Seniors

Personnes âgées

Updated June 1, 2010
Page révisée le 1er juin 2010

[ Go to Canadian Social Research Links Home Page ]

Links to international sites (jump directly to the bottom of this page)

Quicklinks to seniors' websites:

* From :
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(Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, private pensions)
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- incl. general information about, benefits, payments and taxation
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- incl. information about benefits, payments and taxation

* (Govt. of Canada)
* ()
* - formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons
*

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Tel.:

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Français:

May 25, 2010

Membership in registered pension plans (RPPs) increased 1.7% in 2008 to just over 6.0 million, the first time the number of active participants has surpassed that level. The number of registered pension plans as of January 1, 2009 remained virtually unchanged at 19,200.
- incl. table: Registered pension plan membership by sector and type of plan.

Related subjects:
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March 26, 2010

Just over 8.9 million employed Canadian tax filers participated in a private retirement savings plan in 2008, about 50% of all tax filers. This proportion was down from 54% in 1997. There was a decrease in the share of employed tax filers who contributed to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) during the decade. In 1997, 41% of employed tax filers participated in an RRSP; by 2008, this proportion had declined to 34%.

The report:

Participation in private retirement savings plans,
March 2010
- table of contents (links are in the left-hand margin) + Abstract, Intro and Highlights
(285K, 35 pages)

Related subjects:
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Source:

[]

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News Release
March 24, 2010
The federal government today announced the launch of online consultations and a series of cross-country roundtable discussions, speaking engagements and town hall meetings to gather input from Canadians on ensuring the ongoing strength of Canada’s retirement income system. The consultations will inform discussions at the next meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance in May, where the retirement income system will be a key agenda item.
(...)
Public town hall meetings will be held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City, and Richmond, British Columbia. Roundtable discussions with invited key stakeholders, experts and representatives from provincial and territorial governments will take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and London, Ontario.

Click the above link for more background information on this consultation along with email and street mailing addresses where you can send your input.

The closing date for contributions is April 30, 2010, and these consultations are open to anyone.

Individuals interested in participating in the online consultations are invited
to do so through the following link to the Department of Finance website:

Related links:

January 8, 2010
OTTAWA – When the federal government introduces a new budget in March, it must make the creation of good jobs a priority, says Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.
Source:

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.2 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils.

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December 17, 2009
TORONTO - Over 1,700 CARP members responding overnight to CARP’s Pension Reform Poll want real action and give specific advice as well as their reaction to recent federal proposals.

CARP is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all Canadians as we age by advocating for social change that will bring financial security, equitable and timely access to health care and freedom from discrimination.
CARP was originally known as the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, and is now called Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus. ()

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From the :

(PDF - 146K, 7 pages)
By Monica Townson
November 2009

(PDF - 147K, 9 pages)
By Monica Townson
October 2009

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October 27, 2009
"...an important reform plan for the federal private pension legislative and regulatory framework."
[ - detailed information on each of the five measures]
Source:

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(seven-part series - October 16-24, 2009)
Source:

:
One Très Cool Advocacy Tool!

Want to send an email message to your federal or provincial elected officials?
Click the link above to access the complete list of federal Members of Parliament by name, by province/territory or by riding.
Click "Switch to Provincial Representatives (MPP's)" near the bottom of that page for the complete list of provincial/territorial elected officials.
Clicking on the name of an MP or an MPP opens a new page with a form that's pre-addressed from you to that individual and a text box where you can record your message.
Then hit the SEND button and your email is on its way.
Simple.
Powerful.
NOTE: the blurb on the CARP E-VOICE page suggests that you can use CARP E-VOICE to support CARP initiatives, but I'm sure the nice folks at CARP wouldn't mind if Canadian social justice groups used this excellent tool for communicating with their elected officials...
Source:

Press Release
November 25, 2009
OTTAWA—Canada’s Old Age Security system needs improvement in order to help ensure the economic security and dignity of Canadians in retirement, says a new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The report, by pension expert and CCPA Research Associate Monica Townson, 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.

Complete report:

(PDF - 146K, 7 pages)
By Monica Townson
November 2009

Source:
(CCPA)
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with issues of social and economic justice. Founded in 1980, the CCPA is one of Canada’s leading progressive voices in public policy debates.

Also from CCPA:

Press Release
October 8, 2009
OTTAWA— Canada’s pension system needs urgent attention, says a new report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The report, by CCPA Research Associate and pension expert Monica Townson, outlines some of the problems with Canada’s pension system and examines some of the options that have been proposed to deal with them.

Complete report:

(PDF - 147K, 9 pages)
By Monica Townson
October 2009

October 27, 2009
News Release
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released an important reform plan for the federal private pension legislative and regulatory framework. (...) Today’s announcement comes out of extensive consultations with Canadians, beginning with the January release of a discussion paper, Strengthening the Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Private Pension Plans Subject to the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, and including online consultations. (...)
The package includes measures to:
* Enhance protections for plan members.
* Reduce funding volatility for defined benefit plans.
* Make it easier for participants to negotiate changes to their pension arrangements.
* Improve the framework for defined contribution plans and for negotiated contribution plans.
* Modernize the rules for investments made by pension funds.

- detailed information on each of the five measures

Source:

From :

(seven-part series - October 16-24, 2009)
Canada's retirement dreams are under siege, weakened by underfunding and hobbled by the global recession.
It's a national crisis with no easy answers.

*
--- Retirement dreams under siege
By Jacquie McNish
October 16, 2009
- incl. links to: * Article * Video * Photos * Pension scenarios * Comments (198)
What you need to know:
--- 84% of public service workers have pensions.
--- 78% of these plans are gold plated defined benefit pensions
--- 25% of private sector workers have a pension plan
--- 16% of these plans are gold plated defined benefit pensions
--- 11 million workers, or 60 per cent, of Canada’s workers have no pension at all
--- 8 million or 45 per cent, have no pensions or registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs)

*
--- Bankrupt companies, pension promises destroyed
By Greg Keenan
October 18, 2009
- incl. links to : * Article * Video * Photos * The history of pensions (recommended by Gilles!) * Comments (124)
What you need to know:
--- 17.6 million: Number of people in the Canadian work force.
--- 11 million: Number of Canadian workers without pension plans.
--- 4 million: Number of those workers with registered retirement savings plans.
--- 10,000: Number of pension plans in Canada.
---- 4.5 million: Workers with pension plans who have defined benefit plans that guarantee the pension income of retirees until they die.
--- 55 per cent: Amount of those plans held by public sector employees.
--- $25,000: Average pension per year.

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--- Hybrid pension plans: a hard sell
By Janet McFarland
October 19, 2009
- incl. links to : * Article * Video * Photos * The history of pensions * Comments (36)
As companies weigh alternatives for the future, a crucial choice comes down to a pair of innocuously simple-looking bits of shorthand: Will the future be DB (Defined Benefit) or DC (Defined Contribution)? Traditional pension plans are DB, defined benefit. A retiree covered by the plan is guaranteed a given level of income. If the plan falls short, the employer is on the hook. The new model, increasingly favoured by employers, is DC, defined contribution. In this approach, the employer’s responsibility is limited to making a certain (“defined”) contribution to the employees’ pension plan. Contributions made by both the employer and employee go into an individual account for the employee, who makes his or her own investment choices. If the plan falls short, the employee is on the hook.

*
--- Financial planning: Whom should you trust?
By Rob Carrick
October 20, 2009
- incl. links to : * Article * Video * Photos * The history of pensions * Comments (78)
As pensions become unreliable, more Canadians are being forced to plan for retirement themselves. But whom do you turn to for help? The experience of one couple who relied on a financial adviser is a cautionary tale.

*
--- No pension safety net for self-employed
By Andrew Willis
October 21, 2009
- incl. links to : * Article * Video * Photos * The history of pensions * Comments (59)
Meet the next generation of retirees: middle-class workers without pensions who are left to their own devices and facing an uncertain financial future. As formal pension plans become increasingly less common, many Canadians face a savings burden that many are unwilling – or unable – to shoulder.

*
--- Freedom 55? Couple couldn’t wait that long for retirement
By John Heinzl
October 22, 2009
- incl. links to : * Article * Video * Photos * The history of pensions * Comments (84)
In a society that encourages consumers to borrow and spend, in which the pressure to upgrade homes, cars and gadgets never stops, living within one’s means and staying out of debt is a challenge. But for people who make a middle-class salary, the “boring” approach may be the surest route to building wealth and achieving financial security, say those who have done it.

*
--- Canada's gathering pension storm
By Konrad Yakabuski
October 23, 2009
- incl. links to : * Article * Video * Photos * The history of pensions * Comments (36)
Italy may be one of the worst off, but all developed countries, along with China, will experience unprecedented economic and social pressure in coming decades as their populations grey. Few, if any, have prepared for the demographic tsunami that will hit them as the baby boom generation heads into its golden years. By comparison, Canadians have some reason to feel fiscally smug, with a public pension system considered one of the world’s most financially sustainable. There’s only one catch: That system pays among the least generous government-sponsored benefits in the developed world.

Source:

The two following links will take you further down on this page:
* Public pension consultations/reforms March/April 2009 (Finance Canada consultation)
* Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Undersubscription

Great site for seniors - includes links to info about : HEALTH (Alternative Medicine, Nutrition, Women's Health) - MONEY (Pensions, Taxes, RRSP) - EMPLOYMENT (Education, Programs, Volunteer) - HOME AND HOUSING (Adaptation, Long-Term Care, Residences) - FAMILY (Injury, Medical History, Medication) - LEGAL (Advice for Seniors, Consumer Protection, Travel) - EDUCATION (Courses) - SAFETY AND SECURITY - TRAVEL
- includes a link to the

The National Seniors Council was established to advise the Government of Canada on all matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors.

From the
Special Senate Committee on Aging:

(PDF - 1.4MB, 237 pages)
April 2009
In November 2006, the Special Senate Committee on Aging was created with a broad mandate to review a wide range of complex issues to determine if Canada is providing the right programs and services at the right time to the individuals who need them. The Committee has reviewed public programs and services for seniors, identified the gaps that exist in meeting their needs, and examined the implications for service delivery in the future as the population ages. [Excerpt from the Foreword]

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Source:

(40th Parliament, 2nd Session: January 26, 2009 - )
of the

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Related link:

April 21, 2009
By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - The federal government needs to do much more to assist the aging population, including beefing up pension, old age assistance and compassionate care benefits, says a new report. The final report of the special Senate committee on aging, released Tuesday, concludes there are serious gaps in health care, housing, transportation and support systems for seniors. And those problems are only going to grow as the baby boom generation enters the retirement years.
Source:

