Provincial Senior Citizens’ Lodge Program

WHEREAS the Provincial Lodge program has been in operation since the 1950s, and there are approximately 149 Senior Citizens’ Lodges operated throughout the Province, which are legislated under the Alberta Housing Act;

WHEREAS in 1994, the lodge program funding changed from a 50/50 cost-shared deficit with the municipalities and the province to a capped lodge assistance grant, with the municipalities responsible for the remaining deficit, thereby increasing municipal risk exposure and financial responsibility; 

WHEREAS in 2008-2010 Alberta Infrastructure conducted building assessments on lodge program facilities and concluded that the costs to maintain the facilities in their existing condition represented an increased financial burden, and the province also determined the cost to modernize the lodge program facilities but did not provide the financial resources to complete the project;

WHEREAS there are no provisions to modernize the lodge program facilities which are often in excess of 30 years of age and are not barrier-free;

WHEREAS the lodge assistance program grant does not contain any provisions to address inflation, aging infrastructure, marketability and increasing operational costs (utilities, insurance, salaries and benefits, etc.); and

WHEREAS the only recourse after rent to cover these increasing costs is to place the burden of funding on municipalities since the provincial funding is capped.