Key Questions for Retirement Planning Canada

The following is from the Ontario Ministry of Finance and is an interesting starting point to discuss what is going on in the area of Pension reform in Canada. To start the discussion we need to understand the system. Canada’s Retirement Income System: uses “The Three Pillars Approach”

• Canada’s pension system consists of three pillars:

1. Universal government benefits for seniors (PILLAR 1)
2. Canada Pension Plan (PILLAR 2)
3. Employment Pension Plans and Individual Retirement Savings (PILLAR 3)

PILLAR 1: Universal Government Benefits

• Federal seniors benefits include:

1. Universal Old Age Security (OAS)
2. Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
3. Spouses Allowance (SPA)
   Ontario (and other provinces and territories) supplement federal benefits to low-income seniors

PILLAR 2: Canada Pension Plan

• Federal government and Provinces are joint stewards of the CPP
• Provides retirement, survivor, and disability benefits
• Universal coverage of all workers in all industries
• Employees and employers make equal contributions (4.95% each – 9.9% combined) on earnings up to annual maximum of $47,200 (2010)
• Defined Benefit – up to 25% of the average wage
• Fully portable
• Inflation-indexed to CPI
• Actuarially sound for the next 75 years
• CPPIB invests assets of $123.9 billion

PILLAR 3: Employment Pension Plans (EPPs/RPPs) & Individual Retirement Savings

      1. Employment Pension Plans (EPPs/RPPs)

• Voluntary plans sponsored by an employer or union
• Defined Benefit (DB), Defined Contribution (DC) or Hybrid
• Maximum DB pension accrual is $2,494 per year of service (2010)
• Subject to federal or provincial pension benefits standards legislation
• Contributions are tax deductible and investment income is tax deferred
• Benefits are taxable
• Traditional DB coverage has been gradually declining

PILLAR 3: EPPs/RPPs and Individual Retirement Savings

2. Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) / Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs)

• Contributions to RRSPs are tax deductible
• RRSP withdrawals and RRIF income payments are taxable
• In 2006, federal RRSP tax expenditure was estimated at $10 billion (plus Provincial tax expenditures)

PILLAR 3: EPPs/RPPs and Individual Retirement Savings

3. Other Savings

• Total savings rates in Canada are very low by historical standards
• Average family savings of $1,332 per year
• Savings are accumulated and then dispensed over a person’s life cycle 
• Savings can be held in non-pension financial assets (including the new TFSA) and non-financial assets

Canadian Retirement Income System (CRIS): Strengths

Strengths

• The CRIS has worked well for many Canadians
  • Dramatic declines in senior poverty since 1970s
• Diversity of the CRIS is a strength

Canadian Retirement Income System: Challenges

Challenges

• Market downturn in 2008 and low long-term interest rates
• Declining coverage in traditional pension plans
• Pillar 2 (CPP/QPP) provides lower benefits than in most other developed countries
• Questions about the ability of the existing system to deliver for tomorrow’s seniors
• Research suggests that 1/4 to 1/3 of Canadians may not be savings enough for their future retirement.

Canadian Retirement Income System: Defining the Challenge

• Ontario research identifies the challenge for tomorrow’s seniors:
  “The status quo is an option.  However, it is an option that may leave a significant minority of people with moderate to high earnings facing a decline in their standard of living in retirement, and force many people to rely on sub-optimal pension and retirement savings institutions.” - Bob Baldwin
  
  “There is… some evidence that not all working Canadians are saving enough… Further study is needed to determine the degree of saving inadequacy.  - Jack Mintz

Canadian Retirement Income System: Government Response

• Expert Commission on Pensions
  • Review funding of DB pension plans and related matters
• Bill 236, Pension Benefits Amendment Act, 2010
  • First major pension reform in Ontario in over 20 years
• Premier McGuinty calls for National Pension Summit
• FPT Working Group on Retirement Income Adequacy
  • Ontario research by Bob Baldwin
  • Federal research directed by Jack Mintz

Canadian Retirement Income System: Key Options

• Major stakeholder proposals for reform:

1. Expansion of public pensions (CPP)
2. Supplementary DC pension plans
3. Pension Innovation
4. Reforms to Tax Assistance

The following were identified as Key Questions for Discussion, which you should be having with your elected officials as they move into an election campaign

• Why do we need to strengthen Canada’s retirement income system? 
  • In your view what research or evidence demonstrates that people are not saving enough for retirement? 
  • How would you define “enough”, and how much weight should be placed on personal choice?
• What are some of the possible options or combination of options that the government should consider in strengthening Canada’s retirement income system for tomorrow’s seniors?
• How would your preferred options or proposal be implemented?
  • How would your proposal work?
  • What do you think it might cost?
  • How would costs be allocated among employees, employers, etc.?
  • Would it be voluntary (e.g. opt-out) or mandatory?
  • How might other stakeholders be affected?