CARP members are pushing the federal NDP leader to use his influence with the governing Trudeau Liberals on issues important to older Canadians.

 

Representatives with CARP, including Chief Policy and Chief Operating Officer Bill VanGorder, are scheduled to meet Thursday at 11am Jagmeet Singh on financial security.

The first priority item, he says, is getting rid of mandatory RRIF withdrawals as Canadians worry about outliving their savings.

“We’ve been after the government for years to get rid of this outdated mandatory withdrawal rule and hope that the NDP leader will support us in having that done,” VanGorder told Zoomer Radio News.

The second topic is Old Age Security which has been increased by ten percent for people 75 and older, but not for those Canadians who are between 65 and 74.

“Feedback from our members is it’s often the younger part of that demographic who have more financial difficulties because of lack of savings and increase of the cost of living, so we don’t want that two tier system to continue,” VanGorder explained.

The Jagmeet Singh New Democrats have made their support of the minority Liberals dependent on other issues such as dental care and pharmacare.

CARP members are asking the NDP leader to do the same on seniors’ issues.