Mr. Speaker, this is the first I have heard about people contributing to the Canada pension plan system and receiving less benefits over their lifetimes than they have put in. It is a surprising thing. I would invite the member to provide me with any information so I could look at it. I looked at it and in fact even people who enter the plan now will continue to get almost $2 out for every $1 they put in.
Let us talk about the rate of return. The member is probably quite right. I have not seen his numbers but he is suggesting that it is two point something per cent compared to what the free market might be able to get on a return on investment portfolio. However, does he take into account that all Canada pension plan contributions get a tax credit on every tax return that is filed? Does he take into account that it also provides people with a lump sum death benefit for a person's estate, a person's spouse and a person's children? Does he take into account that there is a disability insurance that is enjoyed throughout the period in which a person is a member of the plan?
Those things do not cost zero. They have to be included in the return. If the member would only take those into account he would find out that he is very wrong.