Budget relief for family caregivers and seniors was welcomed by the country’s fastest-growing union on Tuesday.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) applauded measures in the federal budget to support Canadians caring for frail and infirm family members, as well as steps to lift more seniors out of poverty.
“Family caregivers play a vital role in caring for the elderly and taking time off work to look after people with chronic illnesses. Caregivers have been overlooked for too long. It is about time,” said Sharleen Stewart, head of SEIU Canada, which represents more than 100,000 frontline healthcare providers and service workers in Canada.
“We are proud to have played a role in winning this important relief for family caregivers,“ said Stewart, who is a member of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition, which advocates on behalf of family caregivers.
But the country’s most influential woman labour leader was disappointed by the decision of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to press ahead with corporate tax cuts in the face of fiscal pressures.
“This is no time to be doling out billions in corporate handouts to the country’s largest companies, it is fiscally irresponsible,” she added.
The budget closed a series of smaller tax loopholes to help pay for an increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) paid to 1.6 million low income seniors.
“This is a win for every senior living in poverty in Canada,” said Ms. Stewart, while calling for bolder measures to strengthen the country’s pension system.
“The best way to provide retirement security for Canadians is to improve the Canada Pension Plan.”
SEIU Canada is the country’s fastest-growing union and represents more than 100,000 members across Canada, including frontline healthcare providers and workers in the service industry.