Tories put seniors on hold, delay NDP legislation to create independent advocate

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This article was published 19/03/2024 (568 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An independent seniors advocate proposed by the NDP government will have a broad mandate to investigate systemic issues and handle individual concerns brought to its office by older adults and their families.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara was joined by representatives from Canadian Association of Retired Persons-Manitoba and other seniors’ advocacy groups on Tuesday to confirm the government’s intention to create an advocate’s office through new legislation.

“It’s really important for the office of the seniors advocate to address the issues that are top priority for seniors,” Asagwara said at the legislature.

“The mandate of the seniors advocate is going to allow for that office to investigate different themes — be it health care, be it housing issues — concerns that we know are top priority for Manitobans.”

The NDP pledged to create the advocate’s office during the fall general election, after a coalition of seniors groups, outraged by the deaths of personal-care home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenged political parties to step up to protect older adults with an independent watchdog.

Asagwara’s attempt to make good on the campaign promise, however, was temporarily thwarted Tuesday by the Opposition Progressive Conservatives, who continued to block the introduction of government bills for the second consecutive day.

Still, Asagwara, Premier Wab Kinew and proponents of the bill gathered in front of reporters at the legislature to praise the forthcoming legislation ahead of its presentation in the chamber.

Asagwara said the seniors advocate would report to the legislative assembly regularly and transparently and would be mandated to evaluate systemic themes and concerns across the province. The advocate would also provide recommendations to the assembly based on their findings.

Seniors and their families will also be able to take their individual complaints to the advocate’s office for assistance or referral to a more appropriate entity.

Asagwara said the government does not want to limit the advocate’s mandate or scope of inquiry, recognizing seniors’ issues are far-reaching. However, the details of its authority will be revealed when the bill is made public.

Seniors groups have called for the mandate to include individual advocacy, system navigation, policy advocacy, research, community outreach, public education and annual monitoring and reporting on services provided to older adults. Its focus should include personal-care homes, health care, aging in place, home care, transportation, culturally appropriate services, housing and income support, seniors groups argue.

Manitoba Association of Senior Communities executive director Connie Newman urged political parties to work together to see the bill passed into law without further delay.

Government bills introduced after Tuesday are not guaranteed to pass before the legislative session ends, typically in the late fall. The Tories previously rejected calls for an independent seniors advocate when the party was in power.

Seniors need to see systemic change and they need it quickly, Newman said.

“There are many of us that are vulnerable. Just as we have vulnerable children, we also have vulnerable older adults. There must be a place in government where someone will listen, hear, investigate concerns and issues and find ways to support those who are harmed, elder abuse, support for caregivers, and the list goes on,” Newman said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca