Elders' home, transitional housing among Nunavik priorities for new federal funds

This article is new today!

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-30 16:34:17.0
Tags: [National, Quebec, Housing, Indigenous, Healthcare, Seniors]

The Government of Canada announced $130 million in funding for Inuit treaty organizations, with more than $32 million allocated to Makivvik to support regional priorities in Nunavik. Makivvik plans to put the funds toward a new elders' home in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, and transitional housing in Montreal, following the relocation of 13 elders due to structural issues at a previous facility. Additional allocations from the $130 million package include $16.9 million for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, $15.5 million for the Nunatsiavut government, and $65 million for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated under the federal Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Fund.

2 years on, the Nunavut government is still trying to get elder mobility vans on the road

This article is new today!

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-30 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Transportation, Seniors, Social Services, Infrastructure]

Two years after the Government of Nunavut spent $1 million purchasing five elder mobility vans for Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay, Coral Harbour, Pangnirtung, and Rankin Inlet, the vehicles remain parked and unused due to a failure to secure operational funding. The initial pilot project contract with the non-profit Northern Future Skills Development expired after the territorial government budgeted only for vehicle purchases and shipments without providing management funds. Premier John Main announced that the government has now approved $1.25 million in funding for the current year to establish an operational policy and seek new organizations to run the transportation service.

Budget 2026 title and theme focus on Canada’s sovereignty, minister reveals

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 15:00:05.0
Tags: [National, Finance, Economy, Trade, Seniors, Governance]

National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced that the federal government will table Budget 2026 on November 5, 2026, under the title and theme "MASTERS OF OUR DESTINY: BUDGET 2026" (inspired by Jean Lesage's 1962 Quebec slogan "Maîtres chez nous"). Prime Minister Mark Carney's government designed the upcoming budget to address a period of profound change and uncertainty involving redefined trade relationships, U.S. tariffs, trade tensions, and geopolitical conflicts threatening Canadian sovereignty and economic resilience.

N.W.T. MLAs decry lengthy medical travel flights for seniors

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-23 17:34:19.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Seniors, Transportation, Governance]

Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, including Frame Lake MLA Julian Morse and Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, decried the physical toll that lengthy, indirect medical travel flights lasting up to six hours to Edmonton take on seniors and elders. Lawmakers raised concerns that doctor-recommended requests for shorter flight exemptions are frequently denied by the Department of Health and Social Services, despite over 23,000 people utilizing the medical travel service annually at a significant taxpayer cost. Newly appointed Health Minister Denny Rodgers stated he is willing to review all aspects of the policy but declined to promise any immediate new exemptions as the government enters the final year of its term.

N.W.T. expands home heating subsidy for seniors

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-21 18:06:17.0
Tags: [National, Seniors, Affordability, Social Services, Energy]

The Government of the Northwest Territories announced modifications to the Senior Home Heating Subsidy by raising the household income threshold to $90,000 or less per year to expand financial assistance over the winter. The new policy replaces a previous three-zone system ranging from $66,000 to $87,000 with a uniform income cap while maintaining zone-based monthly subsidy rates of $530 for Zone 1, $685 for Zone 2, and $1,090 for Zone 3. Payments are distributed monthly between September and April, with previously denied applicants automatically reassessed and an application deadline set for March 15, 2027.

Ottawa must renew mental health and home care funding, health ministers say

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-02 12:23:46.0
Tags: [National, Manitoba, Healthcare, Social Services, Seniors, Finance]

Provincial and territorial health ministers from across Canada are raising concerns over the impending expiration of $1.2 billion in dedicated federal funding agreements for mental health, addictions, and home care set to sunset in March 2027. The funding stems from a broader $200 billion 10-year health care funding pledge made in the 2023 federal budget, which included $4.8 billion targeted specifically for home care, community care, and mental health services over four years. Officials, including Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Canadian Mental Health Association president Marion Cooper, warn that failing to renew these targeted agreements will result in a fiscal cliff, leading to reduced community services and job losses in the health sector.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are underway. Here’s each province’s approach

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-09-28 18:15:15.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Seniors]

Provinces and territories across Canada are rolling out their fall 2026 COVID-19 and influenza vaccination programs following guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Ontario began its phased rollout for high-risk populations on September 28, with general public access starting October 26. Alberta provides free influenza shots to all residents, while COVID-19 vaccines are limited to specific vulnerable groups or carry a $100 administrative fee for non-eligible individuals at Primary Care Alberta. Other jurisdictions, including Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon, have established varying eligibility criteria and rollout schedules spanning September and October 2026.

Canada’s population growth continues its decline, StatCan says

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-09-23 18:08:42.0
Tags: [National, Immigration, Economy, Seniors]

According to Statistics Canada, Canada's total population growth continued to decline, reaching an estimated 41,798,407 people on July 1, 2026, representing an annual increase of 189,425 people or 0.5 percent—the lowest July-to-July percentage increase since 1915/1916. The slowdown is primarily driven by changing international migration trends, including a decrease of 154,614 non-permanent residents led by sharp declines in study permit holders and work-and-study permit holders. Additionally, the fertility rate remained unchanged at 1.26 children per woman in 2025, while the average age of Canadians rose to 42.1 years with seniors over 65 now accounting for 20 percent of the population.

'Father of Nunavut' has one more fight left: to live in the territory he helped create

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-22 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Seniors, Social Services, Indigenous, Justice]

Supporters of John Amagoalik, known as the 'Father of Nunavut,' filed two notices of application for judicial review in the Nunavut Court of Justice against the territorial government after it declined a request for $16,000 per month to cover his accessible housing and daily personal support worker care in Iqaluit. Amagoalik, who requires complex medical care following a partial leg amputation, was previously sent by the Department of Health to Embassy West Senior Living in Ottawa, where 73 Nunavut elders are currently housed due to a lack of territorial facilities. Friends and supporters formed the John A. Committee, raising $30,000 to temporarily bring him home, and are now seeking a court order to compel the government to adequately fund his long-term care needs within the territory.