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Laurie in Question Period

Seniors' Housing

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m hearing from an increasing number of seniors across Alberta that even with a small pension on top of their CPP they can’t afford to live independently any longer with the enormous jump in rents. My question is to the minister of seniors. Has the minister reviewed the cut off and eligibility amounts of seniors’ benefits with an eye to the whopping increase in rents?

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Seniors and Community Supports.

Mrs. Jablonski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are always reviewing the programs that we have for seniors and keeping an eye on the benefits. The threshold amounts that we allow low income seniors to receive support at are always being reviewed.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you. To the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. As an example, the subsidized seniors’ residences in my riding alone are full and have waiting lists of five years, or 500 people. What specific actions is the government taking that will quickly create new subsidized seniors’ apartment buildings across Alberta?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do provide subsidized housing to seniors. It’s primarily through our seniors’ self contained program. That assists 14,250 seniors in this province. The units are apartment type accommodations, and they’re for low to moderate income seniors who are independent with or without the assistance of existing community based services. A tenant’s rent does include heat, water, and expenses that are based on 30 per cent of the household income. That is working for 14,250 seniors, and it’s being extended now through our good housing authorities.

Ms Blakeman: Five hundred seniors waiting in one riding alone. To the same minister: given that the Greater Edmonton Foundation: Housing for Seniors provides quality subsidized housing to close to 2,000 residents yet has a wait list of well over 500 people plus 200 people waiting to be interviewed to get on the list to be considered, is the minister willing to increase the funding to the foundation in order to create additional needed subsidized housing units for seniors?

Mrs. Fritz: Well, as you know, Mr. Speaker, we did just announce recently increased funding for affordable housing. That increased funding is extended to the organizations that develop housing.

Dr. Taft: Come on, now. You know your file better than that.

Mrs. Fritz: It’s because it’s working; that’s why you’re upset, isn’t it?

Mr. Speaker, this capital grant of $142 million is through a request for proposals for nonprofit organizations, for private sector as well as all our municipalities in the province.