StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-THORNHILL, ONTARIO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that a re-elected Conservative Government would amend the Criminal Code to reduce the number of crimes committed against elderly Canadians.
“Canadians agree that we must do whatever we can to protect and honour those men and women who have built our country,” said Mr. Harper. “Elderly Canadians have earned our gratitude for a lifetime of hard work in service to our families, our communities and our country.”
Although most of Canada’s seniors receive the respect and appreciation they deserve, too many are still victims of crimes such as fraud, neglect and assault. They are robbed of their dignity and peace at a time when they deserve to enjoy special care and respect. Many forms of elder abuse are prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada, but the Code does not specifically recognize the vulnerability of Canadian seniors.
A re-elected Stephen Harper Conservative Government will add vulnerability due to age to the list of aggravating factors to be considered by courts when sentencing criminals who commit offences against elderly Canadians. These amendments will result in sentences that properly reflect the vulnerability of elderly victims and society’s condemnation of such crimes.
“Elderly Canadians are among the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Mr. Harper. “We must protect our seniors and ensure that criminals who prey on them are punished appropriately.”
Canadians have a clear choice between a Conservative Government that will continue to take strong action to protect and support Canadian seniors, and an Ignatieff-led Coalition that has consistently opposed measures to support Canadian seniors and crack down on crime.
– 30 –
Conservative Press Office: 1-877-262-7026
Conservative Party of Canada
BACKGROUNDER
April 15, 2011
BACKGROUNDER
THE ISSUE
Canada’s seniors have worked hard to build a better country for future generations. That’s why Stephen Harper’s Government has taken significant action since 2006 to improve the quality of life for Canadian seniors.
Although most of Canada’s seniors receive the respect and dignity they deserve, too many seniors are still victims of crime in their homes, in relatives’ homes and in facilities responsible for their care. It is estimated that between four and ten per cent of seniors in Canada — about 345,000 individuals — experience some kind of abuse. (1) Elder abuse is defined as any action by someone in a relationship of trust that results in harm or distress to an older person. (2)
Commonly-recognized forms of abuse include physical, psychological and financial abuse, although elder abuse can also take the form of neglect. Financial abuse is the most commonly-reported type of abuse, although more than one type of abuse often occurs at the same time.
Stephen Harper’s Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to seniors and to combating elder abuse in all its forms. In March 2007, the Conservative Government created the National Seniors Council to help identify areas for federal action. On October 16, 2007, the Speech from the Throne indicated that Stephen Harper’s Government would introduce new measures to address elder abuse as part of its commitment to a safe and secure Canada.
Budget 2008 announced $13 million over three years to establish the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative (FEAI). The FEAI is designed to help seniors and others recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and to provide information about the supports available to seniors. The FEAI also included an elder abuse awareness campaign, launched in June 2009, which was successful in educating Canadians about the issue.
Budget 2010 increased funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program to raise awareness of financial abuse of seniors. The Elder Abuse Awareness component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, established in 2007, helps non-profit organizations develop national or regional education and awareness activities to reduce the incidence of abuse of seniors.
And in the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan — opposed by Michael Ignatieff and his Coalition partners, the NDP and Bloc Québécois — Stephen Harper’s Government attempted to provide an additional $10 million over two years in funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. This money was intended to further the program’s objectives by supporting a greater number of projects, including projects to combat elder abuse.
The record of Stephen Harper’s Government is clear: we are taking concrete action to prevent and raise awareness of elder abuse, and we will continue to do so. Canadian seniors who worked hard to build our great country deserve no less.
The Ignatieff-led Coalition’s record is equally clear. The Liberal Party ignored the issue entirely during 13 years in government, and the Coalition parties voted against every budget measure introduced by Stephen Harper’s Government to prevent elder abuse, including the Elder Abuse Initiative, the Elder Abuse Awareness Campaign and investments in the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
THE PLAN
Canadians agree that the justice system’s highest priority should be to protect society, especially its most vulnerable members. And Canadians agree that, as a society, we must do whatever we can to protect and honour those who have built our country. Elderly Canadians have earned our gratitude for a lifetime of hard work in service to our families, our communities and our country.
That is why we are particularly concerned when senior Canadians are victims of crimes, including fraud, neglect and assault. These crimes rob them of their dignity and peace at a time when they deserve to enjoy special care and respect. Many forms of elder abuse are already prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada, but the Code does not specifically recognize the vulnerability of Canadian seniors.
To help protect elderly Canadians and to ensure criminals who prey on them are punished appropriately, a re-elected Conservative Government will amend section 718.2 of the Criminal Code to add vulnerability due to age to the list of aggravating factors to be considered by courts when sentencing criminals who commit offences against seniors.
THE CHOICE
Canadians have a choice between Stephen Harper’s Government, who will continue to support and protect elderly Canadians, or an Ignatieff-led Coalition that has consistently opposed measures to support Canadian seniors and crack down on crime.
