Hopes high as province names first seniors advocate

The provincial government has chosen its first seniors advocate.

Leigh Anne Caron, who is currently co-executive director of the Sexuality Education Resource Centre Manitoba, is expected to take on the new position on Nov. 12.

Caron’s appointment was listed in Monday’s order paper for the Manitoba Legislative Assembly.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, who is also responsible for seniors and long-term care in the province, said they hope the legislative assembly ratifies the appointment this week.

“The (Progressive Conservatives) blocked the introduction of the independent office of the seniors advocate (last year) and they now have an opportunity to right that wrong and support the ratification for this appointment so the office can be successfully established and get to work,” Asagwara said, noting the government was eventually able to pass that legislation.

Asagwara couldn’t say why Caron was chosen for the position, noting it was an independent process.

“We look forward to the office being established and for the recommendations that will come from this seniors advocate office doing the work of hearing the concerns of Manitobans, being a strong voice Manitobans can count on bringing concerns forward, and acting as an entity which will complement existing services by identifying gaps and pushing for improvements by way of recommendations to government,” Asagwara said.

Caron was unavailable for an interview on Monday.

Despite a request early in the afternoon, no one from the Tories was made available for comment.

Eddie Calisto-Tavares, who became an advocate for seniors after her father died in the Maples care home during the pandemic, said while she knows little about Caron’s advocacy work, she is giving her the benefit of the doubt.

“It’s a beginning because there are so many cases of negligence and abuse that needs serious advocacy,” said Calisto-Tavares.

Tom Simms, who is part of a coalition of Manitoba seniors groups, said he is still not pleased the NDP did not consult with organizations that lobby on behalf of seniors before the seniors advocate was chosen.

Simms said the coalition, made up of the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, Manitoba Federation of Union Retirees, and Manitoba Seniors Equity Action Coalition, hopes the advocate creates a seniors advisory council for input.

“We are hoping it is an authentic advisory council and not a token advisory council,” he said. “It’s up to the seniors advocate to put that structure in place.”

As for Caron, Simms said while he doesn’t know her, “I’ve always found SERC has always been a very progressive and inclusive organization, so these are good values to see.

“I hope the individual will not be afraid to speak truth to power.”

Marnie Strath, chairwoman of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons Manitoba, said the organization was thrilled with the move.

“We just hope she will be open to meeting with us because, at our last meeting of the coalition, we said we want to be part of an advisory committee.”

Caron’s LinkedIn profile shows she joined the Sexuality Education Resource Centre as its acting executive director in June 2019 and became permanent director in Sept. 2022. She became co-executive director in April 2023.

Before that, Caron was director of the Women’s Health Clinic for eight years starting in June 2011.

The website shows Caron graduated last year with a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg.

Caron’s hiring was managed by a subcommittee of the standing committee on legislative affairs. Her appointment follows an open competition and consideration of applicants, the order paper said.

“Seniors and elders helped build our province, and they deserve to have their voices heard and their rights respected,” Asagwara said in a news release earlier this year.

“We saw during the pandemic what can happen when seniors aren’t given the respect and care they need. Our government is committed to making sure seniors are safe, healthy and supported, so that they can live a good life as they age.”

The NDP government has said creating an independent seniors advocate office is a key commitment. It was included in the minister’s mandate letter from Premier Wab Kinew.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca