National

Feds face calls to fix GIS snafu in fiscal update

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Dec, 2021 12:50 PM

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals are under increasing pressure to fix an issue in the pandemic safety net that has rolled back or cut off benefits to low-income seniors.

About 83,000 seniors lost a key income support this year because they received emergency aid last year, money that bumped their earnings above the threshold to qualify for the guaranteed income supplement.

Thousands more have seen a cut in GIS payments for similar reasons.

The Canadian Labour Congress is calling on the government to use next week's economic update to end the clawback.

Seniors Minister Kamal Khera tells the Commons that the government is trying to find the best solution to help those affected.

I am proud of our government’s track record of supporting seniors.

✅We restored the age of OAS eligibility to 65

✅Enhanced the CPP

✅Strengthened GIS and OAS

And we have an ambitious agenda to do even more for Canada's seniors. pic.twitter.com/nQKNI0Cp3y
— Kamal Khera (@KamalKheraLib) December 9, 2021

Opposition MPs are also peppering the government with questions in the House of Commons over the issue, demanding the Liberals detail how and when they'll address it.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. giving $1 million to wildfire-ravaged Lytton

The British Columbia government says it is immediately providing a grant of $1 million to support the Village of Lytton as it recovers from a destructive wildfire last summer. The fast-moving fire razed much of the Fraser Canyon community on June 30, just one day after the temperature there hit an all-time Canadian high of 49.6 Celsius.

B.C. giving $1 million to wildfire-ravaged Lytton

379 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

There are 2,874 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 215,884 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 224 individuals are currently in hospital and 77 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

379 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

Advocate says seniors abuse falls through 'cracks'

British Columbia's seniors advocate is calling for a provincewide approach for reporting seniors abuse amid complaints that are "significantly rising." Isobel Mackenzie says there is a clear five-year pattern of increasing reports of seniors abuse and neglect, but the fragmented reporting system suggests the problem could be more widespread.

Advocate says seniors abuse falls through 'cracks'

Canadian officials to boycott Olympics: Trudeau

Canada will join a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. The decision comes two days after the United States announced it would send government officials to the Olympics over concerns about China's human rights record.

Canadian officials to boycott Olympics: Trudeau

Afghan refugee exodus may take two years: minister

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says the government predicts it could take two years to fulfil its promise of bringing 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada. The minister said the government is facing challenges in Afghanistan and other countries where refugees have fled but is trying to get them to Canada urgently.

Afghan refugee exodus may take two years: minister

One cracked Cyclone helicopter repaired: military

The Royal Canadian Air Force issued a statement saying Sikorsky Aircraft, the U.S.-based manufacturer of the aircraft, has devised a fix that involves the installation of reinforcements to provide additional strength to the helicopter's airframe.