Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Seniors will meet in Prince Edward Island in October 2014, says Valerie E. Docherty, Minister of Community Services and Seniors.
Minister Docherty recently returned from FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors meetings in Yellowknife, NWT.
“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with my colleagues from across the country,” said Minister Docherty. “Together we assessed progress on our ongoing collaborative work, and committed to ways we can further support the well-being of seniors in each province and territory.”
During their meetings in Yellowknife, FPT Ministers approved an information resource booklet on Powers of Attorney and joint bank accounts, and they agreed to work on the following priorities:
• Assist older workers balancing the competing demands of work and care by ensuring that employees and employers are aware of the programs, services and benefits that could potentially enable older workers, who are also caregivers, to continue to be a part of the Canadian labour force;
• Explore options to support seniors and near seniors by increasing awareness for the need to plan for aging in place, including having the knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions. These options may include how technology can support aging in place.
“It will be a pleasure to co-chair the FPT meeting next year, particularly when we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Confederation,” said Minister Docherty.