CTV News Interview with Sharon Elliot
Read about and watch Sharon Elliot’s interview on CTV News Link to Full Article Here
B.C. woman launches advocacy group led by seniors, for seniors
Multi-skilled journalist, CTV News Vancouver
Published Sept. 9, 2023 7:26 p.m. PDT
Sharon Elliott was employed up until a few months ago. At 74 years old, Elliott was working part-time to pay for her expenses until a spinal injury pushed her to retire. The loss of income, paired with expensive health-care treatments, forced her to face a new reality.
“By the time I paid for those services, there was no money left for food,” she said.
Elliott is one of the many low-income seniors in the province struggling to afford basic necessities like food and housing. According to a report, “BC Seniors: Falling Further Behind(opens in a new tab),” by B.C.’s Seniors Advocate, 25 per cent of seniors earn an income less than $21,000.
After reaching out to her MP’s office, Elliott decided to start an advocacy group led by seniors, for seniors called the Tin Cup Movement. Its focus is on access to health-care benefits and affordability.
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“Seniors should live in dignity,” she said. “Seniors lifting tin cans out of the garbage, and going down the alleys to pick up bottles and standing in food bank lineups is not dignified.”
‘SOMEONE IS SUFFERING’
Elliott’s plight is one advocates say they’ve been hearing about for years, especially when it comes to suitable housing.
“There’s a great deal of anxiety for seniors just on that alone,” said Grace Hann, a seniors advocate who works at the Gordon Neighbourhood House in the West End.
Andrea Krombein, the seniors coordinator at Marpole Oakridge Family Place, told CTV News she knows of elders who are frequently threatened with eviction.
“Right now, as we are standing here, someone is suffering and that shouldn’t be happening,” she said.
UNIVERSAL DENTAL CARE PLAN
Jenny Kwan, the MP for Vancouver East, said she knows of seniors in her constituency who are struggling to access dental care. Kwan said this is one of the reasons the NDP fought to secure a universal dental program, which she said will be available to seniors this year.
“We’ll be heading back to the House of Commons in about a week’s time and we will be resuming that debate, working on that legislation, doing that work to bring it to fruition,” she said.
The province has invested in affordable housing for seniors(opens in a new tab), as well as mental health supports through the SHINE program, which supports those at risk of becoming homeless.
Elliott said she will continue to advocate for herself and others like her.
“We deserve more than this,” she said.
One Comment
Marlene Botrokoff
I am a senior rapidly approaching 80 and waiting for my invitation to enroll for Seniors Dental Care. My husband (who is 75 ) has already received his invitation and enrolled. I believe that the delay in my invitation is because I am currently fighting with the CRA over my having to repay the $14,000. I got for CERB. At the age of 76 I decided to start a small business running errands for shut ins. I called it Odds and Errands. My business only operated for 8 months and had to be shut down due to Covid 19. I followed the criteria for CERB laid out by the Federal Government and obeyed the warnings of Dr. Theresa Tam who said that “if you’re over 65 and have high blood pressure, you should stay home and isolate.” In 2022 i suffered 3 major surgeries in three months and was lucky to survive. For most of 2023 I was illness and worry free. That is until October-November of 2023 when the CRA (in it’s infinite wisdom) decided that I did not qualify for CERB and should repay the money they sent me. The provincial finance department has also jumped in ro reclaim $1000. that they sent me unsollicited. Needless to say, the stress I and my husband are living with is almost insurmountable. Ever tried to argue with CRA?? I’d be very interested in joining a class action law suit against the CRA if there is one available.
The treatment we have been subjected to by the CRA and provincial government is abysmal. The correspondence sent to us demeaning and disgraceful.
We live on government pensions and are lucky to have paid off our mortgage. Food, gas, electricity, natural gas etc is still very expensive and we have taken to walking the local highways collecting empty cans and bottles. The extra money is welcomed, as is the exercise and just getting out in our beautiful province.
We are better off than some seniors, but still in need of more income.