Forum on seniors, elders, wraps up in Iqaluit
Event was a ‘crucial opportunity for us all to get together to learn,’ says federal secretary of state for seniors
Premier John Main addresses the media at the Aqsarniit Hotel. Standing beside him is Stephanie McLean, secretary of state for seniors. Behind them are Ontario Minister for Seniors and Accessibility Raymond Cho, PEI Minister of Social Development and Seniors Barb Ramsay, and Ontario Minister for Long-Term Care Natalia Kussendova-Bashta. (Photo by Daron Letts)
A two-day forum in Iqaluit to discuss seniors’ and elders’ issues wrapped up on Thursday.
Premier John Main and federal Secretary of State for seniors Stephanie McLean co-chaired the event. Ministers or other representatives from all provinces and territories, with the exception of Quebec, attended in-person or remotely.
“It’s clear that all jurisdictions face major challenges when it comes to ensuring older Canadians are able to age in place with dignity and with the adequate supports they need closer to home,” Main said at the Aqsarniit Hotel during a news conference.
“Our reality is that certain levels of care simply can’t be provided in many of our communities currently.”
Main pointed to ongoing efforts in Nunavut to increase Inuit staffing in long-term care and healthcare as one reason for optimism.
“We’re talking partnerships in order to give their staff the qualifications they need to work in the sector,” he said.
Improving the ability of elders and seniors to access online services, which includes knowledge about the safe use of social media, was among the subjects discussed.
The participants committed to exploring powers of attorney, to improve protections to prevent financial mistreatment of elders and seniors.
The meeting did not result in any funding announcements.
“These federal-provincial-territorial meetings are a crucial opportunity for us all to get together to learn from each other,” McLean said.
The next forum on elders and seniors will be co-chaired by a representative from Alberta.
Where are all elders…..
That’s a very good question, where are all the elders during this multi day event? Also, where are the Northern politicians, Lori Idlout and Mandy Gull-Masty? They’re both indigenous northerners with mandate to represent and help them, so it makes sense to attend a summit that is supposed to help our elders, but they weren’t there.
So, when is it, that all these “meetings” will actually lead to something that has meaningful impact on seniors? In fact. When will any of the “meetings” these government officials and politicians CONTINOUSLY hold, render any kind of measurable results on the everyday life of the people? The reality is many people, politicians and bureaucrats equate “meetings” to “action”. There nothing further from the truth. Instead of meetings to perpetually discuss, debate, exchange, mull- over and order new studies and reports regarding the challenges our society faces. How about implementing something, anything to try and improve people’s lives. Something measurable, something people can look at and say, “yes, that has improved my or my families lives”. Unfortunately, it appears we need multiple meetings over multiple years to continue “talking” about things that it seems everyone recognizes except the people doing the meetings.
So, here are some fast-track issues to guide them towards “action” that is required specifically regarding seniors:
* There is inadequate assisted living care in the territory;
* There is inadequate care available to seniors in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun
* There is inadequate housing;
* There is inadequate access to medical care;
* There is food insecurity;
* There is inadequate protection for seniors from family, domestic and elder abuse;
* There is inadequate specialized transport for seniors within basically all the communities.
There you go. Not everything but enough to bring them UpToDate and center their focus on ACTIONS required. No need for everyone to get plane tickets, congregate at the hotel, rent rooms, meeting halls, do elaborate dinners and meals, run up the bar tab, bring guest speakers, etc., etc., etc… Now how about getting to work on creating some solutions and action. No? Oh, we get it! The meetings are much more fun and the photo ops are plenty to give the impression that these “meetings” are actually “action”.
Here is a message for the good old (new) Premier and his cabinet. You have been on the clock for 7 months now. Everyone is still waiting for you to do something, anything (no not photo-ops, meetings or social media posts); about any of the multitude of issues you clearly were aware of even long before you were elected. In fact, for some of you, the same issues have been around as long as you have been politicians (which for some of you is 2,3 + mandates). How many “meetings” have you attended during that time?
Fear not everyone. The next sitting of the Legislative Assembly is coming up in less than a week. Your elected officials will be there in force to tell you all about the “meetings” they have had and all the discussions that have taken place. The Cabinet members will rise one by one to speak about not much. The supposed opposition (those not in Cabinet) will challenge basically nothing. Make no demands for results or accountability. There won’t be many new programs announced, or solutions to the challenges. There will be lots of back slapping and kumbaya singing. Oh, and lots of birthdays and anniversaries and a few graduations (emphasis on “few”) to announce and celebrate.
But do not despair Nunavummiut’s. Action is coming! They will promise you that. They will just need some more “meetings” to figure out how, where, and WHEN.
The same issues have been going on since time immemorial.