Join the call to Fix OAS
Join a growing network of Canadians urging federal leaders to modernize OAS to eliminate seniors poverty and invest in income security for young and working age Canadians.
A Toolkit to Reform Old Age Security
Canadians work hard to fund the healthy retirements our aging population deserve — but outdated policies are letting them down. It’s time for Ottawa to modernize Old Age Security. By making every dollar count, we can lift seniors out of poverty and give their kids and grandchildren greater financial security.
We're giving you the tools to take action
Together, we can call on federal leaders to make Old Age Security (OAS) responsible, modern, and fair. Our win-win reform plan will yield the biggest boost to affordability in a generation by:
Giving the lowest income seniors a big enough boost to lift them out of poverty
AND
Investing more in income and housing security for young and working age Canadians
ALL WITH
No new fees or taxes
The principle behind our plan is simple: cash benefits should be based on need, not age.
We're calling on retired couples with $182,000 incomes to take slightly less from OAS. Right now, they can get the full $18,000 annual taxpayer-funded subsidy — and even some with millions in assets receive support. Yet 400,000 seniors live in poverty, and three-quarters of young people are exhausted by rising costs, together with the weight of unemployment, student debt, and housing costs that have surged far beyond earnings.
OAS isn’t the Canada Pension Plan. Retirees aren’t simply receiving back what they contributed. The rising cost of OAS is paid by today’s shrinking pool of working-age taxpayers — many of whom earn less than the financially secure retirees they’re subsidizing. Median family income is just over $74,000, while OAS benefits don’t begin to phase out until $182,000 for retired couples.
Now is the time to act. Eliminating seniors’ poverty and growing housing and income security for young and working age people should take priority over sending $14 billion in annual subsidies to 1.5 million retirees with six-figure incomes.
Our toolkit will help you urge politicians to support OAS reform, and start conversations in your community, online, and with public and elected officials. Most of all, it will help you remind people that changing outdated policies isn't radical — it's responsible. At a time of disruption and uncertainty, it's critical to make sure we spend in ways that help the most.
Start Here: Your First Moves for Change
4 easy ways to take the first step, right now
Contact Your Member of Parliament
Tell your MP: OAS helps too little where it’s needed, and too much where it’s not. Now is the time to fix it.
Grow our campaign by spreading the word on socials
Start by letting others in your network know about our campaign to modernize OAS, and our toolkit that makes taking action easy.
Make a video with us
Why do you want to modernize OAS? Making a short video testimonial with us will amplify your story in the world of politics.
Key messages
Not sure how to kick off a conversation? We have some key messages to get you going, starting with values we share — like efficiency, fairness, and getting the most bang for our buck.
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It's time for an update...
Old Age Security was designed in 1952 – back when shag carpets and disco were still fashionable. Its goals haven’t been modernized since. It’s time Canada brought retirement policy into the 21st century.
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A smarter use of our tax dollars...
Right now, retired couples with $182,000 of income can get $18,000 a year from Old Age Security (OAS). Taxpayers are spending $14 billion to subsidize retirees with six-figure incomes. That’s inefficient, unfair, and inconsistent with Canadians’ values about helping those most in need.
The fix is for Ottawa to update OAS eligibility by asking retired couples with household incomes over $100,000 to take slightly less - about $3,000 a year on average. The $7 billion we will save is enough to eliminate seniors poverty, and grow housing and income security for young and working age people.
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Let's double check our goals...
All Canadians deserve to be financially secure, including our aging loved ones. But it's not hard to imagine better ways to address affordability pressures than giving 18,000 annual OAS subsidies to couples with incomes more than 2.5 times the median household income. If we give slightly less to financially secure retiree households, we can invest more in lifting seniors out of poverty, and supporting young and working people to cope with rising costs.
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We need fair benefits for all ages
Old Age Security is more generous than other income supports in Canada. A retired couple with $182,000 of income still gets full OAS benefits, while young families have the Canada Child Benefit clawed back at $81,000 - even though seniors have the lowest rates of poverty of all age groups, and enjoy the most wealth. It's time to end this structural ageism against younger people.
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There's a win-win-win solution...
Three in four Canadians back a simple fix: modernize Old Age Security to eliminate seniors’ poverty, help younger Canadians get ahead, and shrink the deficit – all without raising taxes. We can get there by asking the 1 in 5 retirees with household incomes above $100,000 to accept a bit less from OAS.
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Small changes, big payoff...
By slightly reducing Old Age Security for financially secure retirees, we can free up $7 billion every year. That means we'd have more than enough to end poverty for about 400,000 seniors AND invest in priorities for younger and working age Canadians, like income security and affordable housing and education. That's a better path to upholding our commitments to older and younger Canadians alike.
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Pulling together for fair policy...
Modernizing Old Age Security isn’t about pitting generations against one another. It’s about making sure this program reflects the intergenerational solidarity that families show every day around their kitchen tables. Our plan makes sure financially secure retirees keep what they need, the lowest income seniors get the increased support they deserve, and younger Canadians aren't left behind. Updating OAS strengthens the social contract for everyone.
Put your ideas in writing
Writing an op-ed or letter to the editor is a simple yet powerful way to get people talking about the idea that Canada's retirement policies urgently need reform to make them fit for purpose in the 21st century. These tools can help raise awareness, influence public opinion, and show elected officials that you stand behind plans to enact needed reforms.
Writing an Op-Ed
Length: 500-700 words
Purpose: Express your view on a newsworthy issue, such as affordability or efficient public spending
Where to submit: Local or national newspapers
Writing a Letter to the Editor
Length:150–250 words (varies by publication)
Purpose: Respond to a specific published article, referencing it directly
Where to submit: Same newspaper that published the article
Some helpful writing tips...
🎯 Start with a hook. Grab the reader’s attention in the first sentence.
❤️ Be personal. Use your own story or experience to illustrate why fixing Old Age Security matters to you.
🎯 Keep it focused. Make one clear argument rather than trying to cover everything.
⏳ Stay concise. Stick to the word limit.
💥 End with impact. Leave readers with a call to action or a powerful final thought.
🏡 Localize your message. Local stories often get picked up more readily and resonate strongly with nearby readers.
