Message from the Advocate

Happy Spring!

Although snow is still on the ground in many parts of the Island and in Labrador, daylight is slowly extending and the nights are getting lighter. Winter can be a challenging time for seniors, so we certainly welcome Spring and look forward to the flowers blooming and warmer air.

Spring is also a time to make plans for the upcoming year and that’s exactly what my Office has been doing. We already have a full schedule for public engagement sessions, which can be found on the Public Engagement section of this webpage. I look forward to getting back out into the communities and meeting with seniors. As always, if your group or organization would like to meet with me, please connect with my Office. We will be booking our Fall sessions in the near future.

Again this year, my Office forwarded a Budget Submission to the Department of Finance, ahead of the Provincial Budget 2024-25. I was pleased to see some of the recommendations made by my Office included in the provincial budget, including the free enhanced flu vaccine for people 65 years and older, and the commitment to advance a poverty reduction plan for seniors. I will continue to bring forward the concerns around financial hardship and the impact of the rising cost of living on seniors through my Office’s advocacy work.

Have a wonderful, healthy Spring!

Susan Walsh, MSW RSW
Seniors’ Advocate NL