Office of the Superintendent - Pension Commission

Retirement Income Sources in Canada


In Canada, the responsibility for providing workers with retirement income is divided among governments, employers or unions, and individual workers.

  1. Public Income Programs and Public Pensions - mandatory (required by law)
    • Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Program
    • Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)
  2. Employer-sponsored Pension Plans - voluntary
    • Workplace or Registered Pension Plans (RPPs)
    • Group Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
  3. Individual retirement plans are - voluntarily
    • Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)

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