An Open Letter to Political Parties Contesting the 2025 Canadian Federal Election.

As Ottawa’s 2025 budget proposal significantly increases transportation and municipal fees, older adults on fixed incomes may face new challenges to their mobility and independence. The budget’s impact on OC Transpo fares and recreation fees, as well as sharp hikes in property taxes and solid waste fees, may place a disproportionate burden on those least able to afford it.

During November 2024, NIA’s Executive Director, Alyssa Brierley, continued visiting Western Canada with Kahir Lalji from United Way BC. Together, they met with leaders in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary to strengthen partnerships and explore community-driven initiatives supporting healthy ageing.

On October 1st, as we celebrate National Seniors Day and the International Day of Older Persons, we honour the invaluable contributions of older adults who have shaped our communities. At the same time, National Seniors Day is also a time to recognize the significant challenges many older adults face. 

To meet these growing challenges, the NIA adopted a new strategic plan in 2024 with a bold vision: a Canada where older adults feel valued, included, supported, and better prepared to age with confidence.

The community-based seniors' sector plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for older adults across British Columbia. In August 2024, the NIA and United Way BC connected with partners from Nanaimo to Victoria to meet and learn from organizations that provide critical programs and services to older adults.

The federal government must take these trends into consideration when developing the budgetary priorities for 2025. In our recent submission to the Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) pre-budget consultations, we urged federal policymakers to tackle key issues affecting older adults in Canada through five key recommendations

On April 16, the Government of Canada tabled its 2024-2025 budget. Under the theme of “fairness for every generation,” Budget 2024 promises, “a fair chance to build a good middle class life—to do as well as your parents, or better—that’s the promise of Canada. For too many, especially for younger Canadians, that promise is at risk.”

This month Madame Clarkson celebrated her 85th birthday. We were delighted to have a conversation with the Honourary Chair of the National Institute on Ageing’s Advisory Board and discuss what this particular milestone means to her.

The holidays can bring up a range of emotions for many of us and especially older persons during the holiday season. Whether it is reminiscing about a partner, relative or friend who passed, or being away from children or loved ones, the holidays can increase feelings of loneliness especially among older adults.

Earlier this month, the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) launched a new report to better understand the factors driving the growing epidemic of social isolation and loneliness among older Canadians. The NIA shares five ways to increase social interaction and make older adults you know feel more appreciated and included this holiday season and beyond.

The Alberta government has released a consultant’s report that includes a $334 billion estimate of the asset transfer from the CPP fund to a new fund to be established for a standalone Alberta pension plan.

There are three distinct issues with this number. First, the provisions in the CPP Act concerning the asset transfer are not particularly clear. Second, the number is calculated using data by province of residence whereas CPP operates on the province of employment. Last but not least, the transfer represents 53% of the CPP fund and that seems too big when Alberta represents only 16% of CPP contributions.