News Release
November 27, 2003
For immediate release
Ministers Responsible for Seniors met today to discuss the opportunities and challenges
faced by Canada's aging population
Halifax - Ministers Responsible for Seniors met today to discuss the opportunities and
challenges faced by Canada's aging population. Ministers noted that amongst Canada's challenges
are the complexity of the issues facing today's and tomorrow's seniors, the number of sectors
involved, the time needed to implement some of the changes and the importance of input
from governments and non-governmental stakeholders in managing this demographic transformation.
More than one person in eight in Canada is now over the age of 65 and in less than 25 years
it will be one person in five. Intergovernmental collaboration and leadership, as well
as public involvement will be key to ensuring that Canada is ready for these major changes.
The Ministers indicated their strong interest in working with seniors and non-government
stakeholders within their respective jurisdictions in developing collaborative plans for
action. Ministers also recognized the importance of working with other government sectors
to ensure that seniors' interests are reflected in the development of policies and programs.
For example, Ministers discussed how to support healthy aging initiatives and noted that
seniors would benefit from being a priority target group in the Pan-Canadian Healthy Living
Strategy being developed by Ministers of Health.
"While jurisdictions have adopted specific planning approaches to aging and often face
differing priorities, we have seen that there are many common elements" said Minister Anne
McLellan, Canada's Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors. Ministers noted
that the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing and the experiences of other countries with older
populations are helping inform planning in Canada.
"As Ministers Responsible for Seniors, we are committed to working with all interested
parties to highlight the tremendous opportunities posed by an aging population and to share
our experiences in addressing the challenges faced by seniors," added Minister Angus MacIsaac,
Nova Scotia's Minister of Health and Chair of the Senior Citizens' Secretariat. "The steps
that we agreed upon today are concrete ways for governments to work together and with seniors
to implement the principles of the National Framework on Aging."
Ministers heard about concerns for planning for Canada's aging population from a panel
reflecting the perspectives of community-based seniors' organizations, the research community
and Alberta's experience with its own planning process. Members of the panel were Mr. Omer
Blinn, Past Chairperson of Nova Scotia's coalition of seniors organizations; Dr. Réjean
Hébert, Scientific Director of CIHR's Institute on -Aging; and the Honourable Stan Woloshyn,
Minister of Seniors for Alberta.
Ministers discussed the abuse and neglect faced by many older adults and the ways to assist
caregivers of seniors. Ministers tasked their officials to determine the social and economic
costs of abuse and neglect, to work with other FPT fora in reviewing various options within
the context of CPP/QPP to help support caregivers of seniors and others; and, in studying
taxation and other policies designed to increase support for caregivers.
The Ministers also asked their officials to investigate further collaborative work in
the following areas:
- Cumulative Impacts of Policies and Programs
- Social Isolation of Older Persons
- Housing/Aging in Place
- Seniors Living in Northern and Remote Communities.
Ministers were informed about progress in updating the  Seniors
Policies and Programs Database (SPPD) which Ministers originally launched in 2000.
Together with the companion Policy Guide to the National Framework on Aging, the SPPD
provides policy analysts, program developers and the general public with information
on over 450 initiatives for seniors from federal, provincial and territorial governments.
An improved website will be launched in January 2004.
Quebec indicated that it participates fully in the Seniors Policies and Programs Database,
and contributes to the other initiatives, including the Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy
and the National Framework on Aging, by sharing information and best practices. This reflects
its intention to assume full responsibility for health and social services activities in
Quebec.
Ministers Responsible for Seniors meet at 18-24 month intervals to examine and discuss
key seniors issues, to share experience of their jurisdictions and consider opportunities
for collaboration. They have accepted the invitation of Quebec to gather for their 8th
conference in May 2005.
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Media Inquiries:
Emmanuel Chabot
Media Relations Officer
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803
Michelle Lucas
Communications Advisor
Nova Scotia - Department of Health
(902) 424-5886
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