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Federal Government To Reverse GIS Clawback with One-Time Payment

Since before the election, New Democrats have been hearing from seniors who have been seriously hurt by the Liberal government's unacceptable decision to claw back the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) from seniors who received emergency pandemic supports such as CERB. The NDP brought the issue directly to the attention of the Ministers before the election, sadly they just ignored it. For months, we continued to call for the government to fix this injustice immediately by excluding pandemic benefit benefits in the calculation of GIS eligibility.

As MP I have raised this directly with the Minister, in the media including at a press conference in October with affected senior citizens and advocates, and repeatedly in Parliament.

In its November Fall Economic Update, the Liberals committed to a one-time emergency payment, but few details about the payment were released and seniors were told that they would have to wait up to six months, until at least May 2022, before this payment could be provided. That long delay has caused significant harm to Canada's most vulnerable seniors.

I am so glad to report that the NDP’s work to advance the voices of the most vulnerable low-income seniors have won the day. Through negotiations, the Liberal government has also finally agreed to speed up payments for seniors. Specifically, the timeline for the one-time payment will be moved up to April 19.

Here are the details regarding the One-Time Grant for GIS recipients who received pandemic benefits.

  • Eligible seniors will receive a payment equal to the annualized reduction of their GIS/Allowance payment.
  • Payments will be issued on April 19, 2022 and there is no need to apply. Service Canada will automatically identify the eligible recipients and make the payment via direct deposit to the vast majority of individuals or by cheque if they have not signed up for direct deposit.

This is a major victory for the most vulnerable senior citizens and I believe that this relief will literally save lives.

I want to take a moment to thank the many seniors and advocates, like the 411 Seniors’ Society and the Kettle, who have been in touch with my office to speak up about the shameful decision that the Liberal government made to cut the GIS support. It should never have happened.

New Democrat advocacy for low-income seniors will not stop here. One lesson that the government should have learned from the pandemic is that low-income seniors, those who rely on the GIS, cannot make ends meet. That is why they have to supplement their income with additional work in retirement. To that end, I will keep pushing for the NDP's proposal for a guaranteed livable basic income so that seniors will never have to suffer the indignity they had to endure during the pandemic.

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City TV: Concerns raised about rising cost of rentals for low-income earners: Vancouver MP

City TV: Concerns raised about rising cost of rentals for low-income earners: Vancouver MP

A Vancouver NDP MP is sounding the alarm when it comes to rent-geared-to-income housing units, saying incoming changes by the federal government will lead to a severe shortage within the affordable housing market in this country.

Vancouver East MP Jenny Kwan says she’s learned that as of March 31, 2028, Ottawa will be cutting subsidy funding to non-profits that operate buildings that include units for those on a fixed income. Once those suites are vacated, she says the price of those units will be bumped to market rates.

For example, a rental suite that’s going for $650 right now could be increased to $1,800 or more.

Kwan adds these changes are happening right now at some buildings in Metro Vancouver as non-profits try to bank money to prepare for their funding to be slashed in the future.

 

Open Letter: Loss of Thousands Rent Geared to Income Subsided Units

Open Letter: Loss of Thousands Rent Geared to Income Subsided Units

Recently non-profits have been advised an Amending Agreement for some of those projects would come into effect on June 29, 2024, whereby Rent-Geared-Income (RGI) units will need to revert to market rent as soon as turnover of the existing tenant occurs as the subsidies for those units will not be renewed beyond 2028. It further stipulates that this conversion will be permanent. What this means is that Canada will permanently lose thousands of RGI units for low-income residents. This is in addition to the loss of 370,000 affordable units under the Liberal government’s watch and another 800,000 units under the Conservative’s watch.

 

This poses a significant risk to thousands of Canadians, especially Indigenous communities which are already overrepresented in homelessness and housing need. The non-market housing sector plays a crucial role in communities across Canada, offering not just shelter but stability, security, and a sense of community for its residents. Canada is already faced with a housing crisis. It is widely recognized that for every affordable housing unit built, 11 will be lost. Without the continuation of these subsidies, homelessness will be further exacerbated.

 

Canadian Press: RCMP still probing alleged meddling in federal elections

Canadian Press: RCMP still probing alleged meddling in federal elections

The hearings are part of the inquiry's examination of possible meddling by China, India, Russia and others in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Deputy RCMP commissioner Mark Flynn provided few other details about the ongoing probes, but indicated to reporters that some of the leads emerged through individuals “speaking about their own experiences very publicly,” including in the House of Commons.

Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole, Conservative MP Michael Chong and New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan have all been identified publicly as possible targets of foreign interference by China.

In a classified February interview with the inquiry, Duheme said the RCMP did not open any foreign interference-related criminal investigations during the last two general elections.

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