Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, this is a housing theme day today. Mr. Speaker, during the 13th Assembly a policy was put
in place that would see free rent and full utility costs covered for seniors living in public housing units. Mr. Speaker, this causes a problem in market communities where often seniors have been involved in the wage economy, have pensions, have owned their own homes and do have some means to pay. In and of itself, there is nothing wrong for providing free rent to seniors. Where it becomes a problem is when we can’t provide free housing to all seniors over 60. If we could only do it for a few, how do we decide who should benefit from this generous policy? Is it sustainable over the long haul?
All other housing programs that this government has are means tested, but not rent for seniors over 60 who are living in social housing. If you live in a care home, a monthly fee is applicable. If you are in extended care, a monthly fee is applicable. If you live in the seniors home, a fee is charged, so it is an anomaly and I don’t think it came about because seniors themselves said we don’t want to pay anything. I never once heard that before that policy went into place.
I support assisting our seniors in ways that help them live long, healthy and independent lives, but it seems that it would make more sense to include seniors in the means tested policy of all other housing programs. Then I think our government would be in a position to help more seniors, including those who are challenged with the ever-increasing costs of staying in their own homes. The Home Repair Program, the fossil fuel subsidy program are programs that could be enhanced for seniors in their own homes if we did not have all of our resources being consumed by this very generous free policy.
I would not support anything but a phased-in approach if we were to change this policy, taking into full account the seniors’ ability to pay ensuring
that no economic hardship would result. Mr. Speaker, we have created an unfair and inequitable policy that leaves some seniors with little or no support while providing accommodation including all utilities for some at absolutely no charge regardless of their means to pay. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know why we as a government cannot devise a policy that would address this inequity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.