Coordinated provincial and national seniors strategies would ensure all Canadians can age with dignity, independence and better health outcomes—no matter where they live. We advocate for a comprehensive and equitable approach to aging, rooted in prevention, access and inclusion.
Quick facts
- By 2030, 1 in 4 Canadians will be over the age of 65.
- While the official poverty rate for Canadians 65 and older is 6%, the actual number of Canadians in that demographic who are living in “poverty-level conditions” could be as high as 14% according to a 2025 survey by the National Institute on Ageing and Environics.
- Most older adults want to age at home, yet home and community care remain underfunded.
- Canada spends significantly less on home and community care than the OECD average.
- COVID-19 was a test in geriatric health care. In 2020, the International Longevity Centre Canada reported that 82% of all COVID-19 deaths in Canada occurred in long-term care homes. This percentage was the worst among 14 developed countries. The death rates were especially high in privately owned institutions.
- Upwards of 30% of seniors are in danger of becoming socially isolated.
- Canada does not have a coordinated national policy to address aging-related needs across housing, health care, transportation and social inclusion.
Our asks
Develop and implement a comprehensive seniors strategy.
- Canada’s aging population requires a coordinated, cross-jurisdictional approach to ensure equitable access to health care, housing, income security and social inclusion.
- A comprehensive strategy with measurable, accountable goals will reduce fragmentation, improve outcomes and ensure older adults can age with dignity and support.
Create an independent seniors advocate and supporting office at the federal and provincial levels
- The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long-standing gaps in how governments support seniors, highlighting a need for coordinated federal leadership.
- A Seniors Advocate would provide independent, proactive oversight to address the complex and growing challenges facing Canada’s aging population.
- Working in tandem with four provincial advocates in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Advocate would enhance transparency, strengthen cross-jurisdictional coordination, and ensure all older Canadians can age with dignity, security, and respect—no matter where they live.
- The role can also support Canada’s global leadership in advancing the rights of older persons, including the development and eventual adoption of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.
Modernize the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to ensure that individuals who choose to delay accessing their benefits remain eligible for a death benefit.
- The current structure unintentionally discourages Canadians from deferring CPP, due to fears that they may pass away before collecting their CPP benefit.
- Providing a death benefit would remove a key disincentive, promote greater flexibility in retirement planning and ensure seniors are not penalized for making financially responsible choices
Support the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
- Canada has an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership by championing the rights of older adults and advancing international standards that promote dignity, inclusion, and protection from discrimination.
- To reinforce this commitment, Canada should actively support the development of the Convention and ensure it is among the early signatories once it is adopted.
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