TORONTO — The Harper government on Tuesday moved to quell fears about possible cuts to the Old Age Security program, with Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources, delivering a speech with few specifics but which said today’s seniors will not be affected.
In a lunchtime address to the Canadian Club at the Royal York hotel, Ms. Finley stressed that coming changes to retirement benefits are necessary due to demographic realities such as a shrinking workforce, an aging population and a declining fertility rate.
But while she said the controversy over pension reform “is not a crisis we invented,” Ms. Finley, according to prepared remarks, said she wanted to reinforce “that any changes being considered will not cost current seniors a penny.”
“I personally assure that there will be no changes for seniors currently collecting benefits. Nor will there be any impacts for anyone close to retirement.”
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