HUMA Committee Report
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Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that all future annual departmental performance reports of HRDC include an estimate of the number of eligible seniors who do not receive the GIS, the Spouses Allowance, the OAS or CPP. In addition, HRDC should prepare a special report, to be tabled in Parliament by October 2002, outlining the progress it has made to address the GIS under-subscription problem.
CONCLUSION
The Guaranteed Income Supplement has proven to be an essential mechanism for combating extreme poverty among one of the most vulnerable groups in Canadian society. That not all eligible seniors receive the GIS is disturbing and unnecessary. The lives of many seniors living in poverty could be significantly improved, not through a new program or legislative change, but simply through an improvement in service delivery. The government has an obligation to address its deficiencies in this area. Its actions to date have been passive and, given the number of GIS under-subscribed seniors, obviously less than effective.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that HRDC, in conjunction with other relevant federal departments, work immediately to develop an automatic notification process so as to ensure that all potential GIS applicants, prior to their 65th birthday, are apprised of the availability of this income support.
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that:
(a) HRDC, in conjunction with the CCRA, take the necessary steps to develop an automatic process for renewing GIS eligibility; and
(b) HRDC take immediate steps to simplify the initial application for the GIS and that tax returns or a simple statement of income and family status be used for the purposes of ensuring continued eligibility. HRDC should ensure that the initial application and the simple statement of income and family status are mailed to all GIS recipients who do not file a tax return.
Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that the government consider adopting a variable retroactive GIS or Allowance payment period. This policy should permit a retroactive payment covering the full period of entitlement. Individuals who waived their entitlement to these programs should not be entitled to a retroactive payment in the event that they subsequently apply.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada define “occasional income” and exempt a certain level of occasional income for the purposes of the GIS and the Allowance.
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that HRDC undertake an extensive and systematic public awareness campaign to ensure that all seniors receive clear, simple and easily understood information on how to access information on the GIS. HRDC should also take special measures to contact individuals who are difficult to contact through conventional public awareness initiatives.
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that HRDC and the CCRA continue to work together to identify and contact directly seniors who may be eligible for the GIS. In the event that an eligible senior declines his or her GIS (or OAS or Allowance) payment, HRDC and, where applicable, the CCRA, should obtain a waiver to this effect. Eligible individuals who sign this waiver and choose not to receive the GIS (or OAS or Allowance) should not be entitled to a retroactive payment in the event that they subsequently apply.
Recommendation 7
The Committee recommends that all future annual departmental performance reports of HRDC include an estimate of the number of eligible seniors who do not receive the GIS, the Spouses Allowance, the OAS or CPP. In addition, HRDC should prepare a special report, to be tabled in Parliament by October 2002, outlining the progress it has made to address the GIS under-subscription problem.
Organization Appeared Meeting No
Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus 18/10/2001 33
William Gleberzon
Assistant Executive Director
Walter Kelm
Consultant
"Tables régionales de concertation des " 18/10/2001 33
aînés du Québec
Gilles Fournier
"Coordonateur des Tables régionales de concertation des aînés du Québec"
Tristat Resources 18/10/2001 33
Richard Shillington
Principal
Gloria Lewis
Senior
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency 23/10/2001 34
David Miller
Assistant Commissioner
Kathy Turner
Director General
Human Resources Development Canada 23/10/2001 34
Paul Migus
Assistant Deputy Minister, Income Security Programs
Sue Pitts
Director
Nada Semaan
Director General
Privacy Commissioner of Canada 23/10/2001 34
George Radwanski
REQUEST FOR GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requests that the Government table a comprehensive response to the report within one hundred and fifty (150) days.
Copies of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (Meetings Nos 33, 34, 39 and 41 which includes this Report) are tabled.
Respectfully submitted,
Judi Longfield, M.P.
Chair
BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS SUPPLEMENTARY OPINION
ON THE REPORT ON THE GUARANTEED INCOME SUPPLEMENT
TABLED TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND THE STATUS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The Bloc Québécois is delighted that the Committee is preparing a report on the unjust situation arising from the Department of Human Resources’ failure to ensure that the people eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) receive the amounts to which they are entitled.
The Bloc Québécois supports the greater part of the Report’s recommendations and reiterates the need to release it as quickly as possible.
But the Bloc considers that the government must make a commitment to correct a situation that is depriving hundreds of thousands of seniors of money that is owed to them. Furthermore, the correction must be retroactive. Therefore
The Bloc Québécois disagrees with the wording of Recommendation 3:
We think that the words “consider”, “variable” and “should permit” should be withdrawn so that the recommendation firmly commits the Minister of Human Resources to making fully retroactive payments to people who have been deprived of income to which they are entitled.
Recommendation 3 should read as follows: The Committee recommends that the government adopt a fully retroactive GIS or Allowance payment period. This policy would permit a retroactive payment covering the full period of entitlement. Individuals who waive their entitlement to these programs will not be entitled to a retroactive payment in the event that they subsequently apply.