Strengthening Retirement Security in Ontario

Ontario is moving ahead with a first-of-its-kind mandatory provincial pension plan that would build on the strengths of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and support long-term economic growth.

In light of the federal government's ongoing refusal to enhance CPP, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan would take a balanced approach to support workers in the province. It would especially help middle-income earners without workplace pension coverage and would be cost-effective, responsible and designed to meet the needs of a 21st century workforce.

The ORPP would:

• Provide a predictable stream of income that is indexed to inflation and paid for life in retirement.
• Be mandatory for the more than three million Ontarians without a workplace pension plan, and require equal contributions from employees and employers.
• Operate at arm's length from government and be responsible for managing investments associated with  annual contributions of approximately $3.5 billion.
• Support long-term economic growth as pension payments from the ORPP would help people maintain their standard of living in retirement and continue spending.
• Be developed in consultation with pension experts, business, labour, individuals, families and communities across the province in order to ensure that a broad range of perspectives is heard.

Despite federal inaction, Ontario is committed to building a strong and secure retirement income system to help ensure that people in the province are better able to enjoy their retirement years.

QUICK FACTS

• Despite consensus among provinces and territories to continue talks on an enhancement to the CPP, the federal government unilaterally shut down discussions.
• The CPP pays the average Ontarian only about $6,800 a year in retirement.
• More than two thirds of Ontario workers are without a workplace pension plan.
• Increased life expectancy and low personal savings rates add pressure when preparing for retirement.
• The ORPP is being developed with input from the Technical Advisory Group on Retirement Security, consisting of a group of experts with a range of perspectives, including participants from other provinces.

LEARN MORE

• Strengthening Retirement Security in Ontario
• Increasing Retirement Savings Yields Positive Economic Benefits
• Dodge Advises Canadians Must Save More Now for Retirement

 
MULTIMEDIA AND ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT

This News Release has multimedia content and a downloadable electronic press kit. Click here to access on news.ontario.ca.
 
 QUOTES

"The federal government has consistently refused to commit to an enhancement of the CPP, so Ontario is leading the way with the ORPP. After a lifetime of hard work and contributing to the economy, Ontarians deserve better than to face lowering standards of living in retirement. Without help, that future is discouraging for many, especially since two-thirds of Ontario workers don’t have access to a workplace pension and many are unable to save enough on their own to provide for a secure retirement."
 — Mitzie Hunter, Associate Minister of Finance
 
CONTACTS

For Media Inquiries only
Susie Heath - Minister’s Office
416-325-3645
susie.heath@ontario.ca  

For Media Inquiries only
Scott Blodgett - Ministry of Finance
416-325-0324
scott.blodgett@ontario.ca

FOR PUBLIC INQUIRIES CALL:
1-800-337-7222
TTY: 1-800-263-7776

Ministry of Finance
http://www.ontario.ca/finance