August 5, 2009
News Release
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that he will meet with his provincial and territorial counterparts December 17-18, 2009, in Whitehorse, to discuss continuing progress in strengthening Canada’s economy and to receive the report of the Research Working Group on Retirement Income Adequacy. (...) At their last meeting on May 25, 2009, federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers agreed to create the Research Working Group on Retirement Income Adequacy to expand the knowledge base underpinning the subject of retirement income adequacy. This group, chaired by Ted Menzies, parliamentary secretary to Minister Flaherty, and supported by research director Jack Mintz and finance ministers from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia, is to report to finance ministers and ministers responsible for pensions by the end of 2009. The first meeting of this group was held on July 22, 2009, in Calgary and participants agreed to a work plan, which will culminate in a report to ministers.
Source:

August 25, 2008
A blog post on the Progressive Economics Forum, "Falling Poverty Among the Elderly - A Canadian Success Story", describes how the poverty rate for seniors has fallen from 11.3% in 1989 to just 5.4% in % for elderly men, and 7.0% for elderly women.) This puts the average poverty rate for seniors in Canada lower than Sweden (6.6%) and way below the U.S. (21%). The author speculates that the senior poverty rate has fallen due to progressive social policies such as the Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement, as well as high private pensions during the 1970s and 1980s. But poverty among seniors still disproportionately effects women, people of colour, immigrants and people with disabilities. A 2006 report from the National Advisory on Aging, Seniors on the Margins: Aging in poverty in Canada (see the link below) looks more seniors in the next decade, especially marginalized seniors, may not have access to the resources they need.
Source:

An online resource for advocates, people on welfare, and community groups and individuals involved in anti-poverty work.

Related links:

Posted by Andrew Jackson
August 7, 2008
Source:

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[ ]
The Progressive Economics Forum aims to promote the development of a progressive economics community in Canada. The PEF brings together over 125 progressive economists, working in universities, the labour movement, and activist research organizations. ]

(PDF - 299K, 33 pages)
September 2005
Seniors on the Margins is a series of policy papers presenting NACA opinions and recommendations on the needs and concerns of seniors who are marginalized, or at risk of marginalization in Canadian society.
Source:
(NACA)
NOTE: In May 2007, NACA was replaced by the National Seniors Council (see the link below). Despite all of the pontificating on accountability, transparency and disclosure that we hear from Canada's No-Longer-New Government, the NACA website ceased to exist when the Seniors Council was created. The above NACA link is from (Archive.org).
[ For more info about The Wayback Machine, go to the Reference Links page of this site http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/reference.htm ]

For more information on government policy and seniors see:

* - advises Canada's Government on all matters related to the health, well-being and quality of life of seniors.
* - Federal government information

What's new in June 2009 from
:

* The, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, is leading consultations with Canadians on the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To participate in the online consultation, please visit .
This consultation ends July 31.

* A national campaign and a federal under the launched on June 15, 2009.

* The has developed a number of tools to help employers, learners and practitioners address Literacy and Essential Skills challenges.
Visit the to access 17 new tools and much more.

* — The calls for proposals for Community Participation and Leadership Funding and Capital Assistance Funding are now open in Quebec until September 11, 2009.
NOTE: this last item was actually in the May What's New update for HRSDC

May 2008
Investing in Seniors
- Highlights recent Government of Canada measures that benefit seniors

(62K, 2 pages)
- incl. * Tax Relief * Improving Old Age Security * Investing In Canada's Future * Supporting Caregivers * Engaging Seniors, Strengthening Communities

Related Links:

For a list of consultations currently underway in other federal departments, please visit the

*

General information - Did You Know? * Canada's Retirement Income System - "What's in it for you?" * Your CPP Statement of Contributions o Request a CPP Statement of Contributions * General Information About the Canada Pension Plan * 1998 Changes to the Canada Pension Plan * Important Information for Common-law Partners * CPP Annual Reports * Quebec Pension Plan
Benefit information - Retirement Pension * Disability Benefits * Survivor Benefits (death, survivor & children's benefits) * Children's Benefits for Students aged 18 to 25 * Forms Payment information - Canada Pension Plan Payment Rates * Payment Dates * Direct Deposit * OAS and CPP T4/NR4 Income Statements o Obtain your Tax Information Slips online
o File your taxes by phone or online using Telefile service for seniors or Netfile * Canceling benefits following the death of a pensioner / beneficiary
Fact sheets - Sharing your pension for possible tax savings * Credit Splitting Upon Divorce or Separation * Facts about the Child Rearing Drop-out Provision * Reassessing Eligibility for Disability Benefits * Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program * Non-Resident Tax on Canadian Pensions * Facts about Changes to CPP Disability * Avoid owing tax on filing - CPP/EI voluntary deductions at source

[See also pension consultations/reforms - further down on this page]

Related Links:

Source:

(PDF file - 192K, 46 pages)
Ed Tamagno
January 2008
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) are headed towards an historical crossroads. The most recent actuarial valuation of the CPP shows that the federal scheme is sound in its financing and should remain financially sound for the foreseeable future, without the need for any increase in its contribution rate over the next 75 years. Not entirely so, however, for the QPP. Although the Quebec plan is in no imminent financial difficulty, its most recent actuarial valuation indicates that changes to the QPP’s financing or benefits must be made well before 2050 or the scheme will be unable to meet its commitments fully after that year. This paper examines the reasons for the divergence in the financial projections of the Canada and the Quebec Pension Plans and proposes ways in which the parallelism of the two schemes, which has been a mainstay of federal and provincial policy for over four decades, can be maintained.
Source:

Related links:

(the Panel's own website)
- incl. links to : * About the Panel * Consultations * Submissions * Research * FAQs * Links * Contact us

Background and Issues Paper
March 2007
This discussion paper was part of a broad consultation process in 2007 that included provincial and territorial governments, the academic community, employers, labour groups and other organizations.

