Seniors will have a new resource to fight on their behalf next year when a seniors advocate office is established.
Vancouver Island MLA Ron Cantelon, who is also the parliamentary secretary for seniors, is touring the province and speaking with seniors and senior groups to help determine what a seniors advocate should do and who the office should help.
Cantelon was in Mission, along with local MLAs Marc Dalton and Randy Hawes, on Wednesday (July 18) listening to suggestions at Cedarbrooke Chateau. A few speakers suggested the new office should be independent from government and report only to the public; others said a seniors advocate is not needed, and the government should instead put more resources into existing programs.
“We don’t need another bureaucracy,” said Allan Larson.
Cantelon also heard about the need for affordable housing for seniors and health care. Those comments were echoed throughout the province, he noted.
Cantelon has also heard concerns about transportation, taxes, legal support and pensions from seniors.
Cantelon is wrapping up the input sessions on Vancouver Island and said the government wants to move forward with community support.