{ "name": "CASL: where candidates and party leaders stand on seniors", "publisher": "CASL, the Chamber for the Advancement of Senior Living", "url": "https://www.thecasl.ca/politics.html", "updated": "2026-10-11", "note": "Free to quote and share with credit to CASL. CASL does not rate or rank candidates, and does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party. Candidates in an election are shown without any rating; only party leaders in office who are not running in an election get the CASL Seniors Score.", "method": { "areas": [ { "id": "health", "name": "Health and care", "covers": "home care, long-term care, doctors, dentists, drug costs and dementia care" }, { "id": "money", "name": "Money", "covers": "income, pensions, taxes, fees and fares aimed at older adults" }, { "id": "home", "name": "Housing and staying at home", "covers": "homes for older adults, help at home, repairs and changes that let people stay in their homes" }, { "id": "move", "name": "Getting around and safety", "covers": "transit, Wheel-Trans, accessible streets, crime, scams and elder abuse" }, { "id": "people", "name": "Community and caregivers", "covers": "loneliness, seniors’ centres and programs, and support for family caregivers" } ], "rules": [ "Candidates in an election are never scored. Their record for older adults is shown side by side, found and cited by the same rules, with no score or ranking.", "Only public, dated sources count, and every one is linked: the person’s own campaign or party website, their government’s official pages, and news reports of what they said or did.", "A policy for everyone, like a tax freeze for every home or lower fares for every rider, counts only where the person has tied it to older adults, and never for more than 1 point.", "Services used mainly by older adults, like home care and long-term care, count in Health and care.", "People in government can point to a record as well as promises, so a government’s funded programs count. Challengers can match them with specific commitments.", "A party’s latest platform counts until it publishes a new one.", "Five areas, up to 2 points each: 10 points make 5 castles. A person with points in fewer than two areas is shown as “Not enough on record yet”, not as a zero.", "The same rules apply to everyone, and everyone is listed in alphabetical order." ] }, "races": [ { "id": "toronto", "title": "Toronto: the race for mayor", "when": "Election day is Monday, October 26, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.", "intro": "More than 50 people are running for mayor. Here is what the candidates leading the polls and taking part in the main debates have put on the public record for older adults, side by side, in alphabetical order. CASL doesn’t rate, rank, endorse or oppose candidates. Any candidate can send us public commitments to add, by the same rules.", "rated": false, "people": [ { "name": "Brad Bradford", "role": "Running for mayor of Toronto. City councillor for Ward 19, Beaches-East York, since 2018.", "status": "candidate, not rated", "summary": "Has spoken about older adults and safety, traffic and costs, and promises to expand the City’s air conditioner help for low income seniors.", "page": "https://www.thecasl.ca/where-they-stand-brad-bradford.html", "areas": { "health": { "kind": null, "text": "We found nothing aimed at older adults on health or care.", "sources": [] }, "money": { "kind": "said", "text": "In a CARP interview in July, cost was one of the three priorities he set out for seniors; CARP’s summary says many older adults live on fixed incomes while property taxes, rents and care costs rise. He promises to freeze property taxes for one year “for every home and every business”.", "sources": [ { "name": "CARP: Mayoral Race Toronto, Biggest City and Most Seniors (interview)", "date": "2026-07-08", "url": "https://www.carp.ca/2026/07/08/mayoral-race-toronto-the-biggest-city-has-the-most-seniors/" }, { "name": "CP24: Bradford promises tax freeze as Chow defends inflation based increases", "date": "2026-09-23", "url": "https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/09/23/bradford-promises-tax-freeze-as-chow-defends-inflation-based-increases-heres-what-you-need-to-know/" } ] }, "home": { "kind": "promise", "text": "Promises to expand the City’s Air Conditioner Benefit for low income seniors and people with medical need, and to publish every year how many applied, were approved and got a unit. His campaign says his land transfer tax plan would let a senior who no longer needs the family home downsize in Toronto without the tax; the plan is for every homeowner who sells and buys again in the city.", "sources": [ { "name": "Brad Bradford campaign: plan for renters", "date": "2026-10-05", "url": "https://bradford26.ca/news/bradford-releases-his-plan-for-renters-keep-your-home-cool-your-home-build-more-homes" }, { "name": "Brad Bradford campaign: land transfer tax plan", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://bradford26.ca/news/brad-bradford-toronto-mayor-will-eliminate-torontos-land-transfer-tax-for-the-average-homebuyer" } ] }, "move": { "kind": "said", "text": "CARP’s