Stephanie McLean

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her hard work and for being a strong and consistent advocate for seniors across Canada. In the more than a year that I have been serving in this position as Secretary of State for Seniors, I have had the privilege of meeting inspiring seniors across this country and I have learned about the challenges and opportunities that come with aging. From the $50 million of investments every year through the new horizons for seniors program to the groceries and essentials tax benefit to delivering Canada's national anti-fraud strategy, our government is committed to helping seniors live healthy, active and happy lives.

Mr. Speaker, I have spent time over the summer and the spring talking to constituents in the member's riding. What did I hear from them? I heard back from them that we, as a government, invested $5 million in the Loaves & Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo. This is a new food distribution facility on Vancouver Island. It improves year-round access to nutritious food. I wish the member would tell her constituents about the things available in her riding that are being funded and that they can count on, instead of just collecting stories for the House of Commons.

Mr. Speaker, we announced these changes to the New Horizons for Seniors program almost a month before the applications opened up, and we made these changes, requiring the CRA business number, to ensure the integrity of the program. Here is what CanAge has to say about these changes. It has said that it is pleased to see this important step to ensure the integrity of the program. It believes that the simplified grant format, ease of reporting requirements and significant supports available for community-based organizations ensure that this program remains accessible and inclusive.

Mr. Speaker, these changes are important to ensure the integrity of the program, but we also want to make sure that all of the wonderful senior-servicing organizations across Canada have the support they need. That is why Service Canada has provided additional resources to ensure that signing up for the business number is easy. There is a 15- to 30-minute process to make sure that this happens online, but there are also supports available to help seniors over the phone. More than that, there are supports through their local MPs' offices. If the member had attended our sessions, he would know that.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from seniors organizations across this country applauding the changes we have made to the New Horizons for Seniors program, which are ensuring that we have doubled the amount available to senior-servicing organizations but also ensuring the integrity of the program for years to come. This was one of the very few grants left in the Government of Canada that did not have these requirements, and this will ensure for years to come that this program is something seniors can rely on.