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MP’s intervention reverses GIS policy
Kootenay-Columbia Member of Parliament Wayne Stetski celebrated a policy change last week that resulted from his calling the government’s attention to a matter harming vulnerable seniors across Canada.
Stetski rose in the last week and demanded to know why the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development introduced a harmful policy last January which prevented Canada’s most vulnerable seniors from being eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
“I was pleased to see the government take my question seriously and implement immediate policy changes,” Stetski said. “Shortly after my question, the minister announced he reversed the policy decision and seniors separated for reasons beyond their control will be eligible for the supplement. Additionally, the announcement also came with assurances for involuntarily separated seniors who were denied the benefit this year will have their eligibility re-examined.”
Stetski said he was alerted to this problem by a couple in his riding who were forced to live apart as the wife’s dementia required her to relocate to an assisted living facility. After being told they were ineligible for GIS, the couple was forced to consider filing for voluntary separation, after 60 years of marriage, in order to receive the supplement required to cover the additional housing costs.
Service Canada advised Stetski that had they received this application prior to January 2017, the wife’s GIS application would be approved.
An internal Service Canada document shared with Stetski’s office stated that the intention of the January policy changes “were not meant to place couples in a worse financial situation as a result of a provision being used.” However, that was exactly what was happening for this family.
Following the Minister’s announcement of retroactive change, seniors who have previously been denied their GIS due to involuntary separation are encouraged to contact Service Canada as these policy changes may affect their eligibility.
“As a first term MP it means a lot to successfully intervene and affect policy that will better the lives of many seniors across Kootenay-Columbia and Canada,” Stetski said.
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