The Conservatives signalled Thursday that seniors will be a key target market in the election campaign, with Seniors Minister Julian Fantino pointing out how older voters would have benefitted from the failed federal budget.
Fantino visited the Better Living Community Centre in Toronto, outlining proposed improvements to the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
He said the changes would ensure Canada's "most vulnerable seniors" are able to enjoy their retirement and experience an improved quality of life.
"Canada's seniors represent a generation of Canadians who helped us build a country that we are all proud of," Fantino said in a release. "Our government will continue to provide increased support to seniors through enhancements to the GIS."
The federal budget, which was introduced on Tuesday by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, was quickly rejected by the opposition parties.
They are expected to approve a non-confidence motion Friday that would bring down the government and launch a federal election.
The budget will likely never be voted on in Commons, since the government is expected to fall before that happens. However, it is widely expected to form the foundation of the Conservatives' election campaign.
In his statement Thursday, Fantino said the proposed improvements would provide single, low-income seniors with up to $600 in benefits, while couples would receive $840.
He also listed a number of other ways the Conservatives have helped seniors in recent years.
The New Democrats had demanded roughly $700 million in spending on seniors, an amount that NDP Leader Jack Layton has said would have lifted all seniors up to at least the poverty line.
Fantino said Wednesday that the government responded the best it could and that was reflected in the budget.
