Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first is from the community of London and former workers of Electro-Motive Diesel.
Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canadians know there were dirty tricks on the last campaign and they want an inquiry. What are the Conservatives hiding?
Elections Canada is now asking for the age of those who received the fraudulent calls and evidence suggests that an overwhelming number of those targeted were seniors. We are talking about seniors who are vulnerable to being misled and who were first identified as not supporting the Conservatives.
New Democrats are dedicated to developing a concrete plan to ensure that no senior is left behind as our country's demographics shift.
NDP MP Irene Mathyssen
Seniors are a priority for New Democrats and we recognize that our country desperately needs a national plan to deal with Canada's aging population. We are dedicated to developing a concrete plan to ensure that no senior is left behind as our country's demographics shift.
Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP): Mr. Speaker, a shocking 46.5% of elderly Canadian women live alone in poverty. This is double the poverty rate for elderly men in Canada. Seniors' poverty particularly touches aboriginal and immigrant women.
Will the government implement a real strategy to fight poverty and make reforms to our pension system to lift all senior women out of poverty?
Ms. Irene Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from a number of Canadians who recognize that in June the House unanimously passed a motion presented by me that the government take action to raise all seniors out of poverty by increasing the guaranteed income supplement. Of course, we know that has not happened. The government's efforts in this area have been less than acceptable.
