New Democrats say the federal government should give the most cash-strapped seniors a one-time emergency payment to help pay for basic needs, including food and rent.
Rachel Blaney, NDP Seniors Critic, points out that during the winter, some low-income seniors can’t pay their rent and are on the streets or living in their cars.
The NDP wants a quick emergency payment to help seniors who have applied for pandemic benefits, which has cut their Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments.
At a virtual press conference on Friday, Ms Blaney said she had been contacted by family members of pensioners – including a granddaughter – saying their loved ones were considering suicide.
In December, in the government’s economic and fiscal update, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland allocated $742 million for one-time payments to low-income seniors affected by a cut in their GIS benefits.
But NDP MP Daniel Blaikie says the money won’t reach seniors until May.
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