a comprehensive and integrated strategy to advance inclusion and well-being of seniors.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, would like to thank all witnesses, contributors, and those who submitted briefs to the Committee that provided insight and input into the work of HUMA.

The Committee is composed of 13 Members of Parliament. It is chaired by Bryan May (Cambridge) and its vice-chairs are Hon. Steven Blaney (Bellechasse – Les Etchemins – Lévis) and Brigitte Sansoucy (Saint-Hyacinthe – Bagot). The other committee members are: Rodger Cuzner (Cape Breton – Canso), Rosemarie Falk (Battlefords – Lloydminster), Mona Fortier (Ottawa – Vanier), Stéphane Lauzon (Argenteuil – La Petite-Nation), Wayne Long (Saint John – Rothesay), Robert J. Morrissey (Egmont), Dan Ruimy (Pitt Meadows – Maple Ridge), Ramesh Sangha (Brampton Centre), Adam Vaughan (Spadina – Fort York), and Mark Warawa (Langley – Aldergrove).