Public pension consultations/reforms
March/April 2009

August 1, 2009
By Thomas Walkom
The drive to dismantle the welfare state has a new target. Governments have already gutted unemployment insurance and social assistance. Out-of-date labour laws make it tough to organize unions in the new, decentralized, service-based economy. Now, thanks in large part to the dynamics of the recession, pensions are under attack. (...) Even before this recession hit, it was clear that pensions were under the gun. Good retirement benefits, like good wages, interfere with what economists call labour market flexibility – that is, the willingness of workers to take low-wage jobs.
Source:

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From the :

May 29, 2009
OTTAWA–Four top executives of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board pocketed nearly $7 million in bonuses this year despite losing $24 billion of taxpayers' money in bad investments, according to the board's annual report released yesterday.

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Canada should admit millions of its citizens will never get the retirement
May 29, 2009

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May 27, 2009
By Carol Goar
(...) Today, Canada has a half-built pension system. It serves a fortunate minority relatively well, but leaves many workers facing a bleak retirement. No one is utterly destitute. All seniors are entitled to a monthly old age security payment. And those who belonged to the workforce receive a Canada Pension Plan. But these public programs are designed to provide a modest base on which to build a private retirement income. And millions of workers simply can't. The lucky ones – 38.5 per cent of working Canadians – have a company pension. But their luck is running out...
[ ]
Source:

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From :

May 25, 2009
Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance, as joint stewards of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), today announced the results of the program's triennial review at the close of their annual spring meetings at Meech Lake. The review confirms that the CPP, a key pillar of Canada's retirement income system, remains on a sound financial footing. "The CPP is well positioned to weather the current market turbulence," said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. "Canadians can count on an affordable CPP today and for the future." The CPP provides over 3.6 million retired Canadians with benefits of up to $909 per month.

Related links:

"Strengthening the Legislative and Regulatory Framework for Private Pension Plans
Subject to the Pension Benefit Standards Act, 1985"
- launched January 2009
- closing date for input: May 31, 2009
- incl. links to two consultation documents from the Department of Finance

- links to dozens of responses (to the consultations documents) submitted to the consultation
by union representatives, pension plan representatives and employer pension representatives.

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Revamp will let early pensioners keep their jobs
May 26, 2009
Source:

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By Mark Sutcliffe
March 7, 2009
"(...) What's good for the PS is good for Ottawa. But it's fair to ask whether a cherished benefit awarded to members of the public service should last forever. While the federal government begins looking at how to clean up the mess that has become of many private-sector pension funds, legislators at all levels may want to also consider this difficult question: Should we consider phasing out the defined-benefit, fully indexed pensions that are standard for government employees? (...) There's not much that can or should be done about existing public employees, who are contractually guaranteed their benefits. But could governments move toward establishing a defined-contribution plan, like those at most private-sector employers, for new public servants? Someday, should government workers carry as much of the burden for saving for their own retirement as everyone else? Thanks to union agreements, it won't be an easy process. But it's worth considering. Some may tremble at any element of uncertainty being introduced into public-sector pensions. Others would respond, welcome to the real world.
Source:

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News Release
March 4 2009
The Department of Finance announced further details on the public consultations across Canada on the legislative and regulatory framework for federally regulated private pension plans, which are scheduled to begin March 13. The Government released a discussion paper seeking views from Canadians on this issue on January 9. It followed up by announcing in Budget 2009: Canada's Economic Action Plan that the national consultations will be chaired by Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.
- click the news release link above to access the scheduled dates and locations for the consultations.
- consultations will be held in : Ottawa (March 13) - Halifax (March 17) - Montréal (March 18) - Toronto (March 20) - Vancouver (April 14) - Whitehorse (April 15) - Edmonton (April 16) - Winnipeg (April 17)

The federal government regulates private pension plans that are subject to the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985. These plans cover areas of employment under federal jurisdiction, including banking, telecommunications and interprovincial transportation. These plans currently represent 7 per cent of all private pension plans in Canada, accounting for approximately 12 per cent of pension assets. Canadians who wish to attend these consultations or send submissions on the discussion paper are invited to submit an e-mail to this address:

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February 23, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced the Government will begin scheduled public consultations across Canada on the legislative and regulatory framework for federally regulated private pension plans. (...) The Government released a discussion paper seeking views from Canadians on this issue on January 9. It followed up by announcing in Budget 2009: Canada’s Economic Action Plan that the national consultations will be chaired by Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

The public consultations will run from March 13 to April 17; click the link above for the schedule of sessions in eight cities across Canada. Canadians who wish to attend these consultations or send submissions on the discussion paper are invited to submit an e-mail to this address:

Related links:

News Release
January 9, 2009
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released a discussion paper on improving the framework for federally regulated private pension plans. “The Government acted in the Economic and Fiscal Statement to provide temporary solvency relief to federally regulated pension plans that have been affected by the substantial declines in equity markets,” said Minister Flaherty. “The purpose of this paper is to get the views of Canadians on issues related to the legislative framework for federally regulated defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans with the objective of making permanent changes in 2009.”

The federal Government regulates private pension plans that are subject to the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985. These plans cover areas of employment under federal jurisdiction, including banking, telecommunications and inter-provincial transportation.

