Support seniors programming and work on initiatives that impact seniors.

What success looks like

Improved quality of life and well-being for seniors.

Government's narrative on progress

The New Horizons for Seniors Program supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities. With an annual budget of $50 million, the New Horizons for Seniors Program works to improve the lives of seniors by supporting two types of projects: community-based and pan-Canadian. Community-based projects enable seniors to make valuable contributions to their communities by sharing their knowledge, skills and experience and increasing the capacity to address local issues. Pan-Canadian projects use collaborative and innovative approaches to help reduce social isolation among seniors. Established by Order-in- Council in 2007, the National Seniors Council (NSC) provides advice to the government through the Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Health on matters related to the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors, as well as the challenges and opportunities arising from a growing and diverse aging population. The NSC develops evidence-informed advice based on consultations with Canadians, including seniors and other stakeholders, and commissioning research. In December 2018, Ministers Tassi and Petitpas Taylor approved the National Seniors Council’s three-year work plan (2018-2021), and asked members to focus on the following four work priorities: • Identifying measures to address crimes and other harms against seniors; • Examining potential objectives and elements of a national seniors strategy; • Providing advice on federal initiatives using an age-friendly/healthy aging perspective, with an initial focus on ways to strengthen attention to seniors’ housing needs in the implementation of the National Housing Strategy; and • Counteracting ageism by shifting the public discourse. To improve seniors’ quality of life, and to better promote seniors’ participation and inclusion in their communities, Budget 2019 proposes to provide additional funding of $100 million over five years, with $20 million per year ongoing, for the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.