Finance committee  Well, I would think that if rural communities are struggling, as we have heard this morning, and there is an outmigration of the younger population to more urbanized centres, then the continuation of the community is dependent upon those older persons. Initiatives that support them financially, and socially as well, can have a huge positive impact, I would think, on sustaining that community's life into the longer term—for sure.

Finance committee  I think the best example I can give is this. Walk down the aisles of a supermarket. You see an older couple. We have all seen it. I've seen it, anyway, and I would invite anybody who hasn't seen it to do it. At Walmart, it's the same thing. Walk down the aisles with a couple with their grocery cart.

Finance committee  The organizations I've been involved with have been lobbying to also make sure that this additional cohort of our citizens is included in that increase. That lobbying action will continue. A lot of people retire long before the age of 65 or move into some kind of a lesser work cycle.

Finance committee  Good morning. I am Sharron Callahan. I am the executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Sector Pensioners' Association and the chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador seniors' and pensioners' coalition. Collectively, this coalition represents the membership of 13 affiliated associations to which the NLPSPA provides leadership and infrastructure support, so our outreach is quite large.