81.2 Improving Pensions for Women
Whereas:
A number of studies along with the 1978 NCWC survey on The Financial Situation of Older Women have shown that women of retirement age are generally financially disadvantaged; and,
Whereas, Under present Registered Retirement Savings Plan annual limits, many working women do not have sufficient earning years to build up RRSP funds to provide an adequate annuity; and,
Whereas, The spouse of an employee in the public service or of a company under federal jurisdiction does not share the spouse’s pension if divorced; and,
Whereas, Homemakers cannot participate in public pension plans; therefore be it,
RESOLVED:
That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada:
- To open the Canada Pension Plan to non-earning spouses including homemakers inputting an income, through the application for pension purposes of 50% of the earning spouse to the non-earning spouse, the total contributions to be allowed as a tax deduction from the higher income spouse;
- To increase Registered Retirement Savings Plan annual limits for any person over forty-five years of age, who has an incomplete or non-existent Canada/Quebec Pension Plan record; and,
- To amend legislation governing the pensions of public service employees and those employees of companies under federal jurisdiction so that 50% of pension entitlements be apportioned to the divorced spouse for each year of marriage, prior to the dissolution of that marriage.