On The Establishment And Development Of Old Age Security System In Canada

Old age security is one of the important aspects of social security. With various programs the Canadian old age security system provides the security for the life of senior citizens in the country. Accordingly Canada has been acclaimed as "heaven for the elderly " and enjoyed a high reputation in the world. It is of extremely realistic significance for us to study it as one of the successful models for old age security system. This article deals with the issue in three parts.In the first part the article explores the cause of establishment of old age security system in Canada. It indicates that many factors contributed to it as internal causes, such as the development of social economy laying a profound material foundation for the system, the propaganda of humanists, the motive force of rising progressive parties, and labor unions’continuous efforts to realize situation that "elderly will be looked after properly"; while old age security programs in Britain played an inducing role as a external cause.In the second part the article deals with the evolution of old age security system in Canada, which includes "income security programs for seniors","Canada pension plans" and" registered retirement savings plan". The Canadian old age security system was not established overnight,to the contrary, it gradually grows to maturity after going through ups and downs and experiencing long-term adjustment.In the third part the article analyzes what characteristics the Canadian old age security showed in its establishment and adjustment, and makes some comments on the system. It points out that under Canadian federalism the change in jurisdiction of federal and provincial governments was the precondition for the establishment of old age security system. Although the old age security system has achieved its expected aims to some extent, it still has problems that need to be solved and accomplished.