Bill 70: Seniors Month Act

March 23, 2023

Click here to view the video of MPP Gallagher Murphy’s full speech and the presentation of the bill in the Chamber at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy’s Speech

I rise today to speak to the importance of celebrating seniors all across this province by proclaiming June as Seniors’ Month in Ontario. It is an honour to bring forward all the insight that seniors have been generous in sharing with me in communities I have visited, from Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, to Wellington—Halton Hills, to my own community of Newmarket—Aurora, and be able to raise awareness on their needs and opportunities to enhance recognition and support of our older adults across this great province.

Older adults want to be connected to their communities and living life to the fullest just as we all do, and this government wants to recognize and support the people who have built up our communities.

June is already known as Seniors’ Month in many areas and some jurisdictions have already formalized this recognition. Ontario will proudly be the first jurisdiction in Canada to officially declare June seniors’ month adults.

1. Build up our communities à Give back

Seniors across Ontario have contributed to building up Ontario’s communities, not only for their generation but for following generations to live and thrive in – making contributions in healthcare, infrastructure, education, local business, community organizations, and so much more. How can we give back and provide a catalyst for further support for them to thrive in turn? How can we recognize them with programs and initiatives across the province, tailored to the needs of seniors in each of our communities? Additionally, how can other age groups become more aware of seniors’ needs and opportunities for support? Recognizing June as Seniors’ Month will help lift up the people that have made Ontario the great place it is today, while allowing us to create better-connected communities.

M. le président, qu’est ce que signifie reconnaitre le mois des ainés?

• Des ainés sont des développeurs/leaders communautaires à Redonner aux aines

Les ainés à travers l’Ontario ont contribué au développement de nos communautés, non seulement au profit de leur génération, mais aussi des générations suivantes – en contribuant à la santé, à l’infrastructure, à l’éducation, aux entreprises locales, aux organismes communautaires, et bien plus encore. Comment pouvons-nous réinvestir dans ces gens-là afin qu’ils puissent prospérer à leur tour? Comment pouvons-nous les reconnaître avec des programmes et d’initiatives partout dans la province, adaptés aux besoins des aînés dans chacune de nos communautés? De plus, comment les gens d’autres groupes d’âge peuvent-ils mieux connaître les besoins des aînés et les possibilités de soutien? Reconnaître le mois de juin comme le Mois des ainés aidera à mettre en valeur les gens qui ont fait de l’Ontario la merveilleuse province qu’elle est aujourd’hui, tout en nous permettant de créer des communautés mieux connectées.

• Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; to fight isolation + to improve mental health and wellness.

Seniors’ Month will also help to improve mental health and well being for our older adults. During the peak of the pandemic, many seniors experienced periods of isolation, whether living independently or in long term care.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, almost half of seniors living in residential care homes are diagnosed or have symptoms of depression. Speaker, this is devastating and only underlines the need to create awareness around seniors’ unique mental health needs.

Mental health in aging adults is also a gendered issue, with men often disproportionately suffering the effects of poor mental health (depression and loneliness).

Comme nous mettons en priorité le vieillissement chez soi, il est important que nous reconnaissions ce défi et que nous allions de l’avant pour aider les aînés à prospérer. 

• Awareness of govt. programs, age-friendly communities & promoting inclusivity

Having been fortunate enough to meet with several seniors’ groups from southeastern to southwestern Ontario, it has become clear that many seniors and their loved ones are not aware of and are not easily able to access information on the amazing programs this government offers to assist them. To support aging in place for example, seniors can receive the Seniors’ Care at Home Tax Credit, which helps seniors with medical expenses live better at home. We also offer the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) benefit, payments for which we have doubled since this past January for the next year. Yet many seniors’ loved ones and local seniors’ associations don’t know this, and many seniors themselves aren’t easily able to access this information online. Additionally, seniors’ associations and municipalities which our grant programs target are navigating a complex application process for these grants, and some may get left behind. Grant application approvals are announced in June and this would coincide with Seniors’ Month. This can be a great opportunity to talk about how we can be making digital resources and grant applications more accessible and raise awareness around existing support programs.

• Connect people of all ages with each other; Age-friendly & inclusive communities. Focus on diversity and volunteerism.

Since its creation under our government in 2018, we have invested $2.9 million in the Inclusive Community Grant program, which funds projects that help seniors’ associations, municipalities include seniors in all aspects of community planning and life. Since 2018, the government has invested $21.8 million in the Seniors Community Grants program and $59 million invested in Seniors Active Living Centre Programs. The 108 Health Promotion Association in Newmarket—Aurora is an example of a program that provided positive impact on more than 2,000 Chinese community members in my riding. They received a grant that helped them develop a digital platform to connect members by promoting healthy, connected living…through yoga classes, health-related workshops, gardening lessons and English as a second language programs.

