THE ISSUES THAT MATTER

MORE CAREGIVER SUPPORT As family members bear the brunt of caring for patients at home, the candidates voiced the need to throw a life preserver to informal caregivers with assistance and tax credits.

Best in Canada Nova Scotia offers lowincome caregivers up to

$400 a month. ( novascotia.ca)

AFFORDABLE MEDICATION As we age, many become increasingly reliant on medication. But with the cost of drugs soaring, candidates promised to restrain patient’s out-of-pocket costs.

Best in Canada Ontario’s Seniors Drug Plan already provides the highest level of coverage for seniors. (Source: CARP) SHORTER WAIT TIMES Waiting to see a specialist or receive timely surgery has been a problem dogging the Canadian health system for years. All candidates vowed to improve wait times.

Best in Canada New Brunswick leads in shortest wait times for cataract removal surgery, with a median wait of only 7.5 weeks. (Source: CIHI)

LOWER ENERGY COSTS Rising energy bills are always an irritant for seniors, especially those living on a fixed income. All three parties offered various measures to curtail hydro costs.

Best in Canada Quebec residents enjoy the lowest average monthly electricity bills in Canada, $68.66 per 1,000 kWh. (Source: Ontario Hydro) BETTER ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE With improved access to primary health care being a major priority for Canadians as they age, all three candidates promised that their parties would invest in more physicians, specialists and nurses, as well as expanding the role of nurse practitioners.

Best in Canada Newfoundland and Labrador has the best nurse practitioner to patient ratio, with one NP for every 5,326 patients. (Source: CIHI) HERE’S A LOOK AT HOW the candidates promised to deal with various seniors’ issues as they arose during the debate. While their answers pertain specifically to Ontario, let’s look across the country to see how other provinces are leading the way on the big topics.