Complete discussion paper:

[ - 107K, 23 pages ]
January 2009
These consultations are open to anybody interested in participating.
- incl. contact information for anyone wishing to submit any comments on the discussion paper

The closing date for these consultations was April 17.

(January 27, 2009)

Source:

News Release
May 8, 2008
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced regulatory changes are now in effect allowing Canadians to take advantage of Budget 2008 improvements to the administration of Life Income Funds (LIFs).

- includes links to the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, Regulatory Changes Related to Federally Regulated Life Income Funds and Locked-in Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Effective May 8,2008, Questions and Answers and Regulations Amending the Pension Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985.

October 4, 2006

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today announced that the regulations to immediately remove the requirement to convert federally regulated life income funds (LIFs) to life annuities at age 80 have now come into force. The regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. Seniors have asked for a greater degree of control over their retirement savings and this initiative will help give it to them," stated Minister Flaherty. A LIF is a special registered retirement income fund into which funds from pension plans or other locked-in retirement funds can be transferred.
Source:

Also from Finance Canada:

- incl. links to : Senior's Tax Savings Calculator * Pension-Splitting Assumptions * Caveats * Questions and Answers on the Tax Fairness Plan * Tax Relief for Canadian Seniors

News Release
GATINEAU, QUEBEC - October 18, 2005
"Initiatives to better support unpaid caregivers were discussed at this week's National Conference on Caregiving. The conference was hosted by Minister of State Tony Ianno, with the support of the Canadian Caregiver Coalition. 'The Government of Canada recognizes the vital contributions unpaid caregivers are making to Canadian society,' said Minister of State (Families and Caregivers) the Honourable Tony Ianno. 'We also know about the challenges they face. That is why we decided to hold this conference. I am committed to sharing ideas with members of the caregiving community to identify the best ways to better support our caregivers.'"
- includes a backgrounder with more info on unpaid caregiving in Canada
Source:

The PRI conducts independent policy research projects. It is attached to the Privy Council Office through the Plans and Consultation Branch.

Aging populations pose a central policy challenge in all developed countries. While perhaps not pointing to the crisis forecast at one time, the figures associated with the wide scale retirement of the baby-boom generation are still very large.

(1.1MB, 57 pages)
October 2005
"This report evaluates the extent of the economic risk to society posed by population aging and specifically the baby boom retirement. It emphasizes the need to maintain a healthy economy and fiscal prudence, while still respecting the opportunity and need for people to exercise choice in the best interests of their families, society, and themselves."

Source:

[ ]

The PRI is currently running five horizontal research projects:
* Population Aging and Life-Course Flexibility (bolding added)
* New Approaches for Addressing Poverty and Exclusion
* Social Capital as a Public Policy Tool
* North American Linkages, and
* Sustainable Development
NOTE: on the Research Projects page, you can click on each of the project names to read a brief description of the project and, in the small box right next to the title, a link to PRI publications for that particular project.

Results of 10 focus groups held across Canada "to understand the preferences of Canadians regarding the timing of retirement, and the allocation of the time devoted to education, care giving, and leisure over the course of life."

Complete report:

(PDF file - 532K, 51 pages)
July 2004
PRI Project
Population Aging and Life-Course Flexibility

Source:

[ ]

- incl. links to : About the Task Force - Task Force Report - Members - Press Releases - Schedule - Photos - Submissions - Workbook for Members of Parliament and Senators - Feedback - Contact Info

Federal task force on seniors releases its report
February 12, 2004
"The Prime Minister's Caucus Task Force on Seniors, created in September 2003 at the request of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, has released a report that includes recommendations aimed at improving the quality of life of senior citizens."

(PDF file - 1.6MB, 42 pages)
February 2004

NOTE:
The work of the Task Force focused on four themes:
Poverty alleviation, including issues related to income support and housing;
Eldercare, including issues related to home care, independent living, and elder abuse;
Disabilities, including issues related to access and disability supports;
Work force issues, including questions of retraining, structural changes to the workplace, and volunteer work.

Press Release
September 17, 2003
"Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today the creation of a Caucus Task Force on Seniors. The Task Force will examine a number of social and economic issues relating to Canada's aging population, and identify the challenges policy-makers must face to help achieve quality of life for Canadian seniors."

Statistics Canada

What's New from - :

[Selected content concerning seniors]

Pathways into the GIS
August 2009
*
* Full article: | (212K, 10 pages)
The article Pathways into the GIS examines the strong correlation of Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) receipt with people's income levels at younger ages, particularly one's 40s. Negative labour market and health occurrences, having a low income and the receipt of social assistance benefits increased the probability of GIS receipt, while having an employer pension plan or a registered retirement savings plan decreased it.

Related link:
(PDF - 486K, 59 pages)
March 2008

March 12, 2009

The market value of assets held in employer-sponsored pension funds fell by 8.7% during the third quarter to $869.0 billion, the largest quarterly decline in a decade.The decline, equivalent to $82.7 billion, was the result of a significant drop in stock prices and foreign investments. The third-quarter level was well below the peak of $954.6 billion reached at the end of 2007.
- includes two tables :
* Trusteed pension funds, market value of assets by type
* Trusteed pension funds: Revenue and expenditures

April 25, 2008
Rather than retiring together, men and women in dual-earner couples appeared to have approached retirement in a more independent fashion during the 1990s, a new study has found. The study, published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income, examined the extent to which spouses in dual-earner couples synchronized the timing of their retirements over the last two decades. It also looked at factors associated with taking different paths into retirement.

