To influence, we need to understand.
To understand, we need to question.
Then we need to vote!
In 2019, senior citizens will have the opportunity to influence our national government’s leadership. National policies, and especially the funding supporting them, are the frameworks for programming and services at the provincial/territorial and municipal levels (see our Federal Election Briefs below).
To vote in federal elections, individuals must be citizens of Canada. However, even non-citizens can participate and make important contributions. We can all:
- Inform candidates of policies and programmes that are in the interest of seniors (and often of other groups, such as children and vulnerable adults).
- Tell family, friends, and colleagues about our concerns and issues and then discuss options and solutions with them.
- Encourage others to question, to become informed, and, where qualified, to vote.
- Attend meetings and ask questions.
Provinces and territories are responsible for delivering and programming health services. However, national policy frameworks provide a foundation and guidance for them to take needed action.
Care Watch has identified two new national policy frameworks – a national seniors’ strategy and a national pharmacare strategy – that will significantly contribute to the range and quality of home care and community support services in our communities. Even more importantly, they will significantly contribute to the quality of our lives as we age.
Care Watch Ontario advocates for a comprehensive and equitable system of home care and community support services to help older adults age safely in their own homes and communities and avoid unnecessary institutionalization. Policies and funding for health care, affordable housing, and a range of other services directly and indirectly affect home care and community support services.
Care Watch Ontario is offering some information and resources regarding these priority policies. The actual delivery and programming of health services is a provincial/territorial government responsibility. However, national policy frameworks, such as those being advocated, provide a foundation and guidance for other government levels to take needed action. The Canada Health Act is a prime example of such a national policy framework. Therefore, we have also included a discussion of the Canada Health Act’s principles in the context of home care and community support services.
Equally important, we have suggested some questions you can use when you speak with candidates. Their answers can help you decide how to vote.
Priority National Policies:
- Applying Canada Health Act principles to home care and community support services
- National Seniors’ Strategy
- National Pharmacare
Federal Election Briefs
summary of federal party platforms 2019
The pre-election revelations, accusations, and recriminations have come and gone – and good riddance to them. The federal Liberals will be the governing party, but as a minority. Canadians have told their parliamentarians to work together, so the Liberals will need to develop consensus with others, for example, the NDP.
Health services are, in general, provincial and territorial responsibilities, but are guided and supported by national frameworks and policies. Along with improved home care and community services, we called for two new national policy frameworks – a seniors strategy and a pharmacare strategy. Both are springboards for work with the provinces and territories.
We prepared a brief summary of the four national parties’ platforms on the three issues we identifed early in the election as critical for seniors: 1) home and community care and other services for seniors; 2) a seniors strategy; and 3) pharmacare. Platforms and promises, however, are only the bare beginnings, so we add some comments and questions about the next steps.
Care Watch calls for all parliamentarians to work together, and with provincial and territorial governments and with stakeholders, to develop, adopt and act on a national strategies that wll collectively benefit older Canadians.
Brief: Summary of Federal Political Party Positions on Seniors Issues,October 27, 2019
What can you do? The 2019 federal election wasn’t an endpoint, but one step in a process. Now the real work begins.
- Stay informed about policies affecting seniors. Check our website for more information and analysis. We will pass along what we learn.
- Hold local representatives, leaders, and officials accountable. Don’t be satisfied with vague promises and funding announcements with no specifics. These people are accountable to you.
Applying Canada Health Act principles to home care and community support services
The application of the Canada Health Act (CHA) principles to home care and community support services is a prime example of the value of national frameworks.
To spark discussion, we examine the CHA’s five legislated principles (public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility), how they could apply in the context of a home care and community support services system, and the values they reflect. We also note the additional principles of equity and solidarity, which are implicit in the legislation. Included are some examples from Ontario.
Brief: Applying Canada Health Act Principles to Home Care and Community Support Services, 16 August 2019
What can you do? Make sure that candidates and parties understand where home care and community support services fit in and are committed to action.
Pharmacare for All – A National Framework
Canada is the only country in the world that has universal medical care without universal prescription drug coverage. Yet, prescription medications are critical to our health and our lives.
Care Watch Ontario advocates for access to medically necessary medications without financial barriers. A national pharmacare strategy would bring us one step closer to that vision.
Care Watch believes that establishing a national pharmacare scheme (for securing, managing, purchasing, and distributing necessary prescription drugs) is a policy issue with significant implications for the lives and well-being of seniors, and that it needs to be addressed during the October 2019 federal election.
Care Watch calls for Canada to work with provincial and territorial governments and with stakeholders to develop a pharmacare strategy and establish a universal, single-payer public pharmacare programme.
Brief: Pharmacare for All – A National Framework, September 5, 2019
What can you do? Make sure that candidates and parties understand where home care and community support services fit in and are committed to action.
call for a national seniors strategy
In 2014, there were more than 6 million seniors 65+ in Canada, representing 15.6% of the Canadian population at that time. It is predicted that the number will grow over the next decades so that by 2030 there will be more than 9.5 million seniors, comprising about 23% of the Canadian population.
A quick scan of our society’s systems does not reflect this growth. Canada’s health, housing, labour, and social services systems were not designed to support the numbers and percentages of seniors who currently live in Canada and the numbers projected to live here. Continued failure to address seniors’ issues comprehensively threatens our public health and social systems and wastes public resources. We’ve been discussing such a strategy for a long time; it’s time to act.
Care Watch calls for Canada to work with provincial and territorial governments and with stakeholders to develop, adopt and act on a national seniors strategy.
Brief: Call for a National Seniors Strategy, September 27, 2019
What can you do? Make sure that candidates and parties understand the need for, and value of, a comprehensive national seniors strategy and are committed to act.
Care Watch 