CARP Nova Scotia Condemns Push to Cut OAS Benefits: “This Is Not a Drill”
HALIFAX, NS — The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) Nova Scotia chapter and chapters across Canada are sounding the alarm after University of British Columbia professor Dr. Paul Kershaw called on the federal government to cancel the Old Age Security (OAS) increase for Canadians aged 65 to 74, and to lower the income threshold for eligibility — a move that would reduce benefits for thousands of middle-income seniors.
Speaking on Parliament Hill on October 20, 2025, Dr. Kershaw described his proposal as an effort to “help younger Canadians.” But this plan would do precisely the opposite — by dismantling vital supports for older Canadians and setting the stage for increased hardship among future retirees.
“Let’s be clear,” said Bill VanGorder, Past Chair and senior spokesperson for CARP Nova Scotia. “These aren’t millionaires being targeted. They’re retired teachers, nurses, tradespeople, and small business owners — Canadians who have contributed for decades through taxes, work, and volunteerism. OAS isn’t a handout; it’s a promise.”
Seniors Are Not a Burden
CARP rejects the false narrative of “intergenerational fairness” being used to justify benefit cuts, pointing out that older Canadians remain major contributors to the national economy:
- Canadians aged 65 and overpay approximately $70 billion annually in income taxes — more than 20% of the national total.
- They contribute around 40% of all residential property taxes.
- They spend billions more each year in GST/HST through daily purchases.
“Seniors are among Canada’s largest taxpayers,” CARP’s VanGorder emphasized. “They’ve built this country and continue to support it through taxes and community engagement. To portray them as takers rather than contributors is deeply misleading.”
A Growing Threat to Seniors’ Financial Security
CARP warns that redirecting OAS funds toward unrelated programs — as proposed by Dr. Kershaw — represents a dangerous precedent. “This is exactly what we’ve been warning about: a growing effort to pit one generation against another,” said VanGorder. “It’s an attack on the fundamental idea that all Canadians deserve dignity and financial security as they age.”
The organization also notes that Dr. Kershaw’s group, Generation Squeeze, receives support from taxpayer-funded institutions, including the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), while CARP operates without any government funding.
CARP’s Record of Advocacy
For over 40 years, CARP has been the national, non-partisan voice for Canadians as they age, with more than 250,000 members nationwide. The organization has led landmark advocacy victories, including:
- Restoring OAS eligibility to age 65
- Securing pension income splitting
- Ending mandatory retirement
- Advancing seniors’ rights in health care, housing, and financial security
CARP views the current attempt to weaken OAS as one of the most serious challenges seniors have faced in decades. “Those younger Canadians Dr. Kershaw says he’s helping will one day rely on the very OAS system he’s undermining,” VanGorder concluded. “Protecting OAS protects all Canadians — today and tomorrow.”
About CARP
The Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) is Canada’s largest advocacy organization for older adults with 250,000 members across Canada and over 9,000 members in Nova Scotia. CARP is Independent and member-funded, CARP champions policies that uphold fairness, dignity, and respect for Canadians as they age.
Learn more or join CARP at CARPNovaScotia.ca
Media Contact:
Bill VanGorder, Past Chair and Senior Spokesperson,
CARP Nova Scotia Chapter
Treasurer,
CARP National Board of Directors.
Email: VanGorder@CARP.ca
Phone: (902) 999 3572
