Seniors Benefits Discussion- split from Liberal (Minority/Majority) Government 2025 - ???

[Halifax Tar]

Fastest way to a balanced budget is to give Grandma a ticket to Mexico instead of a OAS. I'm only being half facetious.....

Have you watch The Boroughs yet ? lol

 

[Halifax Tar]

Funny how so many supposed fiscal conservatives are every ready to defend getting their pogey.

Just FYI most of them voted Liberal last time

 

[Altair]

Just FYI most of them voted Liberal last time

And the remainder voted CPC.

And the old ones in Quebec voted Bloc, who want to increase OAS.

It's a uniparty.

 

[Halifax Tar]

And the remainder voted CPC.

And the old ones in Quebec voted Bloc, who want to increase OAS.

It's a uniparty.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

If you're retired and making 90+K, you should not be getting Gov support, all stop.

But we're going with 85k is worthy?
Guess I should just spend my whole savings on next weeks Lottomax, because then I'd be worthy of support without all that pesky investment income getting in the way......

[hypothetical me of course, I can't afford lotto tickets and even if I did I'd quote Edward Campbell, the smartest man who was on this forum, and use his 'lotteries are a tax on the stupid".}

 

[Czech_pivo]

I listed 5 initiatives to spend the savings on.

Why spend it at all?

You look inside yourself to figure out why you homed in on the one that "gives the money away"

Because I'm tried of all the 'give aways' that have become the norm here in Canada and the West in general. I'm more inline with getting back to Kennedy's speech - 'Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself/Country' - I'm changing it a bit and putting the focus first on the individual than the Country.

No. Stop it. Stop offsetting it. Enough. If we are going to do it, it should not be a shell game.

What are you even talking about. If you remove OAS completely, as you have been suggesting, an expanded CPP will be the ONLY way the vast majority of Canadians will be able to afford to retire. The average CPP payment is only 925$/month, the OAS payment is 743$/month. You can't bring OAS down to 0$ without expanding CPP to offset it.

Oh come on. You are all acting like there isn't already a cutoff point. So clearly someone decided that not everyone qualifies due to income. We are just haggling over where it should be.

OAS was also brought in at a time when people didn't live we'll into their 80s.

And so was CPP, so what's your point?

Times change. Situations change. Adapt or fall behind, adapt or sink.

OAS will grow to over 100b by 2030. Clearly something needs to give.

I've laid out an approach to roll it down. Either you didn't read it or understand it. Rolling it down gradually is the better fiscal approach that brings about the least negative economic impact across the country.

 

[Halifax Tar]

But we're going with 85k is worthy?

I don't control the metric, just a number I arbitrarily chose. Is 85K the agreed upon threshold ? Works for me.

Guess I should just spend my whole savings on next weeks Lottomax, because then I'd be worthy of support without all that pesky investment income getting in the way......

[hypothetical me of course, I can't afford lotto tickets and even if I did I'd quote Edward Campbell, the smartest man who was on this forum, and use his 'lotteries are a tax on the stupid".}

I mean if you would rather do that and live on the dole for your remaining years, have at'er.

 

[Altair]

Why spend it at all?

One of my suggestions was literally not spend it at all.

Because I'm tried of all the 'give aways' that have become the norm here in Canada and the West in general. I'm more inline with getting back to Kennedy's speech - 'Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for yourself/Country' - I'm changing it a bit and putting the focus first on the individual than the Country.

One of my suggestions was spending it on innovation and defense industries , which i think qualifies as for the country.

What are you even talking about. If you remove OAS completely, as you have been suggesting, an expanded CPP will be the ONLY way the vast majority of Canadians will be able to afford to retire. The average CPP payment is only 925$/month, the OAS payment is 743$/month. You can't bring OAS down to 0$ without expanding CPP to offset it.

Like hell you cant.

Listen, there is no universe where im going to support two people making 90k each getting full benefits.

CCB clawback starts at 37k. That sounds reasonable to me.

And so was CPP, so what's your point?

I've laid out an approach to roll it down. Either you didn't read it or understand it. Rolling it down gradually is the better fiscal approach that brings about the least negative economic impact across the country.

bandaid on a GSW.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Nothing needs to be tied together. If we don't think parents with more than $90k (who actually have extra mouths to feed) should get CCB, then the same logic should be applied to seniors and OAS.

