(Quebec) Like medical assistance in dying or the report Rebuilding trust on supporting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, solidarity MP Christine Labrie wants to make the quality of life of seniors a transpartisan issue.
She asks Sonia Bélanger, Minister responsible for Seniors and Minister for Health, to hold general meetings on the subject in the context of the aging of the population. “It impacts everyone. Everyone, one day, is going to be a caregiver,” argues the member for Sherbrooke.
“When we are not able to meet the needs of seniors, it has an impact on them and their loved ones as well. We all need this project,” adds M.me Labrie. According to solidarity, “Quebec is not ready” to face this profound demographic change. In 2030, it is predicted that a quarter of the population will be aged 65 and over.
Christine Labrie says today “reach out” to Mme Bélanger so that she “takes leadership” and creates a transpartisan committee that could lead a broad consultation on this issue.
“I feel how politics fuels cynicism. What I have seen in recent years, what has most fueled hope for politics, is really the transpartisan projects,” assures the person who was part of the committee on supporting victims of attacks. sexual and domestic violence.
This transpartisan committee also composed of experts produced the report Rebuilding trustwhich notably allowed the creation of specialized courts.
“There are no elected officials in the National Assembly at the moment who are not worried about the fact that Quebec is not ready for the aging of the population. We are all very aware that we are not capable at the moment of ensuring the quality of life of seniors,” deplores M.me Labrie.
Since we see that everyone shares this concern, why aren’t we working together?
Christine Labrie, from Québec solidaire
The supportive MP launches the invitation to Mme Bélanger while the latter was to participate in an interpellation – a parliamentary procedure during which an elected official answers questions from the opposition – at the Salon bleu this Friday. However, the minister will not be there due to a scheduling conflict. It is the Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs, Éric Caire, who will replace his colleague.
“The invitation that I extend to him [n’]has no expiration date,” she said.
No “clear picture”
Christine Labrie believes that general statements on the quality of life of seniors would make it possible to paint an accurate picture of future needs on a series of issues, such as housing, mobility, the development of public spaces and access to digital. We must not limit ourselves to questions concerning health and accommodation, she believes. Moreover, she asks that several ministries be involved.
“Quebec will experience the phenomenon of population aging for several decades. So what would it be like to take a year, two years together to prepare for it? This should have been done decades ago, we could have seen it coming for a long time,” adds Mme Labrie.
For the moment, she affirms that Quebec has the facts only in terms of home support thanks to the vast investigation by the Commissioner of Health and Well-being, Joanne Castonguay.
The government recently conducted a public consultation with a view to developing the third action plan resulting from the government policy Aging and living together, at home, in your community, in Quebec, for the period 2024-2029.