Windsor-Essex candidates talk seniors’ issues, retirement, and health care

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Seniors deserve a stronger voice, says the organizer of a Windsor-Essex election forum on the topic.

Incumbent candidates from all three Windsor-Essex ridings representing Canada’s major national parties gathered Wednesday for a town hall focused on senior’s issues, including retirement, healthcare, and ageism ahead of the upcoming election.

The panel of candidates at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 594 included Liberal Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore), NDP Brian Masse (Windsor West), and Conservative Chris Lewis (Essex).

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“I see my primary responsibility as making sure that seniors have a chance to express themselves and that they’re at any table talking about seniors issues,” said Larry Duffield, an advocate for the Windsor-Essex chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) and the Ontario branch of the National Association of Federal Retirees.

“Otherwise, seniors tend to be marginalized. They don’t get asked what their opinions and views are. So, that’s what this is all about, making sure that we do have a chance to express our views and hopefully they will be heard.”

Duffield said the town hall was all also about encouraging seniors to vote. About 60 people attended Wednesday’s event.

Each candidate had two minutes to respond to questions about the impact of U.S. tariffs on seniors, support for a national seniors strategy, home and long-term care, and programs like old-age security and retirement savings.

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When asked about his party’s platform, Kusmierczyk said Mark Carney’s Liberals support a National Seniors Strategy that calls for strengthening the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), increasing Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) “so that the seniors who built this country can live in dignity.”

Another key priority for the Liberal party, he said, is protecting PharmaCare and Dental Care programs introduced through the coalition with the NDP, along with building more affordable housing for Canada’s aging population, and improving accessibility in communities.

“One of the biggest scourges that we see in our community is isolation,” said Kusmierczyk, when asked about ageism in the community.

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“We have to make sure that we’re making investments, whether it’s in public transit, and making sure that our communities are accessible.”

Lewis said the Conservative Party, under Pierre Poilievre, would maintain the current dental care coverage and existing agreements with provinces and territories on child care and PharmaCare.

He added the Conservatives would keep the age of retirement at 65, let seniors hold onto their Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) longer, and support working seniors by allowing them to earn up to $34,000 tax-free.

“Finally, we’re going to stop scams targeting our seniors by passing the Stop Scamming Seniors Act to force banks and telecoms to block fraud in real time, and delay suspicious transactions,” said Lewis.

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Masse called for stronger legislation to guarantee lasting protections for seniors, rather than relying on piecemeal programs.

“We also support the UN Convention on rights of older persons,” said Masse, noting that the NDP’s plan protects seniors.

“That puts us into an international framework which is critical for us to show leadership, not only in terms of ourselves here, but into international law. Then a future government will be held to further responsibility.

“No more ad hoc programs, no more ad hoc attempts.”

mmazak@postmedia.com

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