The article "" is now available in the
April 2008 online edition of .

March 10, 2008

On average, Canadian workers had family disposable incomes at age 75, when most are retired, that were 80% of their incomes at age 55, when they were working, according to a new study. However, the extent to which they maintained their income in retirement varied with their level of income.

Income Security and Stability During Retirement in Canada
by Sébastien LaRochelle-Côté, John Myles and Garnett Picot
- includes a summary and related links
(PDF file - 480K, 59 pages)

February 22, 2008

Overall, 6 out of every 10 families in Canada held savings in registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) in 2005, and these plans had a median value of $25,000, according to a new study. The study, published today in the February 2008 issue of Perspectives on Labour and Income, showed that, as expected, the prevalence of families with RRSPs and the value of the plans both increased with age.
* * Full article:

(149K, 7 pages)
NOTE : for related links, g to the Asset-Based Social Policies Links page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/assets.htm

February 21, 2008

Chronic pain affects more than one-quarter of seniors living in households and close to 4 out of every 10 seniors in institutions, and it can have a profound impact on their quality of life, according to a new study.
Chronic pain in Canadian seniors
by Pamela L. Ramage-Morin

From (Statistics Canada)
- November 2007:

By René Morissette and Yuri Ostrovsky
Prime-aged couples experienced a moderate decline in RPP coverage over the last two decades, as the substantial growth in wives’ labour market participation and the slight increase in their RPP coverage only partially offset a substantial decline in husbands’ coverage. On average, retirement savings of families rose over the last two decades, but the distribution became more unequal. To a large extent, the uneven growth in retirement savings mirrors the sharp increase in family earnings inequality since the early 1980s.

August 24, 2007

Older workers are staying in the workforce longer and, as a result, may be dampening the threat of a sudden and severe labour shortage as baby boomers retire, a new study suggests.
An estimated 2.1 million individuals aged 55 to 64 were either employed or looking for work in 2006, more than double the total in 1976, according to the study "Participation of older workers," published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income.

Related links:

Participation of older workers
By Katherine Marshall and Vincent Ferrao

Complete article:

(340K, 7 pages)

August 24, 2007

The vast majority of workers take up Canada and Quebec Pension Plan (C/QPP) benefits before the age of 65, and an increasing proportion start them at age 60...

Public Pensions and Work
By Ted Wannell

Complete article:

(284K, 8 pages)

Source:

[ ]

June 21, 2007

After several years of growth, membership in Canada's 15,130 active registered pension plans remained virtually unchanged in 2005, according to new data from an annual census of these employer-sponsored plans.

May 30, 2007

Only 1 out of every 30 seniors aged 65 and over lived in one of Canada's 1,952 homes for the aged in the fiscal year 2004/2005, according to new data from the Residential Care Facilities Survey. Data for all provinces and territories, except Quebec, show that nearly 151,000 seniors, 3.4% of the total, resided in a home for the aged in 2004/2005.

Complete report:

- incl. links to : Highlights * Introduction * Analysis * Tables * Data quality, concepts and methodology * User information * Related products * PDF version

March 6, 2007

Canada's seniors (those aged 65 years and older) are less likely to be the victims of violent and property crimes than younger people, according to a new report. The report is based on results from the 2004 General Social Survey (GSS) on victimization and police-reported data from the 2005 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey. It examines the nature and prevalence of violent and property crimes against seniors, as well as fear of crime among seniors.

Complete report:

Seniors as victims of crime, 2004 and 2005
By Lucie Ogrodnik, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada
[ ]
(287K, 21 pages)

February 27, 2007

With millions of baby boomers knocking on the door, Canada's seniors are poised to become an even more heterogeneous crowd than they are today, according to a new statistical profile of people 65 years and over.

Related Links:

The changing face of long-term care
Expression Bulletin, Issue 18-4*
Fall 2005

(8 pages, 423 KB)
Table of contents: The changing face of long-term care - What is a long-term care facility? - Who resides in LTC facilities? - Trends for change - Beacons for the future - The best for all - For more information...- Insert: The National Advisory Council on Aging demands improvements to Canada’s long-term care institutions
[*Expression is published four times a year by the National Advisory Council on Aging. The bulletin is available on the NACA Web site.]

Halifax, October 20-22
- (PDF file - 625K, 37pages)

Press Release
October 3, 2005
"The National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) urges governments and society to work toward eradicating seniors' poverty in Canada. The Council launched on October 1st, the International Day of Older Persons as declared by the United Nations, a new report called Seniors on the margins: Aging in poverty in Canada. 'The UN theme for this special day was 'Aging in the new millennium. Focus on poverty, older women and development.' It is fitting that NACA releases its findings on the economic vulnerability of Canadian seniors now,'claims Bubs Coleman, spokesperson for NACA. 'The prospect of a golden retirement simply does not exist for many seniors, particularly those living alone, women over age 80, visible minorities and immigrants.'"

Complete report:

Seniors on the margins:
Aging in poverty in Canada
October 2005
Table of contents: Preface - Introduction - Definitions - The economic situation of seniors - Issues and solutions - Conclusion - NACA recommendations - References - Bibliography
(33 pages, 300 KB)

Hidden harm: the abuse of seniors
January 30, 2004
Bulletin of the National Advisory Council on Aging Expression
"Abuse of seniors is under-reported. Reasons for this are fear of retaliation or institutionalization, shame, desire to protect the abuser or incapacity to act. Ignorance, secrecy or complacency on the part of family, friends and professionals also come into play. What are the signs of abuse and who perpetrates it? How can it be prevented? What help is available?"
Complete Report:

(938K, 8 pages)
TIP: in the "Sources and Resources" section of this report, you'll find links to eight relevant online resources plus a list of toll-free 1-800 phone numbers for all Canadian jurisdictions where help is available for seniors experiencing abuse.

