SASKATOON – The Saskatoon Council on Aging held a candidate forum Friday afternoon to discuss senior related election issues. Board co-chair Jane McPhee says holding a forum and discussion is a way to improve civic engagement for seniors and develop an age friendly city.
“That includes things like transportation, income security, it’s a multitude of things that are included and older adults will be here today to pose some of those questions,” said McPhee.
McPhee says she’s been working closely with government trying to improve key issues like accessibility, transportation and safe housing alternatives.
“I do think that the issues around housing and there being appropriate range of housing in order so people can age in place. That’s a really important issue to older adults, that they can stay in their homes,” said McPhee.
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Candidates from the NDP and Saskatchewan Party were asked about how each of the party’s will prioritize seniors’ issues in the upcoming provincial election.
For Saskatoon Centre NDP candidate David Forbes, decreasing the cost of living is a huge factor in improving quality of life.
“We’ve talked about a low cost utility bundle. We think that’s a big issue for people who want to stay in their own homes, but can’t afford the utilities. So for Saskatchewan people that’s a big, big issue,” said Forbes.
Humboldt-Watrous Saskatchewan Party candidate Donna Harpauer says her party has worked hard to improve senior services, starting with the increase in seniors’ income supplement by almost three-hundred percent.
“We’ve introduced the senior’s drug plan so it controls the cost of drugs. We’ve had significant tax cuts which benefit seniors within our province. As well as we have built fourteen long term care homes and increased staff within those care homes by almost eight-hundred staff,” said Harpauer.
Whether either candidate made an impression on this group will be reflected in their votes April 4th.
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