Recognizing the Contributions of our Seniors


Moore from Ottawa
By Fundy Royal M.P. Rob Moore
April 17, 2007


Greetings from Ottawa,

I have met and talked with many seniors in my riding and listened to their concerns. They are concerned about the protection of their retirement savings and nest eggs. They are concerned about our healthcare system, communities and safety. Our seniors deserve real and practical results and the Conservative Government is listening and acting on their behalf.

Canadian seniors deserve to have access to the money they have worked so hard for and Budget 2007 is putting $1 billion into their hands. Budget 2007 officially enacts our Tax Fairness Plan and brings forward an historic step for seniors.

For the first time in Canadian history, pension income splitting will be permitted. This is a policy that is long overdue and one that allow pensioners to keep more of their hard earned money.

As well, the age credit was increased by $1000 to $5,066 for seniors. These measures build upon Budget 2006 which doubled the $1,000 maximum amount of eligible pension that can be claimed under the pension income credit.

Seniors will also be given an additional 2 years to build their retirement nest egg tax free because we’ve increased the age limit from 69 to 71 for Canadians to withdraw their RRSP’s. We are also encouraging older workers to keep working by permitting phased retirement. This provide an incentive to employers to hire seniors by paying only a partial pension and allow seniors to further their pension benefits while working at the same time.

The New Horizons for Seniors Program has been expanded by $10 million per year – from $25 million to $35 million to help protect seniors from elder abuse and telemarketing fraud. The money will also build infrastructure and help seniors remain active in their communities.

Other measures include allowing seniors more flexibility to invest their RRSP’s, delivering a Mental Health Commission to help understand the effects of aging, creating an Enabling Accessibility Fund with $45 million to help persons with disabilities and investing more money for seniors to get faster access to healthcare.

It was the seniors of Canada that built this country and it was the seniors of New Brunswick that made our province the place we all call home and the place we are so proud to be from. The Conservative Government has listened to seniors and is delivering real and tangible results.

I welcome your feedback and questions on this important issue at moorer@parl.gc.ca