VICTORIA -- New Democrat Labour Critic Chuck Puchmayr today said he is disappointed that the B.C. Liberals’ legislation ending mandatory retirement (Bill 31) does not address ongoing discrimination against seniors by WorkSafe B.C.

Puchmayr said that Section 5 of Bill 31 allows WorkSafe B.C. to continue to discriminate against injured workers once they reach age 65.

“The elimination of job discrimination against people over 65 willing to continue to work is an important first step,” said Puchmayr, MLA for New Westminster . “But the reality is that the policies and practices of the Campbell government have made it extremely difficult for seniors to retire with comfort and dignity.”

Puchmayr said it is regrettable that the bill ignores the bulk of the 16 recommendations contained in a December 2006 report by the Premier’s Council on Aging and Seniors Issues.

“If Gordon Campbell fully understood and truly cared about issues facing seniors, he would have expanded the scope of the legislation to include measures that address systemic discrimination facing our seniors in its totality,” said Puchmayr.

Statistics show that seniors are the fastest growing homeless population in B.C., and the lack of adequate access to health care, affordable housing and homecare continue to pose serious challenges for seniors in their golden years.

“The fact that more and more B.C. seniors are ending up with terrible struggles during a time of record surpluses shows this government’s priorities are gravely misdirected,” said Puchmayr.

“With this legislation, the government had the opportunity to address some of the shortfalls. But clearly, they have failed yet again,” Puchmayr said.