TELL FEDERAL LEADERS

We have a realistic, affordable plan to achieve BIG things for Canadians. With a single reform to Canada’s retirement policy, we could:

• Eliminate poverty for ALL seniors!
• Support younger Canadians with affordable housing, child care, and education!
• Move Canada closer to a balanced budget!

A federal election is coming. Join us in asking all parties to offer voters a bold, positive vision that achieves these goals.

Support our win-win-win plan

THE PROBLEM

Canada’s Old Age Security (OAS) program desperately needs an overhaul. The way we determine eligibility for retiree cash benefits is out of step with what most Canadians think about who needs taxpayer-funded support.

Retirees with individual incomes up to $90k (more than twice Canada’s median income of $43k) receive full OAS payments — and benefits aren’t fully clawed back until income surpasses $148k. By comparison, couples receiving the Canada Child Benefit begin to have payments clawed back when their combined incomes reach just $79k.

These figures are all the more surprising when we factor in two things:

One, retirees enjoy the lowest poverty and highest wealth of all age groups. Surprised? You’re not alone. The common belief that seniors tend to be more financially vulnerable dates from the 70s — and just like shag carpet, it needs a refresh.  

Two, younger generations face housing that is unaffordable as owners or renters, rising tuition and student debt, and parental leave and child care supports that still fall short. Despite these financial hits, younger people are paying more of their taxes to support today’s retirees than these same retirees paid to support seniors in their day. Talk about intergenerational solidarity!

A WIN-WIN-WIN PLAN

Our number crunching shows an obvious and affordable path forward — one that most Canadians support. This is one of those rare occasions when a win-win-win is squarely within reach!

The answer is to modernize OAS eligibility to reduce payments to affluent retirees with annual incomes over $100k. This change would ask 1 in 4 retirees to get about $3,200 less in after-tax income. Three quarters of Canadians approve — including seniors. Even Canada’s main seniors’ lobby (the Canadian Association of Retired Persons) is on the record saying that it’s time for a rethink of OAS thresholds. 

The savings from this single reform are BIG: $36 billion over five years. We could accomplish BIG things with these dollars:

• Lift all seniors out of poverty — just under a half-million people. Price tag: $12 billion
• Deliver extra financial support to low-income seniors. Price tag: $4 billion

If you’re counting, that adds up to $16 billion of the available $36 billion. What other BIG things could we do to address living costs and promote wellbeing? How about:

• Double proposed spending increased for affordable housing. Price tag: $6 billion
• Double proposed spending increased on postsecondary education. Price tag: $5 billion
• Add 50% to investments in affordable child care. Price tag: $5 billion
• Start paying down the deficit. Price tag: $4 billion

SUPPORT THIS PLAN

Convinced? Then join us in telling federal leaders that it’s time to act on this bold vision.

Add your voice

Want to do more?

Check out our toolkit key messages, social media content, and advice on op-ed and letter writing.

Share our graphics and videos with your friends, family and colleagues — and your political reps.

Reach out to your MP. Now’s a good time to make sure they’re listening, as the clock ticks down on the Liberal government’s final budget — and momentum ramps up for the next election.

We’ve already saved Canadians $16 billion by spearheading successful efforts to galvanize the federal government to resist the Bloc Québécois’ badly designed OAS reforms. Now that retirement policy is on centre stage, we need to seize the momentum to win changes that will benefit so many Canadians.

ADD YOUR VOICE

Show your support for our win-win-win plan! We'll amplify your voice in meetings with elected leaders and their staff.