Seniors share concerns over pensions, more at roundtable in Vaughan

Yorkregion.com
April 4, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Filippo Di Bennardo headed over to the Healthy Seniors Roundtable in Woodbridge Friday morning to deliver a message to some of the government officials taking part in the event.

“You know what a lot of seniors I talk to hunger for? If seniors don’t have children why do we have to (pay to) support schools, when these people cannot even make ends meet?” Mr. Di Bennardo said. “At least, give (them) a little break. They should, at least, minimize it a little bit.”

He was not alone.

Hundreds of senior citizens, the vast majority of them from the city’s Italian-Canadian community, descended on Chateau Le Jardin Conference and Event Centre to deliver a similar message.

“100 per cent of the people, they showed up today because of their pensions,” said Joanne Guido, who helped bring about 200 members of the West Woodbridge Seniors Club to the roundtable. “They (government) give $1 or $2 every year - that’s nothing. At this point, (seniors) are upset. They can’t keep their homes anymore because the taxes, everything, is expensive.”

The roundtable, led by former regional councillor Mario Ferri, featured a number of dignitaries including Premier Kathleen Wynne, Vaughan MPP Steven Del Duca, MPP Mario Sergio, minister responsible for seniors affairs, Minister of State for Seniors Alice Wong and Julian Fantino, Vaughan MP and Minister of Veterans Affairs, among others.

Ms Wynne and Mr. Sergio both used their initial time at the podium this morning to tout senior citizens programs their government has implemented over the last few years, such as the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit and the Strategy to Combat Elder Abuse.

They also noted the provincial Liberals ended mandatory retirement, invested more money in home-care programs and introduced licensing of retirement homes.

And Ms Wynne vowed there’s good news regarding pensions in the upcoming budget.

“We cannot wait for the federal government to step in when they know there is a problem (with the Canada Pension Plan) and they’ve said that they’re not going to do that,” she said. “We, in Ontario, are going to bring in a plan, in our budget, that will enhance the retirement security for people in this province because that is the right thing to do.”

Mr. Sergio, meanwhile, revealed that the government is launching a new initiative to provide grants to not-for-profit groups offering programs that allow seniors to get involved in their communities.

Dubbed the Seniors Community Grant Program, is will provide grants ranging from $500 to $10,000.

“Our government remains committed to improving the quality of life for seniors and families throughout our province,” Mr. Sergio said. “We want Ontario seniors to remain healthy and independent for as long as possible.”