441-00165 (Social affairs and equality)

The Government of Canada is committed to improving the well-being of seniors and continues to seek ways to address their needs. The Old Age Security (OAS) program plays a significant role in providing income security to Canadians in their senior years. OAS benefits are intended to provide partial income security for seniors in recognition of the contributions that they have made to Canadian society and the economy.

The term “old age” has been associated with the name of programs for Canadian seniors since the introduction of the Old Age Pensions Act in 1927, and its successor, the Old Age Security Act of 1952. Originally, the OAS pension was paid to eligible Canadians 70 years of age or older but the eligibility was gradually expanded to include all those aged 65 and above, then later raised to 67 in Budget 2012 and restored to 65 in Budget 2016.

The Government has reviewed this issue in the past and has recognized that some seniors may infer that by removing the term “old age” from the program title, the Government is suggesting that there is something wrong with being older. The advantages of changing the name are offset by its strong name recognition and the fact that Canadians identify with it in a positive manner.

The Minister recognizes the contributions older generations have made to Canadian society and respects the perspectives of those who may describe their age differently.

One of the current work priorities of the National Seniors Council (NSC), whose mandate is to advise the Government of Canada on all matters related to the well-being and quality of life of seniors, is to focus on shifting the public discourse on older people and aging. The NSC will examine how older people and aging are depicted (e.g., by governments, in media, or by individuals) in order to propose strategies to counteract ageism, empower older people and change the way people perceive the aging process.