Guest Blog Calling out Fearmongering by the Retiree Lobby

More and more people across Canada are calling for changes to OAS. They know that as living costs rise and uncertainty grows, we must spend in ways that help the most. Delivering full OAS subsidies to retired couples with $182k incomes doesn’t pass this test – especially when 400,000 seniors are living in poverty, and young people are facing unaffordable housing and bleak employment prospects.

Gen Squeeze is siding with brave retirees who are calling for the changes we need to eliminate seniors’ poverty and grow income and housing security for younger and working age Canadians. In this guest blog, Shelia Regehr calls out the retiree lobby for its fearmongering about OAS reforms, and offers a vision of a Canada that works for all generations.

This Isn’t a War on Seniors — It’s a Call for Solidarity

By Sheila Regehr

I am a senior citizen, mother and grandmother. I am privileged to have both Old Age Security (OAS) and a good pension income. I support changes to OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to better support people who most need income guarantees for a decent life, and to support greater equality, including gender equality. It is not the only way to achieve those goals but it can make an important contribution. I’m also working for a basic income guarantee for 18-64 years olds who have also almost no income security.

For the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) to recently describe Gen Squeeze’s proposed OAS reforms as a ‘War on Old Age Security’ is dangerously inflammatory. Their article features a picture of a woman on her own (as we get older, a single woman is increasingly the portrait of seniors). If she is well-off, her OAS would barely be affected under the Gen Squeeze plan. If she is low-income and alone, she will significantly benefit from the $5,000 increase to GIS for which Gen Squeeze is calling. It is wealthy couples who would assume a fairer share of responsibility to live on their own substantial incomes in the interest of the wider public good. Times have changed. Public policy must too.

The generations coming behind us face income and wealth inequality at record highs, an uncertain economy, and skyrocketing food insecurity and homelessness. Poverty, inequality and anxiety are driving up demands on the health care system (that is especially important to seniors) and that costs us all in tax dollars and delayed treatment. Many young adults are having little success in a precarious job market despite higher education. Cost of living increases are eroding the quality of life of GIS recipients too, and their food bank use is growing. Too many people are giving up hope. This is not the strong or unified Canada we need.

I want a Canada where everyone matters, where public policy ensures we can all meet our basic needs, contribute as we are able and be treated with dignity, in a democracy where people care for each other and the planet. This is not a war across generations; it is the opposite. It is us, as well-off seniors, wanting others of all ages to meet basic needs – and to prosper as well.

Sheila writes this blog as an individual, but draws on her experience as a former senior federal public servant, Executive Director of the National Council of Welfare, and current chair of the Basic Income Canada Network.