
For Immediate Release
January 29, 2025
As seniors in Newfoundland and Labrador continue to struggle, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) is calling out government on their lack of a plan to address seniors facing poverty.
In November 2023, government announced a poverty reduction plan with four main pillars aimed to improve well-being. At the time of the announcement, however, government announced there would be a targeted plan for seniors to be released in the coming months. Instead of a detailed plan, government announce inadequate grants, which still do not address housing, access to healthcare, or the cost of living.
“Every day, I hear from seniors who are worried. They are struggling with rising costs of groceries, finding affordable housing, and accessing healthcare. I have constituents that for the first time in their lives are facing the possibility of homelessness," said Dinn. "It is unacceptable that the government has yet to deliver a comprehensive plan to address poverty among seniors in our province.”
Dinn says government continues to kick the can down the road, allowing the problems to grow. Year after year, the Seniors’ Advocate calls for this targeted plan for seniors facing poverty. Dinn wonders how long government will continue to fail seniors at risk of poverty.
“Just 14% of seniors in the province meet the required fruit and vegetable recommendations. Seniors who are renters are facing exorbitant rent increases and face evictions with no where to go, forcing them to turn to shelters. We must do better,” said Dinn. "We need to see action. We need to see a plan that goes further than just an annual pay out of $400 aimed to cover grocery costs and snow shoveling in the winter.
“This is why the NDP has called for rent controls that would help seniors who continue to face significant rent increases. We also have called for the removal of HST off of all forms of home heating to help seniors afford to heat their homes this winter, however the Liberals and Conservative’s didn’t agree.
“Our seniors have contributed so much to our society, and it is our responsibility to ensure they can live with dignity and security.”
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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