Mr. Pierre-Claude Poulin at the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee

On February 12th, 2024. See this statement in context.

February 12th, 2024 / 4:20 p.m.

Responsible for the Income and Taxation Committee for Retirees Without an Employer Pension, Association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées

Pierre-Claude Poulin

I understand what you're saying.

However, I find that there are genuine inequalities that I don't understand. In our system, some retirees live on social assistance, meaning the GIS. Others receive small pensions through the registered retirement savings plan or the Canada pension plan. The latter, who are ineligible for the GIS, end up with exactly the same amount of income as the others. That means that 39% receive social assistance and don't pay any taxes. As 49% of retirees do not pay taxes, that means 10% of them paid into their retirement and do not receive anything from refundable tax credits.

I find that inequitable and unfair. Setting a priority on enhancing the OAS would be helpful. That would require getting the funds from people with a higher income.

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