USW retirees to host seniors vote event

To celebrate the International Day of Older Persons, the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) is encouraging seniors to get out and vote on Oct. 19.

The organization will host a Seniors Vote event at the United Steelworkers Hall on Oct. 1.

“We're trying to get seniors, and everyone else, to get out and vote,” said Julien Dionne, one of the event's organizers.

A number of seniors organizations, including the National Pensioners Federation and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) have collaborated to host similar events across the country.

Older Canadians remain the most committed voters in Canadian elections, but the events also aim to raise awareness around issues that affect seniors, including financial security in retirement and health care reform.

In the 2011 federal election, 75.1 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 65 and 74 cast a ballot. In comparison, only 38.8 per cent of Canadians between the ages 18 and 24 voted in the election.

Only NDP candidates Paul Loewenberg and Claude Gravelle are expected at the 11 a.m. event.

Dionne said he was not able to book speakers from the other parties.

The full slate of Sudbury and Nickel Belt candidates are expected to tackle seniors' issues at two all-candidates debates scheduled on Oct. 1, in Nickel Belt, and Oct. 13 in the Sudbury riding.

The Sudbury CARP chapter and Friendly to Seniors have teamed up to host those debates.