Under the plan, a senior couple with a combined household income of nearly $300,000 will receive an increase in OAS payments.
OAS reform
The Fraser Institute has been at the fore of publishing work related to pension issues and correcting misconceptions to provide Canadians with better information.
Reforming OAS so that high-income seniors receive fewer benefits could produce cost-savings to pay for increased benefits to vulnerable seniors.
Increased OAS spending means less spending elsewhere, higher taxes, and/or more government borrowing.
In 2012, the federal government shocked many Canadians by announcing an important change in the cherished Old Age Security (OAS) program, one of three key income programs for seniors. The reform, which was implemented in the 2013 budget, increases the age of eligibility for OAS to 67 from 65 beginning in 2023 with full implementation achieved in 2029. While the reform is a positive first step given the aging of Canadians, more is needed.