NACA REPORTS ON POVERTY AMONG CANADIAN SENIORS ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS

Ottawa, October 3, 2005 - The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) urges governments and society to work toward eradicating seniors' poverty in Canada. The Council launched on October 1st, the International Day of Older Persons as declared by the United Nations, a new report called Seniors on the margins: Aging in poverty in Canada.

"The UN theme for this special day was 'Aging in the new millennium. Focus on poverty, older women and development.' It is fitting that NACA releases its findings on the economic vulnerability of Canadian seniors now," claims Bubs Coleman, spokesperson for NACA. "The prospect of a golden retirement simply does not exist for many seniors, particularly those living alone, women over age 80, visible minorities and immigrants."

Close to 7% of Canada's seniors live under the poverty line and inequalities between seniors' incomes will increase in the next decade with the maturation of private retirement plans and RRSPs. In this report, NACA examines the shortcomings that need redress to eradicate seniors' poverty in Canada, and makes 15 recommendations. They include changes to various elements of income security, for example, OAS, CPP, GIS, and retirement savings plans; capping the costs of housing and long-term care establishments; and increasing the income of senior women and immigrants.

The National Advisory Council on Aging is an advisory body to the federal Minister of Health on all matters related to the aging of the Canadian population and the quality of life of seniors. It was created May 1, 1980.

- 30 -

For more information: Francine Beauregard (613) 941-6811; Ian Clark (613) 954-1047.
NACA's report can be viewed at: www.naca-ccnta.ca