Marston Speaks out for Seniors receiving OAS and GIS

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, I visited 19 communities this summer and seniors from B.C. to Nova Scotia told me of receiving meagre increases to their government pensions of 30¢ to 40¢ per month.

Seniors receiving OAS and GIS are losing money because the CPI does not reflect provincial differences in the cost of living. Programs indexed to the national average of CPI are not adequate and seniors across Canada are suffering.

Will the minister commit today to correct this situation immediately so that seniors will no longer be penalized by their government's inaction?

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, that answer just will not cut it with seniors.

After a lifetime of work, all Canadians deserve security and dignity in their retirement years but the government is failing seniors.

As I have said, I have toured communities across this country. Far too many of the most vulnerable in our society are living in poverty. In far too many communities, the cost of living is rising faster than their GIS and OAS.

Will the government, at the very least, accept the call of the CLC and Canadian premiers and call an emergency summit on pensions?