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Port Moody-Coquitlam candidates talk about seniors' concerns

Health care, affordable housing, tax credits among the key promises
Seniors issues
Port Moody-Coquitlam candidates were asked about their positions on issues of concern to seniors.

The Tri-City News spoke to a local seniors' advocate about questions for federal candidates, and then quizzed the Port Moody-Coquitlam candidates on their parties' positions.

Seniors often hold sway with politicians so it's no surprise that the national parties have plenty of policies targeting older baby boomers and those 65-plus.
That's how it should be, says Bruce Bird, a Coquitlam resident and co-chair of the North Fraser chapter of CARP, A New Vision of Aging, which is a national seniors' advocacy group.
"Over 70% of people over 65 voted [in the last federal election]," Bird says to explain why the parties should pay attention to seniors' concerns.
Among seniors' top issues, Bird says, is access to health care — especially home care supports and physicians — and improvements to Canada's pension system, including reversing of the governments' decision to increase Old Age Security (and the Guaranteed Income Supplement) eligibility to 67 from 65.
"This is something we are doing for the next generation," Bird says.
He also wants to know how the national parties would deal with physician-assisted death after a recent Supreme Court decision. But none of the parties are saying definitively what they will d, other than have some discussion about the issue.
Here's how Port Moody-Coquitlam candidates stand on seniors' concerns:

• Jessie Adcock, Liberal
Adcock said a Liberal government would invest more in seniors because of plans to spend $20 billion over 10 years on social infrastructure, including social housing and seniors' facilities.
"I would do my absolute best to make sure Port Moody-Coquitlam got its fair share of that money," Adcock says.
The Liberals would also restore OAS and GIS eligibility to 65, and increase the GIS for single-low income seniors by 10%. If elected, the Liberals would start a national discussion on how to enhance the Canada Pension Plan and would make Employment Insurance more flexible for caregivers of seriously ill people.

• Fin Donnelly, NDP
Donnelly said he is hearing concerns from seniors about affordability and says the NDP would reverse the eligibility for OAS back to 65, increase GIS by $400 million, expand home care, bulk buy pharmaceuticals to make them cheaper and increase health care transfers to the provinces.
The NDP would also increase the number of clinics and spend money to recruit more doctors, nurses and health care professions, he says, adding that his party would put $40 million towards a national Alzheimer's strategy and increase palliative care.
"We feel we should invest in palliative care and continue the end-of-life discussion," Donnelly said.

• Tim Laidler, Conservative
As the party in government, the Conservatives introduced tax free savings accounts, reduced  the GST, introduced income splitting and increased the GIS, says Laidler, who adds that these initiatives make seniors' lives more comfortable. He also lauds the promise of a new single seniors tax credit that could cut a tax bill by $300 a year.
"If they have a low income, it gives them a supplemental income," he says.
But the Conservative government also changed the eligibility date for Old Age Security to 67 from 65, affecting those born after April 1, 1958, saying the current plan is not sustainable.
It has also promised to look into expanding the Canada Pension Plan.

• Marcus Madsen, Green
The Green Party has not stated a position on the OAS eligibility increase, advocating instead for a guaranteed livable income for all Canadians. The party would, however, phase in increased CPP benefits.
As for health care, like the NDP, Madsen says the Greens would create a national Pharmacare program, boost home care and housing for seniors, increase the Canada Health Transfer to the provinces and create a national dementia strategy to improve supports.
"We recognize that Canada is an aging country and services are lagging behind and not always accessible," said Marcus Madsen.
The Green Party would also address the Supreme Court's decision to allow physician-assisted death.