Gallant government pledges aging council with few details

Premier Brian Gallant and Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers announced a plan to create a council on aging, but few details are available on what that will entail.

Now the provincial government has announced it will not move forward on its contentious reforms to the province's nursing home policy, it will form a council that will help the province create an aging strategy.

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The idea of creating thecouncil was born out of a meeting between the provincial governmentand seniors groups on Sept. 4.

"We're going to work with them to establish all the parameters," said Gallant.

The premier said the aging council will be similar to other councils already operating within the provincial government.

"We'll obviously make sure that it represents exactly what structure they think will be the best to be able to have a good dialogue between us and the seniors groups," he said.

"And we'll ensure that that is also done in a timely fashion."

The premier said he does not expect the council to cost taxpayers a lot of money.

He said it will offer the participants an opportunity to exchange ideas on issues affecting seniors.

"We're very transparent about our challenges and ideas and vice-versa," he said.

"I'm convinced that the seniors groups will do a great job of contributing to that council and helping us govern and making sure that seniors have a better quality of life in New Brunswick."

Critics surprised by decision

Critics of the provincial government's now-rescinded plan said they were pleasantly surprised with the announcement on Wednesday.

"I didn't think we would come this far," said Cecile Cassista, the executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights.

"I thought we'd have another five more months to go."

Cassista was planning on going to Miramichion Thursdayto continue her work in advocating for the provincial government to retract the proposed policy.

She found out the provincial government would be cancelling those reforms at10 a.m.on Wednesday.

Cassista said she is not sure how the proposed council will work, but she has already given her views to the premier.

"The only way a council will work [is if the government holds] a summit, bring the people together, all the stakeholders together, let's bring out the terms of references. And then let's take a look at what segments we're going to look at," said Cassista.

Gallant said it's important to form the council as soon as possible.

He said he would like the general direction of the seniors' strategy to be in place before the provincial government introduces its next budget.