Ontario plans to end forced retirement, reduce co-payments long term care

Community Action, June 16, 2003

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Ernie Eves introduced legislation to eliminate mandatory retirement and the reduction of the proposed co-payment increase for seniors in long-term care facilities.

The legislation that would eliminate and allow more seniors to remain active in the workforce--retiring at a time of their own choosing, and not automatically at age 65.

The government will reduce this year's co-payment increase for seniors in long-term care facilities from $2 to $1.16, which matches the annual increase that seniors receive from Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Guaranteed Annual Income Supplement. Co-payments are fees paid by long-term care residents that contribute to their accommodation expenses. To provide a measure of certainty for seniors, Eves also announced that the co-payment increase next year will match the rate of inflation.

The Eves government has introduced legislation that, if passed, would reimburse eligible seniors a portion of the residential property tax they pay on their principal residence through a new Ontario Home Property Tax Relief for Seniors program. The new application-based program would be made available to both senior homeowners and senior tenants on a pro-rated basis starting July 1, 2003, and they would receive the full value of the tax credit starting in 2004.