Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Most of our elders want to stay in their own homes as long as possible. In that way they can be independent and maintain their dignity. This is less expensive for the government than continuing care. It is not uncommon for the adult son or daughter of an elder to reside in a parent’s home. It is often a good solution, as the elder has someone checking on them every day and they can call upon their son or daughter in a crisis situation.
I have a constituent who lives in her own home and benefits from her son’s presence. Her personal income is basically old age pension and she has received senior’s home subsidy in the past. This past year, with her son’s seasonal income, her household income rose above the qualifying threshold and now her son is unemployed.
Mr. Speaker, we need to recognize extenuating circumstances in the policies and regulations of the seniors’ home heating subsidy. We should make the exception in these types of circumstances where an elder can only continue to live independently with someone else living in the home. I do not think we should include the caretaker’s income in the calculation of net income.
We need to change our guidelines to reflect that they do need assistance at home, otherwise it is a disincentive for family members to stay with their parent and in the long run it will cost government more in continuing care.
I urge the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to review the calculation of the household income thresholds for seniors with these circumstances in mind. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
