Statement made on 18 June 2009 by Senator Jim Munson
Hon. Jim Munson:
I know the minister has a sincere interest in the subject of aging.
Honourable senators, Canada's population is aging and it is no secret. All one needs to do is look at Senator Duffy and me. The serious part of the matter is that we know all about our retiring baby boomers and how that will change our society. However, are we ready to face the implications of an aging and ailing population?
Currently in this country, we have shockingly few medical professionals who specialize in looking after the elderly. Consider this: There are 200 geriatricians working in Canada — that is 200 for the entire country — to look after the 4.5 million Canadians over the age of 65 years. We have grounds for concern given the average age of Canadian senators. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, we have 2,257 pediatricians in Canada — one pediatrician for every 2,472 children under the age of 14 years — but only one geriatrician for every 20,742 adults over 65 years of age.
Could the Leader of the Government in the Senate with responsibility for seniors tell us what this government is doing to ensure that Canada's seniors, today and in the future, have the health services they need?
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