Posted: Friday, 2 November 2007

I. Executive Summary

The 3rd CLC Pension Conference will energize and focus labour’s campaign for pension protection and retirement security. This discussion paper aims to generate debate before, during, and after our conference proceedings.

The 3rd CLC Pension Conference takes place at a key moment for working people and retirees.

Many Canadians are worried about their pensions, and concerned for their retirement security.

Without question, today’s research on pension trends offers an unsettling picture.

Only 38.5% of Canadian workers have workplace pensions, and almost one-third have no retirement savings at all. Despite some improvement in recent decades, an alarming number of retirees—particularly single women, aboriginal peoples, recent immigrants, and those with disabilities—still live in poverty.

The “haves” with decent pensions are told their benefits are no longer affordable, and fear losing them in corporate bankruptcy.

The “have nots” are either gouged by excessive RRSP fees, or forgotten altogether.

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