There are a number of different factors that are taken into consideration when we sign social security agreements, but generally speaking if a person, for example, comes to Canada--let's talk about old age security--turns 65 and has, let's say, only one year of residence, then we do what's called totalization of the benefit. The obligation is for the individual to be able to use periods, usually of contribution in the other country, that have to equal the minimum we have under the Old Age Security Act. The minimum of course if you're living in Canada is ten years. The person only has one year but they have nine years, let's say, in the other country, or even more than that. Then the individual would be able to receive a pro-rated old age security benefit. At the same time, that person would also in all likelihood receive a foreign pension into Canada. In other words, they'd receive a pension from the other country into Canada.
This is what agreements do. Oftentimes, especially with globalization and mobility, you want to be able to ensure that people are covered in both of the countries that they've either lived in or worked in. You don't want to be able to see gaps in coverage. In other words, you don't want to see people who would have to resort, let's say, to welfare or other benefits. This way there's broader coverage.