May 2025

The agitation is over – at least for now. On April 28, Canada elected a minority Liberal government, so the Liberals will have to work with other parties to get things done.

Now that the dust is settling, the real work begins. Understandably, this campaign emphasized manufacturing, infrastructure, and the economy, but concerns about care don’t just vanish. Our systems don’t yet give older adults and those who care for them what they need.

A 2025 Ipsos poll of 1,000 Canadians 18 years and older tells us that nearly half (46%) believe that older Canadians don’t have equitable access to health care, housing, and social services. Most (95% overall and 98% of those over 55) want policies to support ageing in place, and 64% (72% of those over 55) want coordinated federal action. They want a national strategy to focus on integrating health and social services (62%) and affordable housing (62%) and also note the importance of home and community support (45%) and caregiving (49%).

The numbers tell us the new government has a lot to do.

Although the new government has no ministry devoted to older adults, there is a new Secretary of State (Seniors) position. Also, a 2023 federal Liberal party policy resolution states that: 1) ageing isn’t a disease; 2) institutionalizing older adults won’t resolve pressures; 3) many older adults live in long-term care homes because they lack support in their homes; 4) keeping older adults at home will give them longer and healthier lives and will lower health care costs; and 5) Canadians should have equal access to supports to age in place wherever they live.

Health services belong to the provinces and territories, but leadership often comes from the federal government. Think about universal health insurance, childcare programs, dental care, and pharmacare – all federal initiatives spurring provincial and territorial agreement and participation.

Now is the time for the new federal government to:

Dedicate adequate earmarked funding to home and community care. Government can use the federal health care transfer payment system to bring Canada into line with the average ratio of home care spending to GDP of the top five Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

Establish and enforce mandatory national standards. The federal government has announced $2.4 billion for home care, but with no conditions or standards. The long-term care standards in process don’t apply to home care. Even more disturbing, those standards are voluntary. Funding needs to depend on meeting standards.

Recognize caregivers. Despite a refundable Health Care Workers Hero Tax Credit and more training programs, we still won’t have enough home and community care workers if they can’t earn as much as those in hospitals and long-term care homes. Federal pressure can help close this gap. Unpaid caregivers (one in every four Canadians) provide $97.1 billion worth of care each year – 5.7 billion hours, or the equivalent of 2.8 million full-time workers. Without their personal and financial sacrifices, the system would collapse. A national caregiving strategy will take time. An improved Canada Caregiver Credit – refundable and with fewer restrictions and wider availability – can bring immediate relief.

Develop a national strategy for older adults. Individual actions are more powerful when they are part of a broader strategy. Canada needs to replace piecemeal initiatives with a long-term plan.

What can you do?

Ask your member of Parliament what they and the government are doing about the concerns of older adults.

• How is the Secretary of State (Seniors) listening to older adults and then acting?
• What is the plan for national home care standards?
• How will government recognize all caregivers and be sure they are paid fairly?
• Is a national plan for older adults in the works? How and when will it happen?