91原创 Seniors in Action hosted a pair of candidates in the first of a trio of forums for 91原创-area ridings on Friday, with the questions focused on issues of interest for older voters.
The forum for 91原创-Willowbrook candidates at the 91原创 Senior Resources Society centre saw B.C. Green candidate Petrina Arnason and NDP candidate Andrew Mercier attend. Conservative candidates locally have announced they are not attending debates or all-candidates meetings.
One of the first questions was about standards for long-term care facilities in B.C.
Mercier said that the pandemic showed how important staff were for long-term care, and noted the NDP's moves to raise wages for workers to create stability.
"As we build out long term care into the future, we need to ensure it is dignified long term care," Mercier said.
Arnason said working with the federal government to set nation-wide standards for long term care would be her number one priority if she's elected on Oct. 19.
She told the audience of a 96-year-old she knows who recently broke a hip. He's in a nice facility, but is now far from his family and may be there for two years.
"I think that's wrong, and it has to change," Arnason said.
On seniors housing, there was question about the Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) program, and how the funding is often far below market rents, which have skyrocketed over the past few years.
Both candidates said they are committed to expanding SAFER, which Arnason said she wanted to see the threshold raised so more seniors would qualify for the benefit.
She said vacancy controls should also be applied to assisted living facilities.
Mercier said the NDP was committed to expanding SAFER both in terms of the amount distributed and the eligibility, as well as noting past and promised increases to the Seniors Supplement.
A question about how to provide stable funding for seniors centres 鈥� like the one where the debate was taking place 鈥� saw both candidates supportive of more regular funds.
Arnason said that one of the best ways to ensure stable funding is to partner with health regions like the Fraser Health Authority as a conduit for programming. She also noted the need seniors centres, including 91原创's, have to grow in the future.
"There are a lot of seniors centres across British Columbia, and this is the best one," Mercier quipped, pointing to a recent $100,000 grant from the province for the centre.
Another local program candidates were asked about was 91原创 Meals on Wheels, with another question about how to keep such programs viable in the future.
Arnason said she was delighted that the society has taken over the former firehall on 272 Street in Aldergrove for use as a food hub.
Mercier said that his NDP colleague Megan Dykeman 鈥� currently running in 91原创-Walnut Grove 鈥� was Parliamentary Secretary for Non-Profits, and has looked into how they can be administered better, including making contract models they work on less onerous for their organizers.
Other topics touched on included hospice care and the need for more long-term care beds in 91原创 for the growing seniors population.
