Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to pick up exactly where Ms. Wagantall left off, because I am interested in the conversation around the optional survivor benefit.
To come back to her scenario, we have a veteran who decides to take a lower monthly amount in exchange for the right for his surviving spouse, in the event of his death, to receive a reduced pension. There has been concern expressed by the committee and by some of the witnesses that, where that happens and the spouse dies, the amount that has been forgone by the veteran effectively lapses.
I heard Ms. Tattersall indicate that if that death happens while the veteran is still drawing, that he or she is fully made whole.
My question is this, and I don't want it to appear cold or callous. These types of defined benefit programs are all based on actuarial calculations that factor in death rates and the like. If someone lives to be 100, they would draw more than the average. If someone dies the day after the papers are signed to make the transfer, they make less. Is that not the theory behind why what seems to be unfair to a certain group of people?
Ms. Tattersall, would you like to take a run at this? The person from the Treasury Board may have some comments as well.