Funny how so many supposed fiscal conservatives are every ready to defend getting their pogey.

Funny how so many don't understand basic economics, might be the reason why the top 20% is so few.

I've done my fiscal planning, the ability to mask/remove assets/income thanks to TSFA's and other means. I've said on here previously that someone just starting out should ignore the RSP approach and focus on maximizing their TFSA first and only then add to a RSP. The ability to shelter from taxes forever all the money in a TFSA puts a smart investor in a place of having easily a million+ in their TFSA at age 65 and draw on that money during retirement and pay zero in taxes and easily qualify for the full OAS with no clawback and possibly even qualify for GIS.

With proper planning its entire possible to have access to spend more than 90k a year when retired but have an 'income' substantially less than 90k.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Old/Retired leaving is not a problem, in fact I would encourage it. Young/working leaving is, and we need to investigate why and adjust accordingly.

That's how I see it.

So our 'poaching' a young doctor from South Africa or India is ok but a person born in here Canada and becomes a Doctor and decides to leave for elsewhere is not ok? Did I get that right?

 

[Altair]

So our 'poaching' a young doctor from South Africa or India is ok but a person born in here Canada and becomes a Doctor and decides to leave for elsewhere is not ok? Did I get that right?

we are poaching that doctor out of south africa or india because our doctor was poached.

If young canadian professionals didn't leave we wouldn't need to poach.

 

[Altair]

Funny how so many don't understand basic economics, might be the reason why the top 20% is so few.

I've done my fiscal planning, the ability to mask/remove assets/income thanks to TSFA's and other means. I've said on here previously that someone just starting out should ignore the RSP approach and focus on maximizing their TFSA first and only then add to a RSP. The ability to shelter from taxes forever all the money in a TFSA puts a smart investor in a place of having easily a million+ in their TFSA at age 65 and draw on that money during retirement and pay zero in taxes and easily qualify for the full OAS with no clawback and possibly even qualify for GIS.

With proper planning its entire possible to have access to spend more than 90k a year when retired but have an 'income' substantially less than 90k.

Cool.

Cut OAS and reform CPP and GIS.

Doesnt need go be either or. Do both.

 

[Halifax Tar]

So our 'poaching' a young doctor from South Africa or India is ok but a person born in here Canada and becomes a Doctor and decides to leave for elsewhere is not ok? Did I get that right?

Its not about it being ok or not. People should be free to follow opportunity. But if we are losing our best and brightest then we should investigate that and make the required changes to stop it. So should SA and India for that matter. But TBH I don't give a hoot what they do, I am neither South African or Indian because:



A country that doesn't offer opportunity and prospect to its young is in danger and will fail.

 

[ytz]

Funny how so many don't understand basic economics, might be the reason why the top 20% is so few.

I've done my fiscal planning, the ability to mask/remove assets/income thanks to TSFA's and other means. I've said on here previously that someone just starting out should ignore the RSP approach and focus on maximizing their TFSA first and only then add to a RSP. The ability to shelter from taxes forever all the money in a TFSA puts a smart investor in a place of having easily a million+ in their TFSA at age 65 and draw on that money during retirement and pay zero in taxes and easily qualify for the full OAS with no clawback and possibly even qualify for GIS.

With proper planning its entire possible to have access to spend more than 90k a year when retired but have an 'income' substantially less than 90k.

Funny how "proper planning" apparently includes welfare effectively. I don't know anybody who is actually well off who plans their finances with OAS as a significant component. Maybe when you get to that level, you'll understand.

Again. If we're saying parents wouldn't get CCB past $90k, it's more than fair to apply the exact same rule to seniors. Folks like yourself are only upset because of a sense of entitlement. I can sympathize that having to stay at a three star instead of a five star on your next vacation is going to suck. I am air force after all. But it's far more important for most of us that the country is better positioned for our kids and grandkids.

 

[ytz]

Cool.

Cut OAS and reform CPP and GIS.

Doesnt need go be either or. Do both.

Ideally both. But the idea that they need to be sequenced or conditionally dependent is just an excuse to dodge action.

 

[Czech_pivo]

we are poaching that doctor out of south africa or india because our doctor was poached.

If young canadian professionals didn't leave we wouldn't need to poach.

That is completely and utter wrong.

Do you know anyone in senior admin positions in the Hospitals or in the Universities? Go ask them.

