(Ottawa) The Trudeau government says it is “in solution mode” so that Quebec community organizations deprived of funds from the Aging Well at Home program can obtain them. La Presse reported Tuesday that Quebec seniors who need help at home are stuck against their will in a conflict between Quebec and Ottawa.
The matter arose during question period on Tuesday where Bloc Québécois MP Andréanne Larouche accused the government of “abandoning seniors” and “taking them hostage”.
“With the Aging Well at Home program, it creates two classes of seniors: seniors from Quebec and those from Canada. Those in Quebec will not receive aid from Ottawa,” she stressed before pressing the Trudeau government to transfer the amounts to the Legault government.
This is not the first time that the MP has accused the Trudeau government of giving an advantage to certain seniors to the detriment of others. This was also the case for the increase in the Old Age Security pension. Since July 2022, the 10% increase only applies to those aged 75 and over. She tabled a Bloc Québécois bill so that seniors would be entitled to it from the age of 65. Bill C-319 received the support of all elected officials during its study in parliamentary committee, but it will need to obtain a royal recommendation since it involves government expenses.
It was the Minister of Tourism, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, and not the Minister of Labor and Seniors, Seamus O’Regan who stood up to respond.
The federal government has allocated $90 million to the Aging Well at Home program to finance various projects to help seniors be able to live in their homes as long as possible. In Quebec, organizations had asked for a few hundred thousand dollars, but they saw the money that the federal government had promised them disappear overnight.
Quebec and Ottawa are unable to agree on how the funds will be paid. These are therefore potentially millions of dollars from the federal program which are thus being lost to Quebec.
The Quebec government would have liked to distribute the envelopes through its already existing programs, namely Quebec Friendly to Seniors and the Support Program for Community Organizations. Under the Act respecting the Ministry of the Executive Council, also known as law M-30, the federal government cannot distribute checks directly to organizations.
The projects involved doing small jobs like installing a grab bar in their bathroom, an air conditioner or even changing light bulbs.
“There is no one who takes seniors hostage, then those who make their policies on the backs of seniors, it is unacceptable,” defended the political lieutenant of the Liberals in Quebec, Pablo Rodriguez. He still hopes to reach an agreement so that the funds can be channeled to the projects that have been approved.