summary of his priorities for seniors ties public safety to independence, since people who feel unsafe stay home, and says traffic falls hard on family caregivers, home care workers, Wheel-Trans and people going to medical appointments.", "sources": [ { "name": "CARP: Mayoral Race Toronto, Biggest City and Most Seniors (interview)", "date": "2026-07-08", "url": "https://www.carp.ca/2026/07/08/mayoral-race-toronto-the-biggest-city-has-the-most-seniors/" } ] }, "people": { "kind": null, "text": "We found nothing aimed at older adults on loneliness, seniors’ programs or help for family caregivers, beyond what he said about traffic and caregivers above.", "sources": [] } }, "history": [ { "date": "2026-10-11", "text": "Record published. For a few hours that day this page showed a score; CASL doesn’t rate candidates, so it was removed the same day." } ] }, { "name": "Olivia Chow", "role": "Mayor of Toronto since 2023, running for re-election.", "status": "candidate, not rated", "summary": "Her campaign has a plan for seniors that it says would reach 28,000 people, with help at home, mobile dental and primary care, and community connectors where many older people live.", "page": "https://www.thecasl.ca/where-they-stand-olivia-chow.html", "areas": { "health": { "kind": "promise", "text": "Promises to expand mobile dental and primary care clinics to help 8,000 seniors stay healthy near home: a fourth mobile dental clinic serving about 3,200 people a year and two more primary care vans expected to reach about 4,800 seniors a year.", "sources": [ { "name": "Olivia Chow campaign: “Olivia Chow will create a more senior-friendly city”", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://www.oliviachow.ca/olivia_chow_will_create_a_more_senior_friendly_city" }, { "name": "NOW Toronto: Chow and Bradford unveil new campaign promises", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://nowtoronto.com/news/toronto-election-2026-chow-senior-plan-bradford-land-transfer-tax-cut-campaign-promises/" } ] }, "money": { "kind": "record", "text": "Her campaign says she expanded the City’s property tax deferral and cancellation programs, raising the income limit each year, and will keep doing so.", "sources": [ { "name": "Olivia Chow campaign: “Olivia Chow will create a more senior-friendly city”", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://www.oliviachow.ca/olivia_chow_will_create_a_more_senior_friendly_city" } ] }, "home": { "kind": "promise", "text": "A $5.61 million plan her campaign says would reach 28,000 seniors, including access to the City’s free homemaking services (cleaning, laundry, meal preparation) for 5,000 seniors. Her campaign also says she created and expanded the City’s free air conditioner program.", "sources": [ { "name": "Olivia Chow campaign: “Olivia Chow will create a more senior-friendly city”", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://www.oliviachow.ca/olivia_chow_will_create_a_more_senior_friendly_city" }, { "name": "NOW Toronto: Chow and Bradford unveil new campaign promises", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://nowtoronto.com/news/toronto-election-2026-chow-senior-plan-bradford-land-transfer-tax-cut-campaign-promises/" } ] }, "move": { "kind": null, "text": "We found nothing aimed at older adults on transit, Wheel-Trans, safety or scams. She promises to make TTC rides free after 10 trips a week, for every rider.", "sources": [ { "name": "Olivia Chow campaign: TTC rides free after 10 trips a week", "date": null, "url": "https://www.oliviachow.ca/olivia_chow_will_make_ttc_rides_free_after_10_trips_each_week" } ] }, "people": { "kind": "promise", "text": "Would partner with University Health Network to hire Community Connectors who set up recreation and social activities where many older people live (naturally occurring retirement communities), reaching 15,000 seniors in 100 of them. NOW Toronto reported 50 Community Connectors. Her campaign says she also invested in free library programs for seniors.", "sources": [ { "name": "Olivia Chow campaign: “Olivia Chow will create a more senior-friendly city”", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://www.oliviachow.ca/olivia_chow_will_create_a_more_senior_friendly_city" }, { "name": "NOW Toronto: Chow and Bradford unveil new campaign promises", "date": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://nowtoronto.com/news/toronto-election-2026-chow-senior-plan-bradford-land-transfer-tax-cut-campaign-promises/" } ] } }, "history": [ { "date": "2026-10-11", "text": "Record published. For a few hours that day this page showed a score; CASL doesn’t rate candidates, so it was removed the same day." } ] } ] }, { "id": "ontario", "title": "Ontario: the party leaders at Queen’s Park", "when": "The leaders of the parties with seats in the Legislature. No provincial election is under way.", "intro": "These leaders hold office and are not running in an election now, so they get the CASL Seniors Score, by the rules below. A government’s record counts as well as its promises, so the Premier is scored on what his government has funded. The other parties are scored on their latest platform, from the February 2025 election, and anything they have published since.", "rated": true, "people": [ { "name": "Doug Ford", "role": "Premier of Ontario since 2018. Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.", "status": "scored", "summary": "His government can point to funded programs for older adults, with numbers, in most areas. Reporting in March 2026 said Ontario is unlikely to reach its 2028 long-term care bed goal.", "points": 9, "castles": 4.5, "page": "https://www.thecasl.ca/seniors-score-doug-ford.html", "areas": { "health": { "points": 2, "kind": "record", "text": "The 2026 Ontario budget adds $1.1 billion over three years for home care, and in October 2026 the province added nearly $13 million for dementia care in long-term care homes. The goal is 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds by 2028; the budget says that as of February 2026, 61 projects with 4,054 new and 4,297 upgraded beds were finished and 103 more, with 10,337 new beds, were under construction or approved. In March, reporters wrote the goal was unlikely to be met; the finance minister said the province will keep trying.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario Budget 2026, chapter 1, section B", "date": "2026-03-26", "url": "https://budget.ontario.ca/2026/chapter-1b-services.html" }, { "name": "Ontario Newsroom: Ontario Expanding Access to Dementia Care in Long-Term Care Homes", "date": "2026-10-08", "url": "https://news.ontario.ca/en/news-release/1008123/ontario-expanding-access-to-dementia-care-in-long-term-care-homes" }, { "name": "CP24 (The Canadian Press): Ontario to boost home care funding, may miss long-term care bed goal", "date": "2026-03-26", "url": "https://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2026/03/26/ontario-to-boost-home-care-funding-may-miss-long-term-care-bed-goal/" } ] }, "money": { "points": 2, "kind": "record", "text": "The Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit pays people 70 and older with low to moderate incomes 25% of eligible medical expenses, up to $1,500 a year, even if they owe no tax.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario: Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit", "date": null, "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-seniors-care-home-tax-credit" } ] }, "home": { "points": 1, "kind": "record", "text": "The province’s Home and Vehicle Modification Program helps more than 2,000 people a year, including seniors, make their homes safer and more accessible, with grants of up to $15,000. It isn’t only for older adults, so it counts as 1.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility: published plan 2025 to 2026", "date": "2025-12-12", "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/published-plans-and-annual-reports-2025-2026-ministry-seniors-and-accessibility" } ] }, "move": { "points": 2, "kind": "record", "text": "Enhanced funding of almost $1.0 million over three years, from 2023-24, for the Seniors Safety Line, the province’s helpline for older adults facing abuse.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility: published plan 2025 to 2026", "date": "2025-12-12", "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/published-plans-and-annual-reports-2025-2026-ministry-seniors-and-accessibility" } ] }, "people": { "points": 2, "kind": "record", "text": "$22.8 million in 2026 for more than 400 Seniors Active Living Centre programs, and Seniors Community Grants of $1,000 to $25,000 for local projects for people 55 and older (325 projects in 2026-27).", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario Newsroom: Ontario Investing Over $22 Million to Help Seniors Stay Active and Healthy", "date": "2026-05-29", "url": "https://news.ontario.ca/en/news-release/1007521/ontario-investing-over-22-million-to-help-seniors-stay-active-and-healthy" }, { "name": "Ontario: Seniors Community Grant Program", "date": "2026-09-01", "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/seniors-community-grant-program" } ] } }, "history": [ { "date": "2026-10-11", "text": "First score." } ] }, { "name": "Mike Schreiner", "role": "Leader of the Green Party of Ontario. MPP for Guelph.", "status": "scored", "summary": "The Green Party’s 2025 platform promised 48,000 non-profit long-term care spaces by 2029, and help with seniors’ housing and caregiving without numbers.", "points": 4, "castles": 2, "page": "https://www.thecasl.ca/seniors-score-mike-schreiner.html", "areas": { "health": { "points": 2, "kind": "promise", "text": "The 2025 platform promised to build 48,000 non-profit long-term care spaces by 2029, and at least one nurse practitioner for every 120 long-term care residents.", "sources": [ { "name": "Federal Retirees: Ontario’s political parties, what’s on the table (quoting the Green Party’s 2025 platform)", "date": "2025-02-19", "url": "https://www.federalretirees.ca/news/february/ontarios-political-parties-whats-on-the-table/" } ] }, "money": { "points": 