Seniors worried as grocery prices expected to continue climbing

The rising cost of groceries is hitting many people hard in the pocketbook, but especially those who are on fixed incomes like many seniors.

According to Canada’s Food Price Report, the cost of groceries overall could rise by as much as seven per cent in 2023.

Federal Seniors Minister Kamal Khera was in Saskatoon on Monday to highlight $266,159 for 12 seniors projects in Saskatchewan, including $25,000 for the Round Prairie Elders Centre announced earlier in the year.

No new seniors funding announcements were made.

Khera was asked by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63 president Rodney Holowaty not to leave seniors behind as inflation rises.

“Most seniors I talk to and deal with are afraid they’re going to be forgotten,” he said. “It seems as though that all the focus of the government is on children and young people and you’ve almost forgotten about us.”

He told Khera increases to the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security simply aren’t enough. Last July, seniors 75 and older saw a 10 per cent increase in their OAS benefits.

“We’ll take you to the grocery store after, and we’ll show you,” he added. “Please don’t forget us.”

Khera said senior’s benefits were indexed to inflation.

“We have the ‘Age Well at Home’ initiative. I know the $6 billion we gave to provinces and territories on home care. We just tasked our national seniors council to look at what an aging-at-home benefit can look like,” she said.

Holowaty said some of the older Legion members don’t have pension plans.

“I’ve just notice how much groceries have gone up in the last year,” he said. “(For) some of our members, though … it’s rough.”

The Legion held its Christmas party last weekend, he said, and branch members gathered non-perishable food items because some members can’t get by without them.

“(We) found some funding to give them a dinner for $5, where everybody else paid $25. It’s tough,” he added.

Darryl Larose and his friend Debbie, who attended the minister’s visit, said keeping up with rising costs was difficult.

“I was looking at turkeys and I saw one (for) $65. Holy! Like, isn’t that nuts?” he asked.

When asked how he might be able to pay more for food, he said: “I don’t know. Pickin’ bottles, I guess.”

“I’m just relying on family a lot,” said Debbie. “(The price of groceries) is going up too much.”