Nunavut seniors’ benefits need cash infusion, MLA says

George Hickes, MLA for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, has repeatedly urged the Government of Nunavut to negotiate with the federal government to increase Nunavut seniors’ financial benefits, which don’t reflect the territory’s high cost of living. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

Financial support for Nunavut’s seniors isn’t measuring up to the territory’s high cost of living, says George Hickes, MLA for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, who is urging the Government of Nunavut to follow through on promises to increase benefits for the elderly.

“Seniors are one of our most vulnerable residents, other that children,” Hickes told Nunatsiaq News, Nov. 6. “And we’ve got to make sure that they’re given the resources to be able to take care of themselves properly.”

Answers to Hickes’ questions in the legislative assembly, Nov. 5, from Jeannie Ugyuk, minister of family services, showed little or no evidence that financial support to the territory’s seniors is any higher than elsewhere in the country — even though Nunavut’s cost of living is among the highest in Canada.

Ugyuk told Hickes in an earlier session, Oct. 29, that she is working with the territory’s department of finance on a “review of benefits” for seniors, which is “scheduled for completion in the fiscal year 2015.”

The minister acknowledged that her department is “aware of the actual cost of food and the cost of living in Nunavut,” and suggested these issues are highlighted to the federal government, whenever benefits agreements are negotiated with Ottawa.

“One thing I’m not hearing in the response is the discussions that need to occur with the Government of Canada to recognize that the cost of living is significantly higher here in Nunavut in comparison to the rest of the country,” Hickes said in response.

“Can I get a little bit further clarity from the minister on the anticipation of how that dialogue with the federal government is or will be occurring?”

Ugyuk put her reply off to Nov. 5, promising to provide a detailed response at that time. In her reply that day, the minister said her department provides direct assistance to individual seniors through two programs: the Senior Citizens Supplementary Benefits Program, and the Senior Fuel Subsidy.

The fuel subsidy reimburses eligible homeowners “to help offset the high cost of heating fuel in Nunavut,” Ugyuk said, adding that 100 seniors have so far received the subsidy in 2014.

The federal and territorial governments manage the seniors’ benefit, which includes an additional $175 per month in a senior’s Old Age Security cheque, Ugyuk said.

“In October, 477 seniors received the Senior Citizens Supplementary Benefit,” she said.

The $175 sum has not changed since Jan. 7, 2008, Ugyuk said.

“That was six years ago,” said Hickes. “I’m pretty sure it’s time for an update.”

Hickes recalled that Ugyuk said she — and the territorial government at large — has the opportunity to call attention to Nunavut’s high cost of living to the federal government whenever it discusses federal transfer payments and seniors’ benefits.

“Mr. Speaker, while bringing this awareness to her counterparts, has the minister ever directly communicated the need to increase benefits to our senior population?” Hickes asked.

“Up to today, I haven’t attended any of those meetings yet,” Ugyuk replied, adding, however, that her office is in regular contact with the federal government.

Hickes later told Nunatsiaq News he was not entirely satisfied with the minister’s answer and promised to bring the issue back up in the legislative assembly’s winter sitting in February “to see if there’s been any progress made.”

“Although she says she tries to bring awareness at every meeting she goes to, sometimes that’s just not enough,” Hickes said Nov. 6. “You really have to fight for things.”

The MLA said he could find no evidence that Nunavut seniors get Canadian Pension Plan or other federal benefits at levels any higher than in the rest of the country.

“Maybe the feds could recognize the high cost of living in the North, and have their own supplement system for higher-cost-of-living jurisdictions,” Hickes said.

MLAs brought up similar concerns in the legislative assembly’s spring sitting. Not much has changed since.