Budget 2008: Budget programs target seniors
Government removes disincentives to work
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
By Gord McIntosh
Ottawa’s 2008-09 budget included three measures designed for older workers.
Among them, the budget removes disincentives to work for seniors by raising the current guaranteed income supplement earned income exemption to $3,500 from the current maximum of $500.
This year’s budget will also top up an existing program to help older Canadians stay in the work force.
In October 2006, Ottawa invested $70 million over two years in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a federal-provincial program providing a range of employment activities for workers aged 55 to 64. Now the initiative is getting another $90 million over three years to extend the program until March 2012.
Last month, Ottawa created an expert panel to study labour market conditions affecting older workers and report back on ways to help them adjust. The government will be responding to this report in 2008.
The federal budget also included another $13 million over three years to protect seniors against abuse. The money will be used to help seniors and others recognize the signs of elder abuse and provide information on what can be done about it.
Last year’s federal budget committed $25 million to $35 million a year to address, among other things, safety and security of seniors and work with seniors’ organizations to promote awareness and reduce elder abuse.
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