Instead of retiring in dignity, a quarter-million of the seniors who built this country are struggling in poverty—and more and more middle-income retired couples have trouble making ends meet. Knowing that seniors will soon form a quarter of our population, it’s time for change to ensure real retirement security.

This election, Paul Dewar and the NDP will present a plan that honours the contributions that seniors make to this country. And the NDP has been leading the way in Parliament:

• Led a national campaign for fair repayment of $1-billion withheld from CPP/OAS pension cheques between 2001 and 2006 after an accounting error.
• Secured all-party support for the NDP Seniors Charter enshrining every Canadian senior’s right to secure income, adequate housing and quality health care.
• Over Harper’s objections, secured Parliament’s majority approval for the NDP Veterans First Motion calling for an end to unfair rules preventing veterans and their widows from receiving hard-earned pensions and home-care benefits.
• To offer seniors dignity and comfort in retirement, promoted strategies to create more long-term care spaces and expand home-care coverage—and tabled motions to expand CPP/EI coverage to support those caring for family members at home.
• Tabled bills and motions to launch an annual review of income security for seniors, and to protect pensions by ending employer underfunding and securing pensions if employers go bankrupt.