Update:
This could be a close election, and every vote is going to count. Keep in mind the issues that matter most to you and to Ontario seniors, the promises from each party, and make sure you make an informed choice. If you’re not sure where to vote, use this tool from Elections Ontario to find your local polling information and consider your plan to vote on June 7th.
The Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO/ERO) and the National Association of Federal Retirees (Federal Retirees) launched Vibrant Voices on April 24, 2018, an advocacy campaign to represent the interests and concerns of our members and seniors in the run up to the Ontario election on June 7. Together, the two membership-based organizations represent 150,000 Ontario seniors.
To launch the campaign, Vibrant Voices hosted a bilingual town hall style-meeting in Toronto with representatives from the three main provincial political parties with standing in the legislature. Topics included healthcare, home care, long-term care, pharmacare, caregiving, preventing elder abuse, developing age friendly communities for citizens of every age, promoting mental health of older adults, ageism and retirement income security.
Representatives from the major political parties in Ontario presented platform policies that affect seniors. The focus of the event was members engaging with the Honourable Dipika Damerla (Ontario Liberal Party MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville and Minister for Seniors Affairs), Todd Smith (Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings) and Teresa Armstrong (Ontario NDP MPP for London Fanshawe and Seniors’ Affairs Critic).
The political parties were also asked to complete an in-depth questionnaire on issues concerning seniors in this election — and their answers might surprise you!