Bill C-12

An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

Sponsor

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is, or will soon become, law.

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment amends the Old Age Security Act to exclude from a person’s income any payment under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act , Part VIII.4 of the Employment Insurance Act , the Canada Recovery Benefits Act or the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit Act for the purposes of calculating the amount of the guaranteed income supplement and allowances payable in respect of any month after June 2022.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-12s:

C-12 (2020) Law Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

C-12 (2020) Law An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (special warrant)

C-12 (2016) An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

C-12 (2013) Law Drug-Free Prisons Act

Votes

Feb. 16, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-12 amends the Old Age Security Act to exclude federal pandemic benefits from the calculation of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and allowance benefits, starting in July 2022. This change aims to prevent low-income seniors from experiencing a reduction in their GIS or allowance benefits due to having received pandemic relief. The bill also addresses previous GIS reductions related to pandemic benefits received in 2020 and 2021, with plans for one-time payments to compensate affected seniors.

Liberal

Exempt pandemic benefits: Bill C-12 would exempt pandemic relief benefits from the calculation of the guaranteed income supplement (GIS) or allowance benefits, starting in July 2022. This change would prevent low-income seniors from facing reductions in their GIS or allowance benefits due to receiving pandemic relief benefits.
Address financial hardship: The government has proposed providing up to $742.4 million for one-time payments to compensate GIS and allowance recipients who received pandemic relief benefits in 2020 and experienced a reduction in their GIS as a result. The automatic, non-taxable payments would compensate seniors for the full annualized loss amount, with payments delivered as early as April 19.
Commitment to seniors: Since 2015, the well-being of seniors has been a priority for the government, including restoring the age of eligibility for OAS and GIS to 65, increasing the GIS, enhancing the CPP, and planning to increase the OAS pension by 10% for seniors aged 75 or over in July 2022.
Continued support: The government has provided various supports to improve the lives and financial situation of Canadian seniors, including investments in food access, community support, mental health interventions, and affordable housing. It will continue to look at ways to improve supports and services for seniors in cooperation with all members of the House.

Conservative

Supports Bill C-12: The Conservatives support the bill's intent to amend the calculation formula for benefits and prevent a repeat of the 2021 GIS clawback. However, they criticize the government for the delay in addressing the issue, which they say has caused financial hardship for many seniors.
Government Inaction: Members highlight that the government was aware of the potential conflict between COVID-19 benefits and GIS payments as early as May 2020 but failed to take timely action. This inaction is viewed as a significant oversight that has negatively impacted vulnerable seniors.
Call for Accountability: The Conservatives express concern over the government's handling of the situation, accusing them of prioritizing political gain over the well-being of seniors. They advocate for greater legislative accountability and a more thorough review of the bill to ensure it effectively addresses the needs of those affected.
Economic Hardship: Members emphasize the rising cost of living, including heating, rent, insurance, groceries, and fuel, which exacerbates the financial challenges faced by seniors, particularly those relying on GIS. Many seniors are forced to make difficult choices about essential expenses and are increasingly reliant on debt to make ends meet.

NDP

Support for the bill: The NDP supports Bill C-12 to correct a government mistake impacting seniors who lost their GIS due to receiving pandemic benefits, emphasizing the need to alleviate financial pressures on vulnerable seniors.
Guaranteed livable income: Members have encouraged the minister to meaningfully start talking about a guaranteed basic livable income, as automation increases, and they want the bar of dignity extended and not dismissed.
Bill does not go far enough: While supporting the bill, members noted that this is only a small step in serving the needs of Nunavummiut, and its insufficiency still presents a problem when one considers the structural challenges already in place, such as the affordability crisis, unemployment, poverty and food insecurity.
Accessibility for indigenous peoples: Members noted that pandemic support messaging was not accessible to Nunavummiut, and the lack of Service Canada offices in many Nunavut communities, led to rumors flying about what CERB was and who it was intended for.

Bloc

Supports Bill C-12 reluctantly: The Bloc Québécois will support Bill C-12 because time is running out to correct the negative impact of CERB on the GIS, but they criticize the Liberal government for waiting too long to act and for the bill's shortcomings.
Urges faster implementation: The Bloc wanted the end of GIS cuts moved up from June 2022 to March 2022, but the government refused due to IT reasons; they feel this is too slow to address the financial struggles of seniors.
Criticizes lack of retroactivity: Bill C-12 does not include the retroactive one-time payment promised in the December 2021 economic and fiscal update to compensate seniors for GIS reductions already experienced.
Calls for equitable treatment: The Bloc criticizes the inequity between GIS recipients who applied for CERB through the CRA versus Service Canada, as the 'GIS option' is only available to those who received CERB through Service Canada.

Green

Support for Bill C-12: The Green Party supports Bill C-12 to correct an error affecting seniors' Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) due to COVID relief benefits. The party believes the bill should pass quickly, as seniors have waited too long for this fix.
Inefficiency of piecemeal solutions: The Green Party emphasizes the need to address poverty comprehensively rather than through piecemeal solutions requiring constant legislative fixes. They advocate for a guaranteed livable income and comprehensive programs addressing housing, pharmacare, and long-term care.
Deeper systemic issues: The Green Party highlights the pandemic's exposure of deep inequalities and the inadequacy of the existing social safety net, including challenges faced by people with disabilities and low-wage workers. They propose a shift towards proactive measures that focus on poverty eradication and social justice.

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(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #31

Old Age Security ActGovernment Orders

February 16th, 2022 / 3:55 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to a committee of the whole.

Pursuant to the order made on Tuesday, February 15, Bill C-12, an act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement) is deemed considered in the committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, deemed read a third time and passed.

(Bill read the second time, considered in committee of the whole, reported without amendment, concurred in, read the third time and passed)