REGINA - In light of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s announcement last night, Official Opposition Leader Carla Beck and Seniors Critic Matt Love called on Scott Moe’s Sask. Party government to commit to targeted relief for cash-strapped seniors struggling with the rising cost of living.
“The people who built our province should be able to age close to home in dignity and comfort,” said Beck. “The provincial coffers are filling with cash because of high oil and potash prices and Scott Moe’s Sask Party government is making life less affordable for seniors. The Sask. Party is actually taking money right out of seniors’ pockets.”
The Official Opposition was joined at the Legislature by seniors on fixed incomes struggling to make ends meet on the Personal Care Home Benefit as well as by their families and concerned caregivers. The benefit has not increased in a decade and has fallen well behind the rising cost of living. The Sask. Party government is also clawing back the benefit dollar for dollar as federal benefits, designed to help seniors with the rising cost of living, have increased.
“The cost of operating personal care homes is going up with the price of everything and without targeted relief like what’s happening in Alberta, the Sask. Party government is forcing care home operators to pass the costs onto our seniors,” said Love. “Seniors, their families, care home operators, everyone is in a huge bind and by clawing back the seniors’ benefit - which is small enough as it is - the Sask. Party is making a bad situation even worse.”
The Official Opposition called on Scott Moe’s Sask. Party government to end the clawbacks and raise the Personal Care Home Benefit to address the financial pressures facing seniors in 2022.
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