While many departments across the province are facing the harsh realities of the provincial budget cuts, seniors throughout Alberta can rest assured knowing their benefits have been left intact.
Minister of Seniors Jeff Johnson was in the region last Monday to tour the seniors lodges in Bonnyville, Glendon and Cold Lake, while also taking the time to assure local seniors that they would be well taken care of.
“The Premier is not reducing any benefits for seniors. Even though we are cutting other departments and reducing some grants all of the things that we have promised in terms of fixing up some of the lodges and replacing fire and safety systems; we have the money to do all of that in the budget,” said Johnson, in front of a small crowd of Bonny Lodge residents.
“All of the things that seniors may get in terms of income supports, special needs assistance or any of the things that they are entitled to as benefits from the province; we are not reducing any of those. In fact, we are trying to add to them.”
Johnson came up on March 30 and spent an entire day in the Lakeland touring Glendon's Heritage Manor, the Bonny Lodge and Cold Lake Lodge.
While in Bonnyville he sat down and shared a meal with Bonnyville residents, mingling with the locals and answering any questions they had.
He then was escorted on a tour of the buildings which included stops at one and two bedroom apartments in the independent living side of the facility, a single bedroom apartment in the lodge side and an old bedroom in the old lodge side.
Ray Prevost, Chair of the Lakeland Lodge and Housing board was ecstatic over the Minister's interest in the region.
“He took a full day to meet and talk with seniors and that was quite refreshing,” said Prevost. “Not many ministers have taken the time to walk through all of the facilities that we have here.”
With Bonny Lodge having recently finished the first part of a two-part expansion, Prevost was eager to take Johnson on a tour of the new building and advocate for continued funding.
“We still need to do Phase 2-b in Bonnyville that is for sure,” said Prevost. “We need more lodge beds to help eliminate that long lodge waiting list.”
Prevost went over the plans for phase 2-b with Johnson explaining that the next phase would focus on developing the old eastern wing of the lodge.
“He took the time to look at the plans for Phase 2-b, which really impressed me,” said Prevost. “He was genuinely interested in the project.”
Phase 2-b would see 46 to 54 new lodge rooms added on to Bonnyville lodge, something Prevost says is extremely necessary.
No funding for the project has officially been announced, but Johnson says part of the reason for his trip was to look into the project and possible funding for the region.
“That is one of the things that I am looking at here today,” said Johnson. “Funding for seniors is critical. It is a big focus for the Premier.”
The past few months have seen 24 seniors lodge replacement projects begin along with fire and safety system upgrades in over 100 other lodges.
“The Premier has us working on three things: renewing and replacing the old lodges across the provinces, upgrading the sprinkler and fire safety systems in the lodges and adding long-term care space and assisted living,” said Johnson. “This initiative is going to help seniors stay together and spouses not split up. Having more assisted living and dementia units is critical, especially throughout rural Alberta.”
Johnson finished his talk with the local seniors by touching on just how good the recent budget announcement was for them, saying that the province has put a strategy in place to ensure they continue to have the best benefits in Canada.
“This was a very good budget for seniors. It is a tough budget and we have to reduce our costs but the one are that was protected was seniors,” said Johnson. “The money is there and there have not been any reductions to senior's benefits. They have the best benefits in the country.”
