Robson, Laurin – The Surprising Hidden Costs of Federal Employee Pensions
From: William B.P. Robson and Alexandre Laurin To: Canadian Taxpayers Date: June 5, 2018 Re: The Surprising Hidden Costs of Federal Employee Pensions Taxpayers are on the hook for the unfunded liability of pension plans for federal employees, and official figures for federal pension obligations understate future costs and leave many plans seriously underfunded. The […]Retiring Employees, Unretired Debt: The Surprising Hidden Cost of Federal Employee Pensions
Taxpayers are on the hook for the unfunded liability of pension plans for federal employees, according to a new report published by the C.D Howe Institute. In “Retiring Employees, Unretired Debt: The Surprising Hidden Cost of Federal Employee Pensions” authors William B.P. Robson and Alexandre Laurin argue that official figures for federal pension obligations understate […] A basic universal income in Canada is more realistic than you think: Maclean’s
Hugh Segal is principal of Massey College. He served in the Canadian Senate as a Conservative from Ontario and was vice-chair of the subcommittee on urban poverty.
Every democracy’s internal legitimacy is tied to how fair the residents of that country feel…
Inflated Expectations: More Immigrants Can’t Solve Canada’s Aging Problem on Their Own
Higher immigration can ease, but not entirely mitigate, the impacts of demographic change on the workforce, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Inflated Expectations: More Immigrants Can’t Solve Canada’s Aging Problem on Their Own” authors William B.P. Robson and Parisa Mahboubi encourage governments to adopt policies to complement immigration that […] William B. P. Robson – New Accounting May Reveal Government Pension Liabilities
From: William B. P. Robson To: Canadians worried about government debt – especially the unseen amounts Date: March 5, 2018 Re: New Accounting May Reveal Government Pension Liabilities Good decisions require good information. Improving the information legislators and voters get about government finances is an ongoing task. Establishing public-sector accounting standards in the 1980s was a key step, and […]Headed for the Poorhouse: How to Ensure Seniors Don’t Run Out of Cash before They Run Out of Time
With Canadians living longer, running out of savings in old age is a real possibility, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Headed for the Poorhouse: How to Ensure Seniors Don’t Run Out of Cash before They Run Out of Time” an innovative pooled risk savings program to protect seniors at advanced […] Laurin, Robson – We Need Deeds, Not Words, to Make the New Canada Pension Plan Financially Secure
From: Alexandre Laurin and Bill Robson To: Young Canadians Date: December 18, 2017 Re: We Need Deeds, Not Words, to Make the New Canada Pension Plan Financially Secure Cannabis taxation garnered most of the headlines about Canada’s finance ministers’ semiannual meeting last week. But for young Canadians who face higher premiums over their working lives to fund the […]The Fiscal Implications of Canadians’ Working Longer
Canada’s greying workforce will spell big fiscal trouble for future taxpayers, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “The Fiscal Implications of Canadians’ Working Longer,” authors William Robson, Colin Busby, and Aaron Jacobs find that demographic change is squeezing the budgets of Canadian governments—increasing the costs of public programs and eroding the tax […] William B.P. Robson – The “factor Of Nine” Crushes Retirement Saving Opportunities – Let’s Pension It Off
From: William B.P. Robson To: Canadians Struggling to Save for Retirement Date: November 13, 2017 Re: The “Factor of Nine” Crushes Retirement Saving Opportunities – Let’s Pension it Off Ottawa should raise contribution limits for savers in RRSPs and defined-contribution pension plans. In a recent paper, I outlined how current limits are outdated, unfair, and put savers in RRSPs […] William B.P. Robson – Lesson from the Sears Disaster: Fund Pensions Properly!
From: William B.P. Robson To: Members of Parliament and pension regulators Date: November 7, 2017 Re: Lesson from the Sears Disaster: Fund Pensions Properly! The bankruptcy of Sears Canada, and the threat that its underfunded pension plan won’t pay what it promised, has drawn widespread attention, not least from members of Parliament. Understandably so. You don’t get a second chance at retirement and when your payout suddenly falls, […]A lesson from the Sears disaster: We must fund pensions properly – Globe and Mail Op-Ed
The bankruptcy of Sears Canada, and the threat that its underfunded pension plan won’t pay what it promised, has caught the attention of members of Parliament. Understandably so. People don’t get a second chance at retirement. Getting an annuity less than you counted on is a terrible blow.
After the sponsor of an insolvent pension plan has gone bankrupt, moreover, governments have no happy choices. A bailout – taxpayers paying for the actions of an irresponsible employer – would be unfair, and set a terrible precedent. Some want a national pension guarantee fund that would charge premiums and pay out upon failures. But experience in the United States, Ontario and elsewhere shows that those schemes also tax responsible people to…
Rethinking Limits on Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings in Canada
Ottawa should raise contribution limits for savers in RRSPs and defined-contribution plans, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In Rethinking Limits on Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings in Canada, author William Robson finds current limits are outdated, unfair, and put savers in RRSPs and defined-contribution plans at a major disadvantage.