A provincial policy that requires Prince Edward Island seniors to produce three months of bank statements in order to access some government support programs will be changed, and the social development and seniors minister says that work is already underway.

Barb Ramsay fielded questions from Green Party MLA Karla Bernard on Thursday, who told the P.E.I. Legislature about concerned calls from seniors to the party’s office over the last few months. 

Seniors are required to file their bank statements to access financial help through programs like the Seniors Independence Initiative, which provides assistance for snow removal, transportation and meals.

Ramsay said she has received calls on the same subject and is working on eliminating the requirement “in the very near future.”

“I’m happy to hear that. But until then, we’ve still got them. You could just do away with them,” Bernard said. 

“Seniors continue to tell us that they feel this new requirement is an invasion of their privacy. They do not understand why the government has any need or right to review how they spend their money.” 

WATCH | Requirements for P.E.I. seniors to access assistance an invasion of privacy, Greens say:

Requirements for P.E.I. seniors to access assistance an invasion of privacy, Greens say

A policy requiring seniors to produce three months of bank statements to access some government programs will be changed. As for when that will happen is something the Green Party pressed for answers on Thursday in the P.E.I. Legislature. CBC’s Wayne Thibodeau explains.

Ramsay said she agrees.

“It’s something that we need to get rid of,” she said. “It is an invasion of privacy. That’s how I felt as well, and we’re working on getting rid of it.”

Bernard asked why, if the policy is an invasion of privacy, the requirement couldn’t be dropped immediately.

“This government can spend millions through special warrants without transparency or oversight,” Bernard said. “Yet when it comes to seniors trying to access a modest, essential program, suddenly the government scrutinizes every dollar a senior spends.”

Ramsay told reporters after question period that work is being done to remove the policy “as we speak.”

If the bank statement policy is removed, she said, seniors would still be required to provide a notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency to confirm their income and eligibility for programs.

Ramsay said the bank statement policy has always been in place, but some seniors have been voicing concerns lately.

“As soon as they did, I reacted to it and I talked to the department and said we need to have that policy changed,” she said. “I do believe that staff were kind of implementing that inconsistently.”

There’s a process involved in eliminating the policy, Ramsay said, which involves going through the cabinet committee on policy and priorities.

Ramsay is vice-chair of that committee. She hopes the process can be completed soon.

“I don’t want to box myself in,” she said, when asked about a timeline. “I want to make sure that there’s enough time to get that policy done.”