(Ottawa) Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says discussions with the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party (NDP) on new aid measures for seniors are “fruitful.”
The Minister of Finance did not provide further details on Tuesday on the actions that the government could take.
The Bloc members have been hammering home for days that they want the Old Age Security pension to be increased for seniors aged 65 to 74 in the same way that it was for people aged 75 and over.
A private member’s bill from Bloc Québécois critic for seniors’ issues, Andréanne Larouche, addresses this measure. The Bloc hopes that the Liberals will give the bill royal recommendation so that it can move forward.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates that the increase in Bill C-319 would cost the government about $3 million per year.
Mme Freeland did not directly answer a reporter’s question about whether she thought the cost was too high.
Since the NDP withdrew from its agreement with the Liberals that ensured the survival of Justin Trudeau’s minority government until June 2025, the Bloc Québécois believes it has obtained the balance of power.
They hope to get gains on their demands before an election comes around. Another priority is getting their supply management protection bill passed.
The Liberals have been saying for days that they are talking with the Bloc Québécois, but also the New Democrats, even though the latter tore up the agreement they had with the government.