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Seniors

During question period on seniors, the Bloc Québécois raised ongoing delays with the Cúram software used to process old age security claims, saying nearly 33,000 claims remain backlogged and citing what it called $5 billion in cost overruns, and asked for an independent public inquiry. Government ministers responded that the benefits delivery modernization program is a major IT update meant to make pensions and benefits easier to access, that the backlog has been cut by more than half in recent months, and that the software serves 7.7 million seniors and work continues to ensure payments arrive on time. The ministers also disputed the cost figures the Bloc cited.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“A computer problem is still delaying pension payments for nearly 33,000 seniors. I want the government to launch an independent public inquiry into this issue.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are in a new parliamentary session, but the same old problem with the Cúram software persists. Today we learned that there is still a backlog of nearly 33,000 old age pension claims from seniors. There is a backlog of 33,000 claims, even though the Bloc Québécois and the media have been questioning the government about this for more than eight months. Some 33,000 seniors are still caught up in this IT fiasco. How many more cases will it take before the government finally launches an independent public inquiry into Cúram?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“We are updating our computer systems to make it easier to get pensions and benefits. The wait times are going down, and we are working to make sure seniors get their money on time.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the benefits delivery modernization program is the largest IT transformation ever undertaken by the Government of Canada. It aims to provide Canadians with a modern, seamless experience when it comes to old age security, the Canada pension plan and employment insurance. The member of Parliament is correct. The numbers are going down, and we continue to work to make sure that every senior can get their benefits in a timely fashion.

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Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“The government's new benefits computer system has $5 billion in cost overruns and a backlog of 33,000 files for seniors. They want to use it for employment insurance too. I want an inquiry into this project.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are refusing to answer and refusing to launch an inquiry on Cúram, even though the project has already racked up $5 billion in cost overruns and there are still more to come since there is still a backlog of 33,000 old age security files. The Liberals are not only refusing to be transparent but they also have the nerve to call this a success story and they want to use this same software for employment insurance. Before they get tens of thousands more people involved in this IT fiasco, will the Liberals finally realize that an inquiry is needed?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Those numbers are wrong. The new software for senior benefits did not cost that much, and it works for over seven million people. There was a backlog, but we cut it by more than half. We are working hard to make sure seniors get their money on time.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those numbers are way off base. That is not at all what it cost to implement this old age security software, which serves 7.7 million seniors. It works. It is true, however, that there is a backlog, but it has been reduced by more than half in recent months. Every effort is being made to ensure that seniors who are entitled to old age security are getting the correct amount of benefits on time. We will continue this very important work for Quebec seniors.

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