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December 9, 1998
(Health and Community Services)


The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

International Year of Older Persons

My purpose in addressing the House today is to inform Honourable Members that the United Nations has declared 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons. The UN's reason for doing so is to recognize that the world's population is aging and that these demographic changes hold a social, economic and spiritual significance. The UN also hopes to foster an international awareness of the importance of older persons' role in society and the need for intergenerational respect and support.

The international year will have many positive impacts on older persons, in particular, and society in general. It is expected that the International Year of Older Persons will:

  • increase recognition of seniors' contributions to their families, communities and country;

  • reduce fear of aging by dispelling myths and strengthening realistic images of aging;

  • promote healthy, active aging amongst all sectors of Canadian society;

  • encourage concrete advancements in policy, legislation and service provision;

  • stimulate growth and support for new aging-related products, technology, services and industries;

  • foster intergenerational harmony; and

  • recognize the tremendous contributions of our older population.

I am pleased to advise my Honourable Colleagues that Newfoundland and Labrador will be a full participant in these celebrations, along with the rest of Canada. Dr. Ian Rusted is our representative on the Canada Coordinating Committee for the International Year, and Mr. John Murphy is heading up the Provincial Coordinating Committee. This committee is made up of older persons from across the province who will play a key role in mobilizing fellow seniors, communities and the voluntary and private sectors to celebrate this significant event.

The International Year of Older Persons aims to accomplish this through a series of national, regional and local initiatives. At the national level, emphasis is being placed on the development of a Seniors' Bill of Rights, while, provincially, we will be focusing our attention on major revisions to the Neglected Adults Act as well as the establishment of a provincial Seniors' Advisory Council. Both initiatives represent long term, legacy projects for the international year, and both will benefit from the wisdom and counsel of our older persons, who will be asked to provide input in their development.

Government further demonstrates its commitment to older persons through the establishment of an interdepartmental IYOP planning committee. This committee will coordinate an internal review, and revision, where necessary, of all government policies and programs which affect seniors. This is a major commitment on the part of this government, to be more responsive to our senior citizens and to be well prepared to meet the needs of our rapidly aging and increasingly diverse older population.

In commemorating the international year there will be numerous celebrations and healthy aging projects throughout the province. The most notable of these events will be a Seniors' Expo/Health Fair to be held in various regions of the province. These events will provide information to older persons on healthy active living and will address major seniors' issues and concerns - as chosen by older persons themselves. There will also be time at these events, of course, for the seniors to share fun and friendship, and to view the various services and products that are available for older persons in this province.

I should mention, that the Provincial Coordinating Committee is in the process of developing a Calendar of Events which will outline the various IYOP celebrations, projects and activities that are being planned at the provincial, regional and local level. We intend to update this calendar on an ongoing basis throughout the year and to post it on our webpage for January 1, 1999. Our role is primarily one of facilitation of events, based on the expressed needs and wishes of our senior population, as it should be.

We must also, however, promote awareness of the specific needs of older adults at this time and show leadership in finding creative solutions to the issues which they are facing. I invite everyone to share in the celebrations of the International Year of Older Persons. A variety of promotional material is available through my department including: community, corporate and information kits, as well as IYOP brochures and pins.

I urge Honourable Members to collaboratively embark on a course of action which will acknowledge and celebrate the tangible legacy that we have received from our senior population over the years. Let us move forward together, toward the International Year of Older Persons, our 50th anniversary of Confederation with Canada and towards Soiree '99, with dignity, respect and honour across all ages and across all sectors of society.

1998 12 09 2:35 p.m.


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