Hon. Danièle Henkel: Thank you, Madam Secretary of State. Every day, thousands of Canadians, mostly women, put their careers, their plans and sometimes their health on hold to care for an elderly parent. Without these caregivers, our senior care system would crumble, yet their role remains largely invisible and the support they receive is fragmented, consisting of tax credits, limited leave and one-time initiatives.

Is your government prepared to show leadership by working with the provinces and territories to create a true national caregiver support framework that gives full recognition to caregivers’ contributions, ensures their economic security and provides them with protection and guidance, while strengthening intergenerational solidarity and the dignity of Canada’s seniors?

Hon. Stephanie McLean, P.C., M.P., Secretary of State (Seniors): Thank you, senator, for your question on an important topic.

Personal support workers are extremely important to seniors and are a critical part of the care economy. Our government is dead set on supporting care workers. We know this is going to become more important as we have an increasing aging population.

One of the things I’m proud we have done recently is that through the Personal Support Worker Retirement Savings Innovation Program we’re helping to build retirement security for personal support workers.

As much as $42.2 million in pilot funding is testing what supports most effectively encourage savings and protect the financial future of personal support workers. This is one of the ways we are ensuring that personal support workers are retained and recruited into the industry.

Senator Henkel: Madam Secretary of State, population aging is one of the biggest challenges of our time, but the dignity of our seniors depends directly on the ability of their loved ones to support them without burning out. As a caregiver to my mother for 10 years, I understand the full weight and nobility of this role.

If the government isn’t going to create a national framework, does it intend to improve benefits, job protections and community support immediately, to give caregivers a meaningful safety net?

Ms. McLean: Thank you for the question. I, too, know what it is like to be a support to someone who needs a lot of care. My father struggled with cancer for six years before passing away when I was a young person, and I provided that care to him. So I understand it intimately.

This government is working with provinces and territories to build stronger recruitment and retention systems and to support those who are depended upon, whether it’s family members or professional support workers, to be able to provide things like respite and ensure there is support for the supporters. Thank you.