Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good morning, gentlemen.
I listened closely to your testimony on the economic circumstances of older women. Personally, I think the government should bring in urgent measures and legislation aimed at helping older women. However, I still have one concern. Basically, the population is aging and health care costs are also rising at an alarming rate.
Not long ago, I read a recent report by the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce which dealt with the demographic time bomb. It is estimated that by 2030, for every 100 people of work-force age, there will be 40 retirees. Therefore, discrimination toward older women will continue to be a problem for those generations set to retire within the next few years.
Can you see where I'm going with this and can you appreciate the demographics of our time? With respect to state-funded plans, currently people contribute to the Canada Pension Plan and to the Quebec Pension Plan. However, the plans will not be able to support the massive influx of new retirees.