B.C. seniors 'falling further behind' financially with lowest incomes in province: report
Seniors in British Columbia are facing an uphill battle when it comes to their finances, according to a new report released by the province's seniors advocate.
The B.C. Seniors: Falling Further Behind report, released Thursday, highlights the financial challenges facing seniors, including the rising costs of living when seniors depend on government pensions.
INCOME LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE FOR HALF
The report found that the minimum wage in B.C. has increased by 40 per cent over the past five years, while pension incomes have only risen by 14 per cent during that same period.
It also ranks B.C. the lowest in its financial support programs for seniors, in comparison to other provinces and territories.
"Seniors I speak with tell me their pension incomes are not keeping up with rising costs and they are paying too much for rent, groceries, dental care, homecare, house repairs and other essentials," said BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie in a news release.
"Currently 45 per cent of seniors in British Columbia are living on less than minimum wage and 25 per cent of seniors are living on less than $21,000 a year. These are the lowest incomes we find by a wide margin and it speaks to the significance of the financial hardship seniors are experiencing."
The report also suggests that the majority of seniors do not have a private benefits plan, forcing them to pay out-of-pocket for dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, walkers, wheelchairs and other necessary medical equipment.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS GAPS
The report made a list of recommendations outlining how the province can address financial insecurity among seniors.
It suggests revising the shelter aid for elderly renters program to reflect the current reality of B.C.'s rental market and to increase the number of subsidized housing units for seniors, particularly in rural communities where the overall supply of rental accommodation is most challenging for them.
The province's seniors' advocate also recommends eliminating the daily rate for publicly funded home support services and providing an extended health benefit for seniors requiring medical equipment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Leonardo DiCaprio criticizes Ottawa over B.C. salmon farms
Salmon farms have long been a point of contention between environmentalists and fish farmers in British Columbia, but a much bigger net is now being cast on the topic.
Flight from Israel to New Jersey diverted to New York state due to high winds, turbulence
High winds and turbulence have forced a United Airlines flight from Israel to be diverted from its destination of Newark Airport in New Jersey to Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, N.Y..
Vancouver rapper falls on ice during Canucks game performance
The Vancouver Canucks weren’t the only ones who stumbled during Thursday night’s game against the Dallas Stars.
Snow-covered bodies of 2 men from Senegal found in New York woods near Canadian border
Two men from Senegal froze to death were found in the snow of a wooded area close to the Canadian border, New York state police said.
This historical tavern in Toronto is closing after nearly 200 years
An historic downtown Toronto bar is closing its doors next week after nearly 200 years in business.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
Manhattan DA suggests Donald Trump violated gag order with post about daughter of hush-money trial judge
Manhattan prosecutors suggested Friday that Donald Trump violated a gag order in his hush-money criminal case this week by assailing the judge's daughter and making a false claim about her on social media.
Niagara Region 'proactively' declares state of emergency ahead of total solar eclipse
Niagara Region says it has declared a state of emergency 'out of an abundance of caution' as it prepares for an influx of visitors for next month’s total solar eclipse.