SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — National Seniors Day

Honourable senators, I rise today to recognize that today is National Seniors Day. Each year on October 1, Canadians pay tribute to the seniors who have shaped our country and who continue to enrich our lives every day. Many of us in this esteemed chamber are seniors ourselves, and it is with great humility that I honour each of you.

I feel truly blessed to still have my mother with me. In her ninety-fourth year, she continues to share the invaluable pearls of wisdom that only come with age. As I’ve mentioned in this chamber before, my mother was a war child who, before the age of 13, endured typhoid, malaria and yellow fever and has survived two plane crashes. When COVID-19 emerged a few years ago and I expressed my concern for her health, her reply was simple and unyielding: “After everything I’ve faced, COVID is undermatched.”

Seniors represent a significant and growing segment of Canada’s population. They are workers, mentors, teachers, parents, grandparents and cherished loved ones. Their contributions have been essential in building our families, communities and workplaces, making Canada a wonderful place to call home. After a lifetime of hard work and dedication to our economy, seniors deserve a stable and secure retirement, with equitable access to health care and caregiving.

I am proud to witness this government’s initiatives aimed at making life more affordable for seniors, including the implementation of the Canadian Dental Care Plan and enhancements to Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Additionally, I commend the government’s commitment to developing a national caregiving strategy and advancing legislation to establish new national long-term care standards. It is crucial that we continue to support financial aid and resources for our seniors’ well-being, especially during these challenging economic times.

I also want to express my deepest gratitude to those who support seniors on a daily basis, particularly the health care workers who tirelessly care for this vulnerable population. I think of the dedicated staff at my mother’s residence — the nurses, personal support workers and doctors — who uphold the dignity of residents and attend to their unique needs and strengths. I commend every health care professional who works with seniors; I recognize the challenges they face and I am grateful for their commitment.

In closing, Canada’s seniors have been there for us throughout our lives, and now it is our turn to be there for them. I encourage everyone to take a moment today to reach out to a senior in their life to wish them a Happy National Seniors Day and to thank them for the countless contributions they have made to our society and our country.

Grazie, thank you, meegwetch.