“The government made sudden, complicated online changes to a grant program for seniors. Many senior volunteers cannot meet the new rules in time. I want the government to remove these barriers.”

“Mr. Speaker, community organizations are warning that the rush changes to the New Horizons for Seniors program are putting hundreds of projects at risk. Many volunteers are seniors who already struggle with technology. With only weeks to register for a CRA business number and navigate a complex online portal, these changes are overwhelming and many fear they will be disqualified. Will the Liberals fix these unnecessary barriers or will they have to create another program to help seniors apply for a current one?”

“The new online rules make it too hard for seniors' groups to get government funding. I want to know why the government is adding more red tape.”

“Mr. Speaker, the secretary of state claims that registering for a CRA business number and using the online portal is simple, but senior organizations are telling a different story. In my community of King—Vaughan, where 18 senior groups have been supporting over 6,000 senior volunteers, organizations have been frantically calling my office, scared of missing out on critical funding. These changes will leave the most vulnerable organizations behind. Why are the Liberals trying to bury seniors in even more red tape?”

“The government has made new rules that make it harder for volunteer groups to get money for seniors. Groups now have to wait months to get a business number and use a hard online system. I want the government to drop these rules.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day today, the Liberal government is standing in the way of organizations that support seniors. The new rules for the New Horizons for Seniors program are forcing volunteer groups to get a business number from the Canada Revenue Agency. This process can take months and also requires them to navigate an online application system. These organizations want to help seniors, not fight Ottawa’s bureaucracy. Is the government going to back down on these bureaucratic reforms? Yes, we know the people in our ridings.”