| Policy Issue 1 |
Effect |
| Federal government has
failed to create a comprehensive initiative for seniors for the
IYOP |
Canada looked somewhat
foolish, compared to other nations, at a UN conference.
Opportunity to highlight
seniors issues, and have seniors voiced expressed, was somewhat
wasted. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 2 |
Effect |
|---|
|
Downgrading of importance of testing and regulating foods and drugs
within federal departments. | Raises
sale or drugs and food products as a priority.
Lowers safeguarding against the dangers of drugs or
genetically modified foods as a priority.
Seniors feel less safe about the drugs they
take and about the food they eat, and these feelings are not
being heeded. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 3 |
Effect |
| Federal health minister has
responsibility for aging and seniors. |
Links seniors issues with federal
health interests.
The day-to-day health care is
funded and administered by the province; the federal health
minister has little real influence over seniors lives.
Seniors voices are expressed through the National Advisory
Council on Aging (e.g., released conditions for a National
Home Care Program, including national support for caregiving,
May 10, 2000). The power of this group is limited, however. |
What needs to be done? |
| Policy Issue 4 |
Effect |
| Ontario government repositioning of seniors
secretariat within the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and
Recreation. |
Move resulted in a downgrading of the seniors
secretariat within the Ministry.
Seniors issues are now perceived to be less important
than previously.
Secretariat has identified priority areas (e.g., Alzheimer
strategy). Presumably other areas of interest to seniors have low or
no priority. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 5 |
Effect |
| Ontario government has spoken loudly against increases to
social spending. |
Government’s agenda gets heard, but views of seniors on
this do not get heard. The social needs of many seniors are not being met, as
their concerns are not listened to. Too many seniors are living in poverty
as a result. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 6 |
Effect |
| Ontario government has reduced or cut funding to seniors
organizations. |
Fewer resources to support voicing of concerns
Some organizations are on temporary funding (e.g., Care Watch
which receives no government funding) |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 7 |
Effect |
| Ontario government power appears to be centred in the
Premier’s Office. |
Issues important to the Premier and to his advisors appear to
take priority.
Little opportunity for outsiders, such as seniors, to raise the
priority level of their issues. The venues appear to be closed. "Meeting
with government people is like meeting a stone wall." |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 8 |
Effect |
| Media pays little attention to seniors issues. |
Seniors issues and concerns are generally not on the media’s
agenda
Seniors issues get little attention in the media, except in
publications specifically for seniors or older persons, or on a few radio
programs specifically aimed at seniors audiences. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 9 |
Effect |
| Toronto not responding actively to Seniors Task Force. |
General mandate, to develop structures, to advise city council
on issues affecting seniors, and to involve seniors in this process, followed.
Its recommendation that Toronto Council adopt the Seniors’ Assembly Model
has not been acted upon (instead
Anne Johnston was named Seniors Advocate), nor have most other
recommendations. Seniors feel their ideas are not being heard by Toronto
Council, and their issues are not particularly important.
Work of the former Toronto Mayor Committee on Aging is being carried on, in
part, by other organizations (especially by the Toronto Seniors Council), but
does not receive official recognition. There is no official body to represent
seniors voices to Toronto city council.
The only conduit to Toronto city council is through the Seniors Advocate. |
What needs to be done?
|
| Policy Issue 10 |
Effect |
| Toronto seniors organizations are more
"institutionalized" than in the past. |
Many seniors organizations were formed to express seniors
views, but the very fact that there are now so many formal groups disperses
spontaneous energy associated with being roused by issues. Seniors channel their "voices" through formal seniors
organizations. These organizations can represent a collective voice, but
stifle individual energy to express concerns.
There is a tendency for organizations not to use the clout they have
through their membership. |
What needs to be done?
|
