441-02908 (Social affairs and equality)

Whereas:

• Bill C-319, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (amount of full pension), passed unanimously at committee on March 19, 2024;
• Debate at report stage will take place this fall and the government must then provide a Royal Recommendation (for appropriations) to enable a third reading vote in the House of Commons;
• The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a benefit paid to eligible individuals aged 65 and over;
• The 2021 federal budget increased the OAS amount by 10% for seniors aged 75 and over only, leaving out more than 3 million seniors aged 65 to 74;
• The maximum amount of income that can be earned without affecting the amount of the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefit is only $5,000;
• Seniors have little left over at the end of the month, making it impossible for some to age with dignity.

We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to provide a Royal Recommendation for Bill C-319 in order to increase the OAS by 10% for those aged 65 to 74 and to raise the income threshold for an unreduced GIS from $5,000 to $6,500.