Welcome to a special election edition of CARP Action Online! We are in full election mode and want to update you on the latest developments. Please check our special Election 2008 page on the web site: http://www.carp.ca/election08/ to keep tabs on what we're doing.

14.5 million Canadians are 45 years of age or more -- a full 42% of the Canadian population. We call them Zoomers -- Boomers with zip.

During this federal election, CARP Advocacy has focused on making sure that the federal parties pay attention to the issues that matter to our members and all Zoomers.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister
In the launch issue of Zoomer magazine, Susan Eng, CARP Vice President of Advocacy, challenged the Prime Minister to step up to the plate and address the issues that affect Zoomers stating, "This is a demographic that is looking for iconoclastic leadership. The opportunity to provide it is right in front of you." A copy of that column may be found at: http://www.carp.ca/election08/Oct%20Eng.pdf

Zoomer magazine is delivered to 200,000 households across Canada and hit the newsstands this week.

A Politician's Advantage -- Knowing How to Count
On Wednesday September 17th, CARP hosted a news conference to inform political candidates that Zoomers are the largest and most politically engaged Canadians -- 70% of us vote regularly and in 2004, we cast nearly 9 million votes, or 64% of all votes cast in that election. Politicians cannot afford to ignore this vote -- rich demographic. They must address our election priorities, namely:

1. Universal Family Caregiver Benefit -- a refundable caregiver tax credit to support the estimated 5 million Canadians caring for loved ones at home.

2. Universal Pension Plan for the 1 in 3 Canadians without retirement savings and substantial increases to Old Age Security [OAS], Canada Pension Plan [CPP] and Guaranteed Income Supplements [GIS] for low and fixed income seniors.

3. Elimination of Mandatory Retirement for 840, 000 Canadians working in federally regulated industries.

4. a strategy to Keep Older Workers including training, anti-ageism in the workplace and phased retirement.

5. Better Health Care through wait times guarantees, national health standards and pharmacare.

The news conference was webcast live so that our members and chapters could participate with any questions or feedback. The webcast was recorded and may be viewed on our home page www.carp.ca. Webcasts will become a regular feature of CARP Advocacy so please stay tuned.

Harold Brathwaite, Executive Director of the Retired Teachers of Ontario as well as Nadine Henningsen of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition came out in support of CARP's priority demands. Also in attendance were Green party candidates Marion Schaffer, Ellen Michelson, Sharon Howarth and Wayne Scott as well as NDP Member of Parliament, Olivia Chow.

Question for Leaders' Debate October 1st and 2nd
CARP submitted a question for the National Leaders' Debate to be held October 1st and 2nd asking for their response to our call for a Universal Family Caregiver Benefit. Specifically, CARP asked the parties to commit to a Universal Family Caregiver Benefit to support the Family Caregiver that mirrors the Universal Child Care Benefit.

Here's what we said:

It is estimated that there are 5 million Canadians caring for loved ones at home. A disproportionate number of these people are women and visible minorities. The current system of financial supports for Family Caregivers is inadequate and falls far behind what is available in other developed countries.

Canadians recognize the need to support families with young children and similarly expect the same value to be placed on caring for loved ones later in life.

CARP recommends that there be a Universal Family Caregiver Benefit to support the Family Caregiver and to allow people to stay in their homes as they age. The benefit should mirror the Universal Child Care Benefit currently provided to Canadian families with youngsters.

Will the political parties commit to introducing a Universal Family Caregiver Benefit that mirrors the Universal Child Care Benefit?

If you agree, please email this text or your own question to question@electiondebate08.ca. The media consortium that organized the debate have set up this address to hear from the public. Also, please send a blind copy of the e-mail to advocacy@carp.ca so we can track how many caregiver questions are submitted.

Federal parties ignoring 64% of voters by not addressing their priorities such as support for family caregivers
We reviewed the party platforms and announcements to date and found that the federal parties were ignoring 64% of voters by not addressing their priorities. On Wednesday September 23rd, we issued a news release with a critique of their platforms and called for better support for family caregivers. Please click here to view our news release.

Flaherty and Clement Open to CARP Priorities
We are also taking our message directly to the politicians and they are listening. In an exclusive interview on 96.3 FM, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty declared himself a Zoomer and was the first federal politician to state he was open to CARP's top priority demands. Please click here to view our news release and to listen to Minister Flaherty's remarks.

Health Minister Tony Clement voiced his support for a National Pharmacare program but cautioned that he would have to negotiate with the provinces.

Election Questionnaire
On Thursday, September 25th, CARP issued a questionnaire to all the major parties asking them to address our election priorities. The questionnaire was sent to the headquarters of the five major political parties and we have requested replies by October 1st -- the United Nations International Day of Older Persons [for more information: http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/olderpersons/]

Replies will be posted for your review on http://www.carp.ca/election08/ as they arrive as well as reported in special election editions of CARP Action Online. Please click here for our news release and a copy of the questionnaire.

Your Voice
Please feel free to raise the questions posed in our questionnaire to the candidates who come to your door. You can also contact the campaign offices of all the candidates in your riding. Go to: http://www.elections.ca/intro.asp?document=index&lang=e&section=pol and enter your postal code for the list of the candidates and their phone numbers [email addresses are not listed].

Please take a minute to answer our poll and let us know if there are other issues that concern you in this election at advocacy@carp.ca.