- incl. How Healthy are Seniors? - How Well is the Health Care System Serving Seniors? - How Well are Seniors Faring Economically? - How Supportive, Enabling and Safe are Seniors' Living Conditions? - How Fully are Seniors Participating in Society? - The Last Word


Evaluation of the Maintenance and Preventive Function of Home Care
Hollander Analytical Services
Prepared for Health Canada

Press Release (May 26, 2001)
(PDF file - 275K, 59 pages)
Source :

Canadian Senior Years is designed for all Canadian seniors over 50 with a special focus on the Grey Bruce area of Ontario. The site features up-to-date news feeds on subjects of interest to Canadian seniors, hundreds of mostly Canadian site links, games, discussion boards, email pals section, a memorial listing, articles and much more.


Ontario Seniors Directorate

- Approx two dozen links to relevant sites : Ontario - National (Canadian) - International

PDF file - 3.9MB, 68 pages
2005 Edition (Latest revision January 2005)
Excellent collection of information on programs and services for seniors - includes links to relevant websites for more information on eligibility, benefits, where and how to apply for assistance for each program, etc.

From the :

News Release
October 30, 2003

"...designed to help gerontologists, municipal planners, seniors advocates and others become more responsive to the needs of Ontario’s growing seniors population. (...) Senior Smart Ontario features statistical information about Ontario and Canadian seniors, including data on seniors’ population, lifestyle, health and well-being. Also featured is a quiz to test attitudes about ageing, tips on how to communicate with seniors, academic resources and links to sites that address ageing around the world."

(PDF file - 380K, 67 pages)
Government of New Brunswick
- includes descriptions of services and contact information for federal, provincial and local government programs and services; also includes non-governmental organizations
Source:

(PDF - 2.2MB, 100 pages)
Table of contents:
* Personal Information/Frequently Called Numbers * Information * Seniors Organizations * Community Resource Councils * Senior Centres * Finances * Housing * Health Services (Provincial, Community) * Community Living * Resources for Newcomers * Safety and Security * Index
Source:

[ ]

News Release
May 21, 2004
(Click on "Download" to open the news release)
"Terms like 'crisis'and 'unsustainability' dominate talk about our aging society today. A growing older generation, we are told, is consuming more than its fair share of resources. But aging baby boomers may not be the problem. The problem may be our frame of reference."

What's Fair? Ethical Decision-making in an Aging Society
(6 pages)
May 2004
(Click on "Download" to open the executive summary)

What's Fair? Ethical Decision-making in an Aging Society
(65 pages)
May 2004
by Nuala Kenny
(Click on "Download" to open the report)
"A joint report from CPRN's Family Network and The Change Foundation, with additional support from the Law Commission of Canada, proposes a new framework for policies that involve sharing scarce resources across generations. In What's Fair? Ethical Decision-making in an Aging Society, author Nuala Kenny applies what she calls the 'ethic of care' to the challenge of intergenerational equity."

Source:

[ ]

Related Links:

(Founded by the Ontario Hospital Association)
"Our mandate is to promote, support and improve health and the delivery of health care through four activity areas: Applied Research and Analysis, Development Programs, Education Programs, Grants to Charities. We bring together researchers, health care providers, managers, and policy makers from Ontario and beyond to understand the impact of change on the health of consumers and the delivery of health services.

"The Law Commission of Canada is an independent federal law reform agency that advises Parliament on how to improve and modernize Canada’s laws. The Commission's work is structured around the following four complementary themes: Personal Relationships * Social Relationships * Economic Relationships * Governance Relationships."
NOTE:

The Law Commission of Canada was informed on the 25th of September, 2006, of the federal government’s decision to eliminate the Commission’s funding.
(From the now-defunct )
Try doing a Google search on the title of the report)


(PDF) April 2000 Source : (Toronto)

(March 3, 1998 )

(PDF file - 94K, 2 pages)
by Chris Sarlo
"The claim that almost one in five seniors in Canada is currently impoverished has as much credibility as the latest sighting of Elvis."
Source:

[ ]

International Seniors' Websites

(formerly called the American Association of Retired Persons)
"AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people 50 and over. We provide information and resources; advocate on legislative, consumer, and legal issues; assist members to serve their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits,special products, and services for our members. These benefits include AARP Webplace at www.aarp.org, Modern Maturity and My Generation magazines, and the monthly AARP Bulletin. Active in every U.S. state and territory, AARP celebrates the attitude that age isn't just a number -- it's about how you live your life."

Site review by The Scout Report:
The (AARP) covers aging and aging-related topics quite well, and this website is one of their many compelling initiatives. The databases, AgeSource and AgeStats, on AARP's international website are designed to "facilitate the international exchange of policy and program-relevant information in aging." Under the "Aging Everywhere" tab is an interactive map that allows the visitor to read "Country Profiles" as well as read articles about a region selected from the map. A "Comparative Data Search" can also be done by clicking on the link above the map. There are multiple ways to search the information in the databases. On the left hand menu visitors can explore by topic or by region. Some of the topics include "Aging & Society", "Economic Retirement & Security", "Livable Communities" and "Long-Term Care". Searching for a particular topic can be accomplished by using the keyword search box in the middle of the page. The search can be further limited by deciding which databases to search, and by information type, geographic coverage, and language.
Reviewed by:
The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project .

