Elizabeth May pledges health transfers to reflect aging populations

Federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is promising federal health transfers that reflect the age of a province's population, not just its size.

The pledge ispart of her party's national seniors strategy, which she unveiled during a campaign stop in Fredericton on Wednesday.

The Greens supporta call from the Canadian Medical Association for programs that allowseniors to stay in their homes, remain active and ensure their quality of life, said May.

"We have a lotofvery active seniors. Weneed to respect the role that seniors continue to play in our community and make sure that our public policy meets their needs," she said.

To that end, the Greens wouldincreasethe Canada Health Transfer to account for the age of a province's population, so they can afford to provide health care with a demographic that is weighted with seniors, May said.

We must make sure that the level of care you receive in New Brunswick not be a lesser level of care than if you are in Toronto.- Elizabeth May, Green Party leader

New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant has criticizedthe federal government fora new formula for health transfer payments that will slow the growth of the funding that Ottawa sends to New Brunswick,even as the province faces the higher cost of caring for an aging population.

In July, he issued a statement saying the per capita funding formula would lead to higher costs in New Brunswick and called for special funding to help provinces with aging populations.

May acknowledged New Brunswick's situation during her campaign stop.

"We must make sure that the principles and spirit of the Canada Health Act are respected, that Supreme Court decisions are honoured, that the level of care you receive in New Brunswick not be a lesser level of care than if you are in Toronto," she said.

'Guaranteed livable income'

The Greens' national seniors strategy also includes previously announced platform planks, such as creating a nationalpharmacareprogram so that all seniors can afford to fill their prescriptions andimplementing a"guaranteed livable income," which supplements pensions to helpensure no Canadian lives in poverty.

"Our seniors have contributed immeasurably to this country; they have raised us, built our economy, and invested heavily in our social programs," Green Party Fredericton candidate Mary Lou Babineau said in a statement.

"It is therefore completely unacceptable that so many of our seniors are living in poverty and the federal government is missing in action," she said.

The Greens' strategy also calls for:

• A national housing plan with affordable and predictable home care.
• A national dementia strategy, which includes more long-term care beds and improved supports for family members.
• Increased convenient and safe public transportation to support independent living.

May says the party will also look at the Supreme Court's decision to allow physician-assisted death.