Resources on pension reform and Old Age Security

Last week Prime Minister Harper signaled possible cuts to Canada's pension programs, namely Old Age Security benefits for middle- and lower-income seniors. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has produced several resources on pension reform, including analysis of the possible plan to raise the age for OAS eligibility: 

• Canada’s Incredible Shrinking Population, by Erin Weir 

  CCPA research associate Erin Weir brings some clarity to claims that the cost of Old Age Security is unsustainable.

• The OAS Eligibility Age and Employment, by Andrew Jackson 

  Andrew Jackson suggests that an increase in the eligibility age for OAS/GIS will negatively impact an increasing proportion of older Canadians who are staying in the workforce well past 65.

• Is The OAS/GIS Program Unaffordable?, by Andrew Jackson 

  On CCPA’s blog, Andrew Jackson writes that despite the government's claims to the contrary, OAS costs are indeed sustainable in the context of an ageing society.

• Hennessy's Index: Grey Power, by Trish Hennessy 

  Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers about Canada and its place in the world. February's edition introduces us to some distressing numbers and facts on pensions and Old Age Security.

• Low Income and the Age of Eligibility for OAS, by Andrew Jackson 

  Andrew Jackson suggests that raising the age of eligibility for Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) will have the biggest impact on future seniors who are in lower income brackets.

• Raising The Retirement Age Is The Wrong Way To Deal With The Retirement Crisis, by Andrew Jackson 

  In this blog post, Andrew Jackson writes that raising the age of eligibility for OAS/GIS will cut a basic building block of retirement security, and instead we should be expanding the Canada Pension Plan now to raise incomes for seniors in the future.

• Delaying Retirement: What does it mean for younger workers?, by Karen Foster 

  Karen Foster examines the impact of pension reforms on the job prospects and economic well-being of younger workers.

• A Stronger Foundation: Pension Reform and Old Age Security, by Monica Townson 

  This report reviews OAS and its associated programs of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Allowance and discusses measures that could be taken to strengthen this part of Canada’s pension system.

• Pension Breakdown: How the Finance Ministers Bungled Pension Reform, by Monica Townson 

  This study provides an analysis of the government's proposed Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP) program, and asserts that it will do nothing to solve Canada’s pension crisis.