Mr. Speaker,  

October 1st was National Seniors Day. On Friday, I met with three members of the National Pensioners Federation to hear about their concerns and hopes for the rights and well-being of aging people in this country.  

According to Statistics Canada, people aged 85 and older could triple to almost 2.5 million over the next 25 years. Many of those citizens are in my province of British Columbia, where individuals 65 and older make up nearly 20% of the population.  

Challenges such as the pandemic, accountability for caretakers, and climate change's effects on human health concern this demographic and all those who care for them. The National Pensioners Federation is currently working on a draft for the UN regarding the proposed Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, which would emphasize the critical importance of these issues. 

As we move into new chapters for Canada, let us honour the rights of older persons and work hard to ensure people possess the tools and care to navigate aging with security and dignity.