I was a graduate student many years ago, and I was down there for just four years.
I'm not a policy wonk, so I'm afraid there's not much I can add. My gut feeling is that the Canadian social security system in general is more generous than it is in the States.
My sister died a few months ago, and I'm having to take care of the results. I was appalled by the lack of involvement of government transfers or programs and so on. A great deal of reliance had been given to private sector pensions. She worked all her career for a particular well-known organization, and in my view her pension was an absolute pittance. I was really quite shocked.
I probably shouldn't say this, but I wouldn't look to the U.S. on this particular matter as the place to go. I think Europe and Japan, which has one of the most rapidly aging populations, have far more experience and best practices for us to learn from.