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The National Union of Public and General Employees has a large and growing pool of active retirees who make a powerful, political force across the country.

Bigger, Stronger

The number of retirees is going to accelerate dramatically over the next several decades as baby boomers begin turning 65. About one million union members could retire in the next 10 years and today's retirees are living a lot longer than past generations. They are healthier, more mobile and more active in their communities.

Political Clout

Feds miss the mark in PRPP Act

Submitted by dduffy on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 11:09

On Nov. 17, the Pooled Registered Pension Plan Act was tabled in the House of Commons. Its stated purpose “is to provide a legal framework for the establishment and administration of a type of pension plan that is accessible to employees and self-employed persons and that pools the funds in members’ accounts to achieve lower costs in relation to investment management and plan administration.”

Rehiring retirees: Can everyone win?

Submitted by dduffy on Tue, 11/22/2011 - 11:37

In recent years, a number of U.S. employers have been rehiring their retirees to fill scheduling gaps. In theory, employers benefit from retaining experienced workers, while retirees benefit from remaining active and supplementing their income. Although market conditions are very different in the U.S., should Canadian employers consider following this lead?

Read more: http://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/other-pensions/rehiring-retirees-...

How CPP is weathering the market storm

Submitted by dduffy on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 11:34

With stock markets around the world taking a bath this year, your RRSP has probably shrunk dramatically. Thanks to some foresight by former prime minister Paul Martin and some rare cooperation by provincial premiers during the mid-1990s, you’ll at least have a solid Canada Pension Plan to fall back on.

Read more: http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1073724--how-cpp-is-weathering-the-market-storm

Canadians holding off on retirement

Submitted by dduffy on Wed, 10/26/2011 - 10:54

 

Canadians are delaying their retirement and staying on the job for longer, a trend that had profound implications for the country's current and future workforce.

A 50-year-old worker stayed in the labour force three and a half years longer in 2008 than in the mid-1990s, according to a Statistics Canada indicator that tracks peoples' retirement behaviour.

Seniors' debt on rise, TD says

Submitted by dduffy on Tue, 10/11/2011 - 14:01

A new study by TD Bank released Tuesday says seniors are piling up debt at a faster rate than the general population, and that some may find that cuts into their standard of living in retirement.For more information go to CBC.ca: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/10/11/td-study-seniors-househ...

Retirees mired in debt: StatsCan

Submitted by dduffy on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 08:36

Survey shows almost one-third of retired Canadians are in debt

Almost one-third of retired Canadians are in some form of debt, a new survey from Statistics Canada suggested Wednesday.

The study from the government agency showed that 34 per cent of retired individuals aged 55 and over, whether single or in a couple, held mortgage or consumer debt in 2009. The median amount owed was $19,000.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/04/27/business-retiree-debt.html

Patients turn to program to make painful decisions

Submitted by dduffy on Mon, 04/18/2011 - 12:23

Wishes are detailed in care documents

Jan Van Hal hadn't seen a doctor in 36 years when he finally saw a physician in 2004.

He'd gone blind in both eyes due to unchecked diabetes and high blood pressure.

It turned out he also had kidney disease.

"I was in denial," said Van Hal, 69. "I didn't want to admit something was wrong."

Since then, Van Hal has gone from avoiding dealing with his medical condition to planning for the end.

Globe and Mail series on seniors

Submitted by dduffy on Tue, 04/12/2011 - 09:28

Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the population, with 4.8 million Canadians aged 65 and older. The figure that will double to 10.4 million in 2036 and by 2051, one in four will be older than 65.

But who will be their doctors?

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadas-seniors-the-doctor-will-see-you-now/article1981281/

Layton promises doubling of seniors' benefits

Submitted by dduffy on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 09:48

NDP Leader Jack Layton is turning his attention to protecting seniors' pensions and boosting the guaranteed income supplement as the parties head into the second week of election campaign.

Layton unveiled the latest portion of his campaign platform at a rally in Toronto.

The NDP leader said that if elected prime minister he'd gradually double the benefit seniors get from the Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan. The Layton plan would replace up to 50 per cent of pre-retirement income by the time the phased-in plan was finished.

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