"Seniors Month recognizes the valuable contribution that seniors have made and will continue to make to our province," said Minister Wiseman. "Seniors have shaped the society in which we live today. Our government intends to build on the knowledge and experience of seniors to create an age-friendly province which values our history and is prepared for our future."

Statistics show that Newfoundland and Labrador has the most rapidly aging population in Canada, with estimates indicating that within 10 years, almost 20 per cent of the population will be over the age of 65. In recognition of this fact, the Provincial Government made a commitment to establish healthy aging as a priority with an emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyles and to expand programs and services to meet the needs of an aging population and ensure they are well planned and coordinated across departments and agencies.

Over the past three and a half years the Provincial Government has fulfilled this commitment through the following initiatives:

• Over $67 million has been invested to construct new and redeveloped health care facilities including several new long term care-facilities in Clarenville, Corner Brook, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Grand Bank as well the redevelopment of the Blue Crest Nursing Home in Grand Bank.
• To prepare for the needs of an aging population, province-wide consultations were held last spring to inform the development of a Healthy Aging Framework and Action Plan.
• The Provincial Government introduced the Provincial Wellness Plan to promote the benefits of healthy eating, active living, staying smoke free and illness and injury prevention.
• Following the launch of the Provincial Wellness Plan, a Provincial Nutrition Framework and Action Plan was developed which identifies a key priority as the promotion and encouragement for seniors to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle.
• The Provincial Government increased the indexation for the Seniors Benefit to $365 per senior, or $730 per senior couple and increased the income phase-out range.
• The Provincial Human Rights Code was amended this year to make it an offence to discriminate for employment based on age by eliminating the age for mandatory retirement.
• The Provincial Government invested $32.8 million annually to introduce the Low Income Drug Program to include more low income families and individuals.
• In Budget 2007, an additional enhancement to the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program was announced whereby the Provincial Government will invest $17.5 million annually to protect any individual or family whose drug costs are consuming an unreasonable share of their income. The program caps the cost of drugs relative to income at an amount not exceeding 10 per cent and becomes effective in October.
• Established the Ministerial Council on Aging and Seniors to ensure that there are strong links to other departments, services and professionals to foster comprehensive programming and integrated services to support the independence and well-being of seniors.
• Established a Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors comprising seniors and experts on aging, to advise government on matters related to the quality of life for seniors, and to facilitate public discussion on aging; and,
• Established an Aging and Seniors Division within the Department of Health and Community Services as a centre of expertise on seniors� issues.

Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-1741
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca