I'll start with an example comparing the Canada Pension Plan to the Quebec Pension Plan. The latest data I have is that there are 55,000 Canadians who haven't applied for their CPP retirement benefits. On the whole, we know who they are and where they live. There is an unknown number who haven't applied for their survivor benefits, which I gather is a relatively unknown program. Many people I talk to have not heard that there's something called survivor benefits, let alone orphans' benefits.
Through friends, I'm told that in Quebec there is actually a much better way of reaching out to the Quebec Pension Plan beneficiaries. Through the offices of the leader of the Bloc, a researcher phoned me one time and asked me for some information. I asked them to do me a favour and to phone the Quebec Pension Plan office and ask: if there are 55,000 people not receiving their eligible CPP benefits, how many in Quebec are not getting their QPP benefits? The call came back in a couple of days--there were virtually none, because they know where they are; they know where they live. They use computer systems to identify them. So when you renew your driver's licence or your health card, the computer will say that you should be signed up for your QPP. I have no direct knowledge of this, but I'm told they will phone. They will, I am told, knock on your door.
For those 55,000 who are not getting retirement benefits and an unknown number, likely hundreds of thousands, not getting survivor benefits, that is unnecessary.