The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Craig Pardy, Minister of Seniors:

Speaker, I rise today to recognize June as Seniors’ Month.

This is a time to honour the lives, legacies and contributions of seniors throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Our government is committed to ensuring seniors age with dignity and with the supports they need to stay connected, engaged and independent.

And we are making progress on that front. We committed to increasing the Seniors’ Benefit by 20 per cent, which will happen on July 1 thanks to Budget 2026. It also includes wage increases for those who care for seniors in this province – self-managed home support workers and personal care home staff.

We continue to improve the quality of life for seniors through expanded dementia care, enhanced rehabilitation and restorative programs in personal care homes, and the development of age- and dementia-friendly communities. We are also supporting social inclusion and community transportation through targeted grants.

Speaker, I look forward to honouring this year’s outstanding seniors at the Seniors of Distinction Awards on June 11. These awards recognize seniors from all walks of life – experts in their fields, cultural stewards, volunteers, organizers, fundraisers, and those who care for people in need.

I ask all Honourable members to join me in celebrating our province’s seniors today, every day, and especially during the month of June.

Thank you.