AgeSource/AgeStats Worldwide

AgeSource Worldwide identifies several hundred information resources in some 25 countries which are significant either in size or in their unique coverage of particular aging-related issues. The resources include, among others, clearinghouses, libraries, databases, training materials, major reports, and Web metasites.
AgeStats Worldwide provides access to statistical data that compare the situation of older adults across countries or regions around a variety of issues, such as demography, pensions, health and long-term care. The most recent data and projections as far ahead as 2050 are provided where available. You may search either or both databases at one time. Access is free-of-charge. AgeSource and AgeStats Worldwide have been created by AARP to facilitate the international exchange of policy and program-relevant information in aging.

(U.S.)
- like a site map, incl. links to sites organized under the following headings : General Interest - Government - Health - Housing - Income - Law - Leisure - Libraries, Clearinghouses and Databases - Social Services - States and Communities - Statistics and Research - Listservs - Newsgroups - Electronic Magazines - Search Tools - Alphabetical Index
- links to 9 directories, most from the U.S. Administration on Aging, including state and even local links to resources for seniors
Source :

---

September 4, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The poverty rate among older Americans could be nearly twice as high as the traditional 10 percent level, according to a revision of a half-century-old formula for calculating medical costs and geographic variations in the cost of living. The 's formula, which is gaining credibility with public officials including some in the Obama administration, would put the poverty rate for Americans 65 and over at 18.6 percent, or 6.8 million people, compared with 9.7 percent, or 3.6 million people, under the existing measure. The original government formula, created in 1955, doesn't take account of rising costs of medical care and other factors.
Source:

- Go to the Poverty Measures - International Resources page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/poverty2.htm

---

OECD
People in OECD countries will have to save more for their retirement as a result of the major pensions reforms carried out in recent years, according to this report. The average pension promise in 16 OECD countries studied was cut by 22 per cent. For women, the reduction was 25 per cent.
Posted June 8, 2007
Source:

---

(bi-weekly e-letter) - U.S.
- latest issue: March 17
Table of Contents:
* Editorial Notes * On the WEB * New Publications * New Resources at the Center Library * Calendar of Events * Community Resources
- almost 100 links in the current issue!

Web Links on Aging
1,000+ links, organized alphabetically from Academic to Women, split into three pages for easier download

Source:

(PDF file - 195K, 11 pages)
Paul Krugman (Princeton University)
January 2005
"There is a lot of confusion in the debate over Social Security privatization, much of it deliberate. This essay discusses the meaning of the trust fund, which privatizers declare either real or fictional at their convenience; the likely rate of return on private accounts, which has been greatly overstated; and the (ir)relevance of putative reductions in far future liabilities."
Source:
- U.S.
(Editor: Joseph E. Stiglitz)

Related Links:

(U.S. Government)
"Visit the Social Security Administration Web site for publications and online resources to help you understand your Social Security benefits, how to apply for benefits, and the history of the Social Security program. You can also apply for benefits online."

[AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people over 50.]
"AARP maintains a special Social Security Center on its Web site. Visit the center to test your knowledge and find answers to some commonly asked questions about Social Security. You can also learn about issues and challenges facing Social Security, and you can tell your elected officials what you think about Social Security."

- Is Social Security Broke?
- Will Social Security be there for me when I retire?
- Couldn't I do better investing the money on my own?
- But aren't I paying a lot of money now to get a little money later?

For links to more info about the Bush administration's push to privatize Social Security in the U.S. in 2005 and about the Chilean pension model, go to the Pension Reforms Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/pensions.htm

(U.S.)
- incl. links to : Consumer Protection - Education & Training - Health - Legislation - Letters to the Editor - Other Links - Retirement Planner - Seniors & Computers - Services - Strategic Plan - Tax Assistance - Travel & Leisure- Work & Volunteer - State Websites for Seniors

(U.S.)
"Organizations and professionals promoting the dignity, self-determination and well-being of older persons"

"NCOA's latest innovation, BenefitsCheckUp, is a simple and confidential online service made for seniors and caregivers. The program searches more than 1,000 federal and state programs and finds those for which the senior may be eligible."

- U.S.
The National Institute on Aging is a component of the (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) that is devoted to improving the health of older people.

From the U.N.:

The General Assembly designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons by resolution 45/106 of 14 December 1990, following up on initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the General Assembly.

The theme of the International Day for 2006 is
"." (PDF file - 9K, 1 page)

Source:

[ ]

(PDF file - 513K, 61 pages)
March 2003
A. Goodman, M. Myck and A. Shephard,
Source : , London (U.K.)

(PDF file - 347K, 12 pages) - U.S.
by Tamara Draut and Heather C. Mcghee
Borrowing to Make Ends Meet Briefing Paper #1
February 2004
"In September 2003, De-mos released Borrowing to Make Ends Meet, a report on the growth of credit card debt among American families. The report documented a 53 percent average increase in self-reported household credit card debt between 1989 and 2001, based on data from the Survey of Consumer Finances. In examining debt increases by income, race, and age, the authors found that certain populations were hit harder than others. This paper is the first in a series of Borrowing to Make Ends Meet Briefing Papers, offering a closer look at the economic security of different populations as seen by examining their debt, assets, and major costs.