This year, Federal Retirees was pleased to host Seamus O’Regan, then minister of labour and seniors, at its annual meeting. O’Regan (centre) is pictured with Federal Retirees president Roy Goodall (right) and vice-president Hélène Nadeau.
This year’s Annual Meeting of Members (AMM), held in June, included a conversation with Seamus O'Regan, then minister of labour and seniors.
On the second day of AMM, O’Regan took the stage for an interview focused on priorities that matter to federal retirees.
“As older Canadians are staying healthier and living longer lives, supporting seniors is going to take work from all of us. And that’s why you’re all here today. To advocate for seniors’ financial security. For their health and well-being. So that federal retirees can age with dignity,” said O’Regan.
Aging at home
According to the 2016 census, over 85 percent of older persons wish to age at home and in their communities. The National Seniors Council in its capacity as the Expert Panel on Supporting Canadians Aging at Home has been examining a potential aging at home benefit.
We asked O’Regan to tell us about this work.
The ability to age at home, if one chooses, is an important part of a national seniors strategy.
Learn about our call for a national seniors strategy here.
Ageism
The Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum has years of reports on the impacts of ageism, including its 2023 “What we heard” report following consultations on the social and economic impacts of ageism in Canada.
Learn about the work Federal Retirees is doing to combat ageism here.
A UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
Experts in Canada and internationally have identified gaps in human rights frameworks and the impacts on older persons. These are documented in a report accepted by the UN this year — and the report includes eight recommendations, one of which is a convention on the rights of older persons.
We asked O’Regan to tell us when and how Canada will commit to moving the convention forward.
Learn how Federal Retirees is advocating for a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons here.
Support for caregivers
Roughly eight million people provide care to a family member or friend in Canada, and the importance of both paid and unpaid caregiving became very clear during the pandemic.
The 2024 federal budget committed to launching consultations on the development of a national caregiving strategy and a sectoral table to provide recommendations on better supporting the care economy.
And, when does this federal government plan to have a national strategy in place?
Learn about the work Federal Retirees is doing to get better support for caregivers here.
Long-term care
The federal government committed in the 2021 election to a Safe Long-Term Care Act, and consultations were finally held on that in 2023 — which our association participated in, thanks to the input of our volunteers. It’s been nearly three years since the commitment was made, with several announcements reaffirming the promise.
Learn about Federal Retirees’ long-term and home care campaign here.
Retirement income security
The 2024 federal budget committed to “top up” the Canada Pension Plan death benefit.
Learn about our advocacy work to improve retirement income security here.
Watch the whole conversation
“Income supports, good health care, accessible homes and buildings — there’s no aging with dignity without them,” O’Regan told Federal Retirees volunteers attending the AMM.
Watch the full video with the then minister of labour and seniors below.