1 http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=458809
2 World Health Organization & International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (2002)
“Canadians agree that we must do whatever we can to protect and honour those men and women who have built our country,” said Mr. Harper. “Elderly Canadians have earned our gratitude for a lifetime of hard work in service to our families, our communities and our country.”
Although most of Canada’s seniors receive the respect and appreciation they deserve, too many are still victims of crimes such as fraud, neglect and assault. They are robbed of their dignity and peace at a time when they deserve to enjoy special care and respect. Many forms of elder abuse are prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada, but the Code does not specifically recognize the vulnerability of Canadian seniors.
A re-elected Stephen Harper Conservative Government will add vulnerability due to age to the list of aggravating factors to be considered by courts when sentencing criminals who commit offences against elderly Canadians. These amendments will result in sentences that properly reflect the vulnerability of elderly victims and society’s condemnation of such crimes.
“Elderly Canadians are among the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Mr. Harper. “We must protect our seniors and ensure that criminals who prey on them are punished appropriately.”
Canadians have a clear choice between a Conservative Government that will continue to take strong action to protect and support Canadian seniors, and an Ignatieff-led Coalition that has consistently opposed measures to support Canadian seniors and crack down on crime.
– 30 –
Conservative Press Office: 1-877-262-7026
Conservative Party of Canada
BACKGROUNDER
April 15, 2011
BACKGROUNDER
THE ISSUE
Canada’s seniors have worked hard to build a better country for future generations. That’s why Stephen Harper’s Government has taken significant action since 2006 to improve the quality of life for Canadian seniors.
Although most of Canada’s seniors receive the respect and dignity they deserve, too many seniors are still victims of crime in their homes, in relatives’ homes and in facilities responsible for their care. It is estimated that between four and ten per cent of seniors in Canada — about 345,000 individuals — experience some kind of abuse. (1) Elder abuse is defined as any action by someone in a relationship of trust that results in harm or distress to an older person. (2)
Commonly-recognized forms of abuse include physical, psychological and financial abuse, although elder abuse can also take the form of neglect. Financial abuse is the most commonly-reported type of abuse, although more than one type of abuse often occurs at the same time.
Stephen Harper’s Government has demonstrated a strong commitment to seniors and to combating elder abuse in all its forms. In March 2007, the Conservative Government created the National Seniors Council to help identify areas for federal action. On October 16, 2007, the Speech from the Throne indicated that Stephen Harper’s Government would introduce new measures to address elder abuse as part of its commitment to a safe and secure Canada.
Budget 2008 announced $13 million over three years to establish the Federal Elder Abuse Initiative (FEAI). The FEAI is designed to help seniors and others recognize the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and to provide information about the supports available to seniors. The FEAI also included an elder abuse awareness campaign, launched in June 2009, which was successful in educating Canadians about the issue.
Budget 2010 increased funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program to raise awareness of financial abuse of seniors. The Elder Abuse Awareness component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, established in 2007, helps non-profit organizations develop national or regional education and awareness activities to reduce the incidence of abuse of seniors.
And in the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan — opposed by Michael Ignatieff and his Coalition partners, the NDP and Bloc Québécois — Stephen Harper’s Government attempted to provide an additional $10 million over two years in funding for the New Horizons for Seniors Program. This money was intended to further the program’s objectives by supporting a greater number of projects, including projects to combat elder abuse.
The record of Stephen Harper’s Government is clear: we are taking concrete action to prevent and raise awareness of elder abuse, and we will continue to do so. Canadian seniors who worked hard to build our great country deserve no less.
The Ignatieff-led Coalition’s record is equally clear. The Liberal Party ignored the issue entirely during 13 years in government, and the Coalition parties voted against every budget measure introduced by Stephen Harper’s Government to prevent elder abuse, including the Elder Abuse Initiative, the Elder Abuse Awareness Campaign and investments in the New Horizons for Seniors Program.
THE PLAN
Canadians agree that the justice system’s highest priority should be to protect society, especially its most vulnerable members. And Canadians agree that, as a society, we must do whatever we can to protect and honour those who have built our country. Elderly Canadians have earned our gratitude for a lifetime of hard work in service to our families, our communities and our country.
That is why we are particularly concerned when senior Canadians are victims of crimes, including fraud, neglect and assault. These crimes rob them of their dignity and peace at a time when they deserve to enjoy special care and respect. Many forms of elder abuse are already prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada, but the Code does not specifically recognize the vulnerability of Canadian seniors.
To help protect elderly Canadians and to ensure criminals who prey on them are punished appropriately, a re-elected Conservative Government will amend section 718.2 of the Criminal Code to add vulnerability due to age to the list of aggravating factors to be considered by courts when sentencing criminals who commit offences against seniors.
THE CHOICE
Canadians have a choice between Stephen Harper’s Government, who will continue to support and protect elderly Canadians, or an Ignatieff-led Coalition that has consistently opposed measures to support Canadian seniors and crack down on crime.
1 http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=458809
2 World Health Organization & International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (2002)
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