(ix) contributions to pensions for older workers be continued by employers;

(x) EI eligibility beyond the current six-week end of life period be extended for family caregivers who leave work or reduce their hours of work to provide elder care;

(xi) CPP retroactive payments be reimbursed beyond the current eleven months and with interest to cover the complete missed period of payments due to a late application.

We conclude by suggesting that policies must be adopted that ensure a quality of life for all ages. In particular, we recommend:

(i) that mandatory retirement be abolished in all federally regulated industries as well as in all provinces and territories;

(ii) labour codes be changed to protect workers of all ages rather than the current 18 to 64;

(iii) training, retraining, upgrading and phased retirement be provided for older workers;

(iv) affordable housing be defined according to real annual income rather than a provincial average and make it available and accessible.

References:

(1) Statistics Canada, A Portrait of Seniors 2006, (Ottawa, 2007) pp. 67-68

(2) Fifty cents on each dollar is clawed back from GIS from every dollar of income above the LICO

(3) An estimated 130,000 seniors who are eligible for GIS have not applied, according to pension expert Richard Shillington