Manitoba's Seniors' Advocate Act to create independent office for seniors

In the government’s news release, Asagwara explained that these recommendations could cover a broad array of government services, including healthcare, housing, and government programs and support.

“Seniors and elders helped build our province, and they deserve to have their voices heard and their rights respected,” Asagwara said in Manitoba’s news release. “We saw during the pandemic what can happen when seniors aren’t given the respect and care they need.”

Seniors’ Advocate Act

The Manitoba government’s page on the province’s laws provided more information on the Seniors’ Advocate Act.

The seniors’ advocate will serve a five-year term in office and will have the following responsibilities:

• identifying, reviewing, and analyzing systemic problems or concerns believed to be important to seniors’ lives
• working together with service providers and seniors’ organizations to tackle these systemic issues and improve the availability, effectiveness, and responsiveness of seniors’ services
• promoting awareness of the availability of these services
• recommending to service providers how to improve the availability, effectiveness, and responsiveness of such services
• issuing recommendations to the government to improve the well-being, quality of life, and independence of seniors

While fulfilling these responsibilities, the seniors’ advocate should consider the systemic issues encountered by seniors who are part of communities or groups facing racism or discrimination and the ways that initiatives relating to seniors’ services can potentially promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The seniors’ advocate can do the following to meet their responsibilities:

• research and gather information through interviews and surveys about seniors’ services
• consult with service providers, seniors’ organizations, and the public
• inform the minister responsible for providing a seniors’ service about certain matters
• prepare reports discussing and giving recommendations relating to matters within their responsibilities
• report to the public on matters arising from the fulfillment of their responsibilities under the legislation