It's not only a new job for Filomena Tassi, the federal minister of seniors, it's a brand new ministry, having been created last summer by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
So Tassi is travelling the nation, finding out what priorities Canadians have when it come to our growing seniors population – expected to reach 36 per cent in Sudbury, compared to 25 per cent across Canada.
She was in Sudbury on Wednesday, where she got an earful from seniors groups and advocates about what needs to be done to help greying Canadians.
“The only way to do that is to get input from Canadians,” Tassi said, as she led a discussion at the Parkside Centre, flanked by Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre and Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré.
Serré is the MP responsible for Canada's work to develop a national strategy for older Canadians. In May 2017, his private member's bill, M-106, was passed in the House of Commons, paving the way for the creation of a National Seniors Strategy.
With the passing, the federal Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development began studying how to develop and implement a national strategy for seniors, and call witnesses.
This past July, Serré said the creation of a Seniors Ministry is a step in the right direction, and fully in line with the National Seniors Strategy he helped create.
“This new ministry along with the passing of my motion, M-106 Seniors, is truly a dream come true," Serré said in a news release. "This action demonstrates our government’s commitment to seniors, caregivers and families in Canada.”
The new ministry will help the federal government better understand the needs of older Canadians, and develop appropriate programs and services for them, the Nickel Belt MP said.
“Following the passing of my motion M-106, which called upon the federal government to develop and implement a national seniors strategy, I have co-hosted numerous town halls across the country, including in Nickel Belt-Greater Sudbury, to engage with residents on issues that matter most to seniors," Serré told Sudbury.com in an email last week. "More than 1,200 Canadians attended these town halls and shared their thoughts on seniors’ needs in their community.
"I am proud that our government heard their concerns, listened to their feedback and created a ministry dedicated seniors. This action demonstrates that our government is committed to seniors, caregivers and families in Canada. Ultimately, I believe that my motion M-106, those who participated in seniors’ town halls, and HUMA’s study on the implementation of a National Seniors Strategy, are all factors that helped pave the way for the creation of a seniors ministry”.
Jo-Anne Palkovits, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre, said the greatest single need in the city is for more seniors housing.
“That would be No. 1,” Palkovits said.
No. 2 on the list would be more personal support workers. There's a critical need for more in Sudbury, she said, and the shortage if affecting older people who could be at home with support, but have to stay in hospital.
“It's keeping people in care longer,” she said. “We're desperate for more PSWs.”
John Lindsay, of Friendly to Seniors, agreed, saying higher wages and better training would go a long way toward easing the shortage. Lindsay also said some seniors need support in deciding whether to choose assisted suicide as they get older and their health fails.
“Being able to authorize your own demise” is important for peace of mind for some seniors, he said, who worry about losing control of the decision should they no longer be able to make decisions for themselves.
Bella Ravi, who sits on the Parkside Centre's board of governors, said it seems as though governments aren't ready for the “tsunami” of baby boomers who are becoming seniors.
“I don't think the funding model reflects that,” Ravi said, pointing to service gaps for seniors, particularly in remote areas.
“We know that the tsunami's coming,” Tassi said. “That's why we are here.”
It's a big reason why her ministry was created, she said, to help the country prepare. Improving access to PSWs is a huge priority, she said, as is helping caregivers looking after older family members with health issues.
“We have to work collaboratively with municipal governments, with provincial governments,” she said. “And even in the federal government, we have to meet with other cabinet ministers portfolios to ensure collaboration.”
As far as assisted suicide, Tassi said the feds have worked are to strike a balance between ensuring access while protecting vulnerable seniors from abuse.
“If someone is suffering and in pain and death is imminent or foreseeable, we want to ensure that balance,” she said.
