HALIFAX -- The Canadian Medical Association is renewing its call for a national seniors strategy, saying the parties vying to win the federal election this fall should commit to offering more tax incentives and other financial support for those caring for elderly family members.
The association, which is meeting this week in Halifax, adopted a resolution Monday that asks the federal government to drop a requirement that says tax incentives can only be offered to caregivers who are living with elderly parents or relatives.
Calgary physician Sarah Bates, who is also a caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer's disease, told the meeting that more than 75 per cent of the care provided to older Canadians comes from unpaid, informal caregivers -- usually a relative.
There are tax incentives to offset the financial drain caused by this demanding work, but she said the Canadian government should look to the United States, where there is a more flexible tax regime.
"We need more flexibility given the wide range of caregiving scenarios," she said as the motion was presented to delegates.
Dr. Chris Simpson, president of the Canadian Medical Association, said the current, non-refundable caregiver tax credit is used by only about three per cent of those who are eligible.
The credit should be refundable and less restrictive, he said.
"The impact on the economy is in the billions of dollars," he told delegates. "It's a significant drain on productivity. Lots of people lose days off work and the stress at work impairs their productivity."
Simpson said Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has already pledged that, if elected, the party would call for a first ministers meeting on health care and seniors issues within six months.
As for the Conservatives, Simpson said the party has been talking about a national dementia strategy and has had a great deal to say about palliative care.
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair has been "strongly supportive" of a national seniors strategy, as has the Green party, Simpson said.
"So we know they're thinking about it," he told a news conference afterwards. "We know their hearts are in the right place. We want them to start talking about it in the context of an election campaign."
Seniors remain the fastest-growing segment of the population, with about one quarter of Canadians expected to be older than 65 by 2036, he said.
"Addressing the growing and evolving health-care needs of Canada's aging population is one of the most pressing policy imperatives of our time," Simpson said. "What we need added to the mix now is strong political leadership at the federal level."
Dr. David Naylor, chairman of the federal government's advisory panel on health-care innovation, said a seniors strategy will become part of a national conversation whether politicians like it or not.
"The boomers will empower themselves," he said. "It's always been about us for quite some time. As we age, I suspect we'll continue to make it about us. The system will have to adapt."
