Grey power will advise government




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Grey power will advise government
Web Posted

Oct 22 2003

FREDERICTON — Access to health care and the high cost car insurance are major problems for the newly created seniors’ advisory council, which will provide government with policy advice on how to improve the lives of older New Brunswickers.

New Brunswick is going grey, with more senior citizens per capita than anywhere else in Canada .

Bernard Lord listens to the council's first meeting

Take Russell and Evelyn O'Donnell. She had cancer, and that meant traveling to hospitals for treatment. "For my checkups and everything I have to go to Saint John for them. So the insurance, yes, our insurance has doubled compared to what it used to be."

The seniors’ council is a first for New Brunswick , following other provinces like Prince Edward Island and Alberta .

Premier Bernard Lord says the committee will provide advice on how to improve public policy. "I decided to create the council because I felt it was paramount for us as a government to hear directly from the seniors, have them do some work as well, have the seniors engaged in public policy that can help and support seniors."

Vice-chair Bob Smalley says he wants to conduct research, encourage feedback from seniors and bring forward affordable solutions. "I would say nursing homes, insurance, affordable housing, seniors living in isolation, these are some of the concerns we have as a council."

The council has started a working plan and members expect to present their findings to the government next spring. The council's recommendations are not binding but the premier says he intends to take its advice seriously.

Russell and Evelyn O'Donnell hope the new council will help solve the problem of access to health care and expensive auto insurance.

Russell and Evelyn O'Donnell hope the new council will help solve the problem of access to health care and expensive auto insurance

'I would say nursing homes, insurance, affordable housing, seniors living in isolation, there are some of the concerns that we have as a council' – Bob Smalley, Seniors' Advisory Council