Manitoba NDP MPs urge Liberals to help Canadian seniors

OTTAWA – Seniors across the country were shocked to learn that benefits they rely on such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) have been cut because they received pandemic supports like the CERB. NDP MPs Niki Ashton (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski), Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre), Daniel Blaikie (Elmwood—Transcona) are calling on the Liberal government to fix this devastating situation that has left many seniors worried they won't be able to afford their rent, food and medication.

Yesterday, the NDP sent a letter to Ministers Khera, Lebouthillier and Qualtrough asking for immediate action to address this crisis facing so many seniors.

“Seniors followed the government’s instructions, and now Trudeau’s Liberals have put them in an impossible situation,” said Ashton. “All across Northern Manitoba, I’ve been hearing that people are scared and hurting because this government cruelly took away their ability to afford food, medication or rent. We’re calling on the government to get back to work and fix a disaster of their own making.”

In August, NDP MPs sent a letter to the Liberal government asking them to find an urgent solution to fix the problem they have created for seniors. Instead of taking action to help low-income seniors and support Canadians through a pandemic, Justin Trudeau chose to call an early election for the government's own political gain.

“Unlike massive corporations who are still receiving funding from the Liberal government, seniors in Winnipeg and across the country have been left behind. This is a crisis,” said Gazan. “How are people going to afford to pay their rent and keep food on the table? New Democrats have fought for regular people throughout this pandemic, and we will continue to do so as long as there is a need.”

“Was it not enough for Liberals to drag their heels getting financial support to seniors in the early days of the pandemic? Now they’re trying to claw back some of the support that actually made it to seniors in need,” said Blaikie. “While the Liberals rush to give money to the richest corporations without any strings attached, they are nickel and diming seniors. It’s just not good enough.”

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