The Toronto Seniors' Task Force has completed its mandate and is no longer active. The following document is provided for archival purposes.
Final Report of the Toronto Seniors' Task Force - September, 1999
More information on the Toronto Seniors' Task Force
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Executive Summary
How we got started
Early in 1998, the Toronto City Council established a Seniors' Task Force to identify the needs of seniors in Toronto and to develop a seniors' strategy to address priority issue areas which are to:
- develop structures to advise City Council on issues affecting seniors and to involve seniors in this process
- ensure that policies, programs and services developed and delivered by the municipality meet the needs of seniors
- value the involvement of seniors in the life of the City
- identify a role for the City in the International Year of Older Persons 1999
- provide a process for rationalization of all previous municipal seniors' committees.
City Council adopted the Terms of Reference in March 1998.
The Task Force consists of 25 members representing the geographic areas of the City. Seven are City Councillors and 18 are senior citizens.
What we did
The Seniors' Task Force undertook a highly inclusive consultation process. In partnership with about 65 community organizations and associations, the Task Force listened to the needs and concerns of 1,064 seniors in 39 public consultations held in the Fall of 1998. Consultations were held simultaneously in many languages including Chinese, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish and Tamil. Dedicated phone lines were available, some in local communities, as well as a two-day staffed phone line using the ATT language line. Fax, e-mail and a mailing address were made available for feedback from seniors who did not attend the consultations.
The consultation process was based on a facilitated workshop model and sought input from seniors on the following questions:
- what are the major issues and priorities for seniors living in the new City of Toronto?
- what citizen participation models should be adopted to advise City Council on seniors' issues?
- what suggestions did they have for marketing 1999 as the International Year for Older Persons in Toronto?
The Seniors' Task Force NEWS developed to let the public know about the Seniors' Task Force and circulate information on the public consultation schedule. Three issues of the newsletter were produced. Approximately 13,400 copies of the newsletters were printed and distributed to interested individuals. Community newspapers, local television and a 55+ radio station were also used to disseminate information about the consultations.
Seniors in Toronto
The Seniors' Task Force also reviewed key demographic data about seniors in Toronto and found that the population of the City of Toronto is aging. In 1971, seniors represented 8% of the total population of Toronto; in 1996, seniors represented 13% of the population. By 2029, the proportion of seniors is expected to increase to about 20% of the total population.
Other key demographic points include:
- One in four seniors live alone. The majority is female.
- The number of older seniors (over 75 years of age) is increasing.
- About a third of seniors use languages other than French and English. The top five languages, aside from English, are Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, Polish and Greek.
- The 1995 median income for Toronto's seniors, according to Statistics Canada, Taxfile Data, was $40,027, not far from the median income of all Toronto families at $41,629. The percentage of seniors, however, that received an income equal to or less than $30,000.00 annually was a little over 34% for husband/wife families, almost 33% for lone-parent families, and a dramatic 78% for single seniors.
- The income for the majority of single seniors (36%) was between $10,000.00 and $15,000.00. Most of these are widows.
What we heard
The Seniors' Task Force began its work in a time of social and political change. These changes have been rapid and wide ranging and have directly affected the daily lives of seniors.
Seniors acknowledged and valued the many programs and community supports they had been able to access and contribute to through the years. At the same time, however, they expressed deep concerns about the potential loss of familiar, local services and the feeling of community due to the amalgamation process.
The seniors consistently identified the following issues as major concerns for them living in the new City of Toronto. They were:
- Access to information
Seniors want consistent, clear information about who delivers services to seniors and how these services are delivered. This information needs to be delivered in many languages and using formats that seniors can easily see, hear and understand.
- Health and health services
Seniors were very concerned about many health care issues, especially the protection of community and public health programs, and accessible and affordable health care. They have many of the same concerns as others living in Toronto about the lack of long-term care and acute care beds, long waits in emergency wards, lack of staff, inadequate community-based health care, and a general perception that health services are declining.
- Transportation
Seniors expressed support for both the TTC and Wheeltrans. They are vital to seniors. Their suggestions and concerns focused on accessibility and affordability of public transportation.
- Housing
Although housing concerns are common to the population as a whole, seniors were particularly concerned about property taxes and fees for service. Seniors living in public housing were concerned about privatization, security and maintenance. Seniors who may be leaving their homes were concerned about affordability of rental units and being able to stay within their community.
- City services and supports
Seniors expressed concern about loss of service due to amalgamation. Services that are delivered by local government and through senior centres and agencies are important.
- A voice for seniors
Seniors said they wanted to have input into local government policy decisions that affect their lives and how services are delivered to them. Any group representing seniors in Toronto should reflect the cultural and ethno-racial diversity of the City.
It is timely that the Seniors' Task Force final report will be on the City Council agenda in 1999, the International Year of Older Persons. This report, which outlines recommendations to address issues and priorities raised by seniors living in the new City will become part of the legacy for City Council, staff and seniors to working together to make the new City of Toronto a society for all ages.
