The data used to prepare Tables 3 and 4 are all drawn from the reports on the public service pension plan tabled in the Parliament of Canada. I have with me copies of some pages containing statistical tables from the last annual report for the year ending March 31, 2008 which was tabled in Parliament last spring.
I am glad you asked the question, because we have in there a statistical table that shows that in the year ending March 31, 2008, the average annual amount of pensions paid to survivors — whether legally married or common law spouses — was $11,152 compared to an average of $23,422 paid to all beneficiaries of the plan. We must not forget that this benefit is paid to all survivors regardless of whether they are 60, 80, 85 or 90 years old. As for the amounts in the third table, these are the figures for all beneficiaries, all retirees, whatever their age. Some are younger and others are very old. This amount did not change much over time. The annual average amount of pensions paid to surviving spouses was $10,795 in 2007 and $10,399 in 2006. So there is a slight increase, but the difference is small.