Liberals defied global trend in reversing OAS age eligibility

Anecdote over evidence by the Liberal Government. One of the weaknesses of the previous Conservative government was their lack of effective and consistent engagement on the grounds for policy and program changes, with few exceptions.

This change was announced at Davos and never really well explained or advocated.

This does not excuse the current government for its disregarding some of the evidence but is a reminder of the need to consult and engage broadly to build public understanding and support for significant policy and program changes:

The Liberal government reversed a policy to raise the eligibility age for Old Age Security to 67 in spite of arguments from bureaucrats that the move would be bucking a trend among developed countries.

Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain and the United States are among the countries that plan to raise their equivalent pension ages to 67 or higher.

That is the global context outlined for the new government in an internal policy paper, marked secret, that was prepared in September during last year’s election and makes reference to political promises related to seniors and pensions.

 The Liberal Party’s campaign included a pledge to scrap the Conservative government’s plan to raise the OAS eligibility age to 67 from 65 by 2029. The new government delivered on this promise with its first budget, in March.

The public servants noted that reversing such a reform would be unusual. “Among the 34 OECD [Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development] member countries, 23 have announced increases or have already increased the age of eligibility for public pensions,” states the policy paper, which was released via the Access to Information Act.

It said that “no country has reversed its decision or lowered the age of eligibility.”

The paper was produced by the seniors and pension policy secretariat of Employment and Social Development Canada. It was presented to the deputy minister of the department.

Source: Liberals defied global trend in reversing OAS age eligibility – The Globe and Mail