Another example is the Power Up Ajax! Project created this year with the grant, which will enable the Town of Ajax to create more accessible and age-friendly spaces through the installation of designated electric mobility charging stations in all publicly accessed facilities and outdoor spaces.

Une autre organisation dont le mandat est lie a l’inclusivité et l’offre active des services en français c’est  l’Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes, aide les femmes francophones âgées à accéder aux ressources dont elles ont besoin pour rester en sécurité. Nous avons investi 7.5 millions de dollars dans cette organisation depuis 2018.

By recognizing Seniors’ Month, we reiterate the need to continue programs to promote age-friendly and inclusive communities, as well as the need for new and innovative initiatives.

As June is also Pride Month, I want to spotlight what is being done for LGBTQ+ seniors: York Pride is applying to the Inclusive Community Grant program. The goal of that application is to enable York PRIDE parade be more accessible and to promote opportunities for seniors to participate and volunteer.

La Communauté du Trille Blanc à Newmarket—Aurora propose un projet de logements et de centre d’activités pour les ainés francophones et francophiles, afin de fournir plus de services en français conformément à la loi sur les services en français de l’Ontario.

The Plan for June:

All these challenges and opportunities highlight the need for a month of celebration of seniors; a month throughout which we can take action to recognize seniors in our communities.

I’m proposing a plan of action for all of us that focuses on three areas:

1. Mental health and fighting isolation,
2. Inclusion and diversity,
3. Age-friendly communities and volunteerism.

To promote mental health, seniors’ associations and municipalities could hold working groups to discuss needs and challenges, the disproportionate impacts on men, and the ties of mental health to active living. These bodies could also work with local Alzheimer’s Society chapters to hold awareness workshops on addressing risk factors for Alzheimer’s, signs of Alzheimer’s, and treatment. I believe we could keep our seniors informed, healthy and active with even just these small activities.

Moreover – this being an initiative I heard from the Hillsview Active Living Centre in Acton—If local family doctors and pharmacies could refer seniors (their patients) to active living centres and recreational programs, think of how much more awareness we could raise. Working as a community, looking out for each of our community members to ensure we are socially connected. This is what it is all about.

We have already seen some amazing work that has been going on to promote age-friendly communities, both through our grant programs and when I have met with seniors’ centres. In the town of Acton in your very own riding of Wellington—Halton Hills, Speaker, Hillsview Active Living Centre hosts men’s and women’s breakfasts, and children from schools and programs at recreation centres participate in art and outdoor activities with seniors of the Hillsview Centre. How impactful would it be in connecting young people with our seniors if the liaison at every senior’s centre were to communicate volunteer and recreational opportunities with students at their local school board? If students used just some of their required volunteer hours in seniors’ centres or in local community service? Volunteerism can be such an important tool to connect different age groups to each other. Not only does it promote understanding and provide support, but in the end it benefits students and anyone else who decides to give their time too. By giving back, they contribute to the good of their communities and obtain experience serving others and communicating with various people. We all have much to learn from each other and skills that need to be valued, and older adults who are retired have a wealth of knowledge and background to share. Another way to promote age-friendly communities is for local chapters of seniors’ associations connecting to each other to host events.

Speaker, the needs of seniors evidently vary depending on community and identity. We need to recognize specific challenges and celebrate the value that they bring, but we also need to incorporate the needs of everyone and create opportunities for all to participate. With June also being Pride Month, there is a need to connect with the members of our community who are LGBTQ+ older adults. I urge all my colleagues here today to connect with their municipalities, seniors’ associations, active living centres and other leaders to see what these needs are and how they can work with them to support them, not just throughout June but all year long.

I also think of newcomers coming to Ontario, and how we can better connect these seniors in our communities both with awareness of government support programs, as well with a knowledge of community organizations to help them feel welcome and navigate an often complex and challenging time in their lives.

Conclusion

There is so much amazing work already being done to celebrate seniors and provide opportunities for everyone in our communities to thrive as they age, and I know that recognizing June as Seniors’ Month will only provide opportunities to further this work and being innovative and open-minded in doing so. I ask all my colleagues in this great Chamber to support this bill. Let’s be the first jurisdiction in Canada to proclaim the month of June Seniors’ Month.