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Seniors

During oral questions, the Bloc Québécois raised changes to the New Horizons for Seniors program that require applicant organizations to have a CRA business number. MP Andréanne Larouche said small community groups in Quebec have only a month to apply and cannot realistically register by the July 14 2025 deadline, and asked the government to delay the change and extend the deadline. Minister Stephanie McLean responded that the requirement aligns the program with integrity measures used for all other federal grants and contributions, that the CRA number makes standards clearer and fairer, and that support — including an information session for MPs and Help Centre assistance — is being provided to groups that need a number.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois
“The government changed the rules for a seniors funding program. Groups now need to register as businesses to apply, which takes too long and shuts out small local groups. I want the government to delay these changes so groups have time to apply.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the reform of the New Horizons program is putting community projects for seniors at risk. Our organizations have one month to submit their projects. In the meantime, Ottawa now requires them to register as a business, which can take up to 10 months. In addition, the criteria exclude small groups like some local FADOQs and Cercles de fermières; their parent organizations are registered, but they are not. Ottawa needs to give organizations time to meet the requirements and ensure that none of them are disqualified due to the new criteria. Will the government postpone its reform?

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Stephanie McLean

Liberal
“We changed the seniors program to require a tax number because it makes the program fairer and safer. Help is available for groups that need this number. We even held an information session for MPs, but the member opposite did not show up.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, in April, we introduced changes to the new horizons for seniors program, including requiring a CRA business number. For most seniors organizations, this change delivers clearer, fairer standards that increase the program’s integrity. For organizations that do not have this number, Service Canada is available to assist all applicants. Members of Parliament are also available to assist applicants. That is why we provided a session to all members of Parliament, so that they could ask their questions, a session that, unfortunately, the hon. member did not attend.

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Andréanne Larouche

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“I want the government to extend the July 14 deadline for seniors' program funding. The new rules require a business number, and many local Quebec groups do not have time to get one or are not set up to register. This will hurt projects for seniors.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, July 14 is just around the corner. No one asked for this New Horizons reform. This is a complete nightmare for volunteers working to improve the well-being of seniors. Community organizations that still do not have a business number will not have time to register by July 14, and that is not to mention the hundreds of others at the local level who simply cannot register because of their structure. That is something else we learned at the briefing. This reform is not designed to address the reality facing Quebec organizations and seniors. Will the government extend the deadline so that the new criteria do not adversely affect seniors’ projects?

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Stephanie McLean

Liberal
“We added the same rules to this seniors grant that every other government grant already has. Groups still have plenty of time to apply, and we will help them do it. We want seniors to get programs that keep them from being lonely.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, prior to these changes, the new horizons for seniors program was the only grant within the Government of Canada that was not subject to these integrity measures. We are putting this program in line with all other grants and contributions across the Government of Canada. By looking at the clock, I can see that it is June 11. There is lots of time for organizations, and we are there to help them. We will make sure they have what they need to apply for these programs because we want nothing more than to ensure that seniors have access to the important programs that prevent social isolation.

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