0, "kind": null, "text": "We found no commitment on money aimed at older adults.", "sources": [] }, "home": { "points": 1, "kind": "promise", "text": "Promised thousands of supportive housing units for seniors, by adding health and social supports to existing non-profit seniors’ buildings, and help for naturally occurring retirement communities through an Age-Friendly Communities grant program. No set number.", "sources": [ { "name": "Federal Retirees: Ontario’s political parties, what’s on the table (quoting the Green Party’s 2025 platform)", "date": "2025-02-19", "url": "https://www.federalretirees.ca/news/february/ontarios-political-parties-whats-on-the-table/" } ] }, "move": { "points": 0, "kind": null, "text": "We found no commitment on getting around or safety aimed at older adults.", "sources": [] }, "people": { "points": 1, "kind": "promise", "text": "Promised more support for people who care for loved ones who are ill or elderly, without an amount.", "sources": [ { "name": "Federal Retirees: Ontario’s political parties, what’s on the table (quoting the Green Party’s 2025 platform)", "date": "2025-02-19", "url": "https://www.federalretirees.ca/news/february/ontarios-political-parties-whats-on-the-table/" } ] } }, "history": [ { "date": "2026-10-11", "text": "First score." } ] }, { "name": "Marit Stiles", "role": "Leader of the Ontario NDP and of the Official Opposition. MPP for Davenport.", "status": "scored", "summary": "The NDP’s 2025 platform promised changes to home and long-term care, a Seniors Home Safety Grant and a monthly Caregiver Benefit, without numbers.", "points": 3, "castles": 1.5, "page": "https://www.thecasl.ca/seniors-score-marit-stiles.html", "areas": { "health": { "points": 1, "kind": "promise", "text": "The 2025 platform promised to stop the privatization of home care and long-term care, pay home care workers the same as hospital workers, and reverse Bill 7, which it says lets hospitals discharge patients into long-term care homes without their consent. No numbers for older adults.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario NDP 2025 platform: On Your Side", "date": "2025-02-01", "url": "https://www.ontariondp.ca/sites/default/files/ontario_ndp_platform.pdf" } ] }, "money": { "points": 0, "kind": null, "text": "We found no commitment on money aimed at older adults. The platform’s monthly grocery rebate is for everyone.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario NDP 2025 platform: On Your Side", "date": "2025-02-01", "url": "https://www.ontariondp.ca/sites/default/files/ontario_ndp_platform.pdf" } ] }, "home": { "points": 1, "kind": "promise", "text": "Promised to make it easier for seniors to age at home safely, with reliable access to home care and a Seniors Home Safety Grant to help with renovations. No amount.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario NDP 2025 platform: On Your Side", "date": "2025-02-01", "url": "https://www.ontariondp.ca/sites/default/files/ontario_ndp_platform.pdf" } ] }, "move": { "points": 0, "kind": null, "text": "We found no commitment on getting around or safety aimed at older adults. The promise to restore 50% provincial funding for municipal transit and paratransit is for everyone.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario NDP 2025 platform: On Your Side", "date": "2025-02-01", "url": "https://www.ontariondp.ca/sites/default/files/ontario_ndp_platform.pdf" } ] }, "people": { "points": 1, "kind": "promise", "text": "Promised a monthly Caregiver Benefit for people caring for loved ones at home, without an amount. In May 2025 an NDP member’s motion called for a direct monthly payment to unpaid caregivers; the party’s announcement gave no amount.", "sources": [ { "name": "Ontario NDP 2025 platform: On Your Side", "date": "2025-02-01", "url": "https://www.ontariondp.ca/sites/default/files/ontario_ndp_platform.pdf" }, { "name": "Ontario NDP: proposal to establish an Ontario Caregiver Support Benefit", "date": "2025-05-28", "url": "https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/it-s-time-care-caregivers-ndp-brings-proposal-establish-ontario-caregiver-support-benefit" } ] } }, "history": [ { "date": "2026-10-11", "text": "First score." } ] }, { "name": "Ontario Liberal Party", "role": "Interim leader John Fraser, since January 2026.", "status": "pending", "summary": "The party announces its new leader on November 21, 2026. We will score the new leader’s commitments for older adults.", "points": null, "castles": null, "page": null, "areas": null, "sources": [ { "name": "CTV News: Ontario Liberal caucus names John Fraser as pick for interim leader", "date": "2026-01-19", "url": "https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/politics/queens-park/article/ontario-liberal-caucus-names-john-fraser-as-pick-for-interim-leader/" }, { "name": "CP24 (The Canadian Press): Ontario Liberal leadership debate", "date": "2026-08-10", "url": "https://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2026/08/11/candidates-in-ontario-liberal-leadership-debate-value-of-having-a-seat/" } ], "history": [] } ] } ] }