Do you think that the number of entry positions into medical school or nursing school increases each and every year based on the number of new immigrants or temporary workers or an aging populations or the number of doctors/nurses retiring or leaving the industry? Answer - no, it does not. As a result, they play a catch up game, when it which they are always delayed. Some provinces, because this is provincial issue, not a Federal one, manage it better than others. But guess what, the poorer provinces do a worse job than the richer ones.

Also, why does a Canadian medical professional leave Canada in the first place? What reasons do you believe it to be?

 

[Altair]

Ideally both. But the idea that they need to be sequenced or conditionally dependent is just an excuse to dodge action.

yeah, i love the dont pay them here, pay them here instead.

No.

We need to get elder benefits down, not redirect where it goes.

 

[Altair]

That is completely and utter wrong.

Do you know anyone in senior admin positions in the Hospitals or in the Universities? Go ask them.

Do you think that the number of entry positions into medical school or nursing school increases each and every year based on the number of new immigrants or temporary workers or an aging populations or the number of doctors/nurses retiring or leaving the industry? Answer - no, it does not. As a result, they play a catch up game, when it which they are always delayed. Some provinces, because this is provincial issue, not a Federal one, manage it better than others. But guess what, the poorer provinces do a worse job than the richer ones.

Also, why does a Canadian medical professional leave Canada in the first place? What reasons do you believe it to be?

So a Canadian trained doctor or nurse who goes to work in the USA doesnt leave a void that canada fills with a foreign trained doctor or nurse?

Targeted immigration measures to boost Canada’s supply of doctors - Canada.ca

December 8, 2025—Toronto—In support of the Budget 2025 commitment to fill critical labour gaps with high-skilled talent, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, today announced new measures to support Canada’s health care system by making the path to permanent residence simpler for international doctors.

As part of these measures, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will create a new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, gained within the last three years. These doctors are already working in Canada on a temporary basis, helping patients and contributing to our health care system. We’re giving these doctors a clear pathway to permanent residence in Canada to fill critical health workforce gaps, while helping support reliable care and a stable health system for Canadians. Invitations to apply for the new Express Entry category will be issued in early 2026.

The Government of Canada will reserve 5,000 federal admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers. These spaces are in addition to the annual Provincial Nominee Program allocations. Doctors who are nominated will receive expedited 14-day work permit processing, allowing them to work while awaiting permanent residence.

Ya, sure.

 

[ytz]

yeah, i love the dont pay them here, pay them here instead.

No.

We need to get elder benefits down, not redirect where it goes.

I am fine with raising CPP because it's funded by premiums.

I am even fine with raising GIS so that we can maybe take a few more seniors out of poverty.

However, none of this is even possible as long as $85 billion per year (and increasing) goes to OAS with a good chunk of that going to people who have paid off homes and no dependents.

Most other welfare programs in this country have asset tests. You can't have a million in the bank and a million dollar home and get welfare from your province. But if you're a senior in the exact same position? Full OAS from the federal government. It's bullshit. And it's destroying the country because every ounce of spare fiscal capacity at the federal level is going to this.

Just a reminder that the PBO projects that OAS could get to quarter TRILLION annually by 2050 if nothing changes.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Funny how "proper planning" apparently includes welfare effectively. I don't know anybody who is actually well off who plans their finances with OAS as a significant component. Maybe when you get to that level, you'll understand.

Again. If we're saying parents wouldn't get CCB past $90k, it's more than fair to apply the exact same rule to seniors. Folks like yourself are only upset because of a sense of entitlement. I can sympathize that having to stay at a three star instead of a five star on your next vacation is going to suck. I am air force after all. But it's far more important for most of us that the country is better positioned for our kids and grandkids.

Again, you failed to read my other posts.

I find it funny that OAS was treated the same as the Health Care benefit in the past, meaning that everyone got it and everyone was treated the same, regardless of their income. But, but, when it becomes apparent that some of us have properly planned of the future by saving/investing accordingly, those of us that have paid 65% of all income tax collected year in and year out and provided all the funding for all the programmes in the past and still managed to live within our means or below our means, that when retirement comes along we are asked yet again to tighten our belt and take the sucker punch that the other 80% wants to throw at us.

A number on here have talked about how Canada consistently 'under' achieves, how it has soooo much potential thanks to our size and gift of natural resources. Well, its quite easy to see and understand after listening to all of this. Its the old Japanese proverb - 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.'