Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to draw attention to Aboriginal elders who are in long-term care. We have an excellent facility in Fort Simpson and I have praised it before in this House. Our elders are very well cared for. That care comes at a price to them. Every elder, including elders with treaty rights, pay $712 per month for accommodations and meals. That payment eats up the lion’s share of his or her old age security money. To make matters worse, this government is increasing that fee to $729 a month on June 1st. It is truly shameful.
On one hand we love and respect our elders and on the other we chip away at their meagre incomes and leave them with little to enjoy in their last years on this earth. Seniors in public housing pay little or nothing for rent. Why is it that those elders who need the most help have to pay for their accommodation while those who are able to look after themselves do not?
Why is it that Aboriginal elders with treaty rights to medical care have to pay for their long-term care? Why isn’t our government collecting these fees from the federal government? The agreement with the federal government is that they provide medicine chests to Aboriginal people. It is probably much easier to chisel $729 a month from our elders instead, but that doesn’t make it right.
For the sake of convenience, we ask our elders to pay when we could be helping them live more comfortable lives. This government should let our elders keep their old age security pensions and do whatever it takes to make it happen. They must speak with Ottawa and get this issue resolved.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
