e-6646 (Social affairs and equality)

The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for their proposal regarding changes to the Canada Pension Plan. The Government would like to acknowledge the significant contributions of the many seniors across the country who take responsibility for caring for children whose parents are unable to provide the care they need, as described.

The Canada Pension Plan is a social insurance program that is funded by the contributions of employees, employers and self-employed persons, and by the revenue earned on Canada Pension Plan investments. The intent of the Plan is to provide workers and their families with minimum basic income replacement in the event of the worker’s retirement, disability or death. While the Canada Pension Plan primarily serves as a retirement plan, it also provides supplementary disability and survivor benefits, which reflect the social insurance nature of the Plan and are not a direct return on contributions.

Amongst these are the Canada Pension Plan children’s benefits, which are monthly flat-rate benefits paid to the dependent children of deceased and disabled contributors. To qualify, the dependent child must be the natural child of, or a child adopted legally or in fact by, the contributor, under the age of 18 or under the age of 25 and in attendance at a recognized educational institution. The intent of the Canada Pension Plan’s children’s benefits is to provide financial support to the dependent children of contributors who are not able to work and provide financial support to their child due to their severe disability or death.

These benefits may be applicable to children finding themselves in situations similar to the one described. For example, should an older parent or legal guardian of a child be eligible for a Canada Pension Plan disability benefit, the benefit provided to the child of a disabled contributor would apply. Further, the rules for the benefit provided to a child of a disabled contributor were changed in 2025 so that the child’s benefit does not stop being paid when their disabled parent or guardian reaches the age of 65. The benefit provided to the child of a deceased contributor would be paid in cases where an older individual, such as a grandparent, becomes the caretaker of a child that has lost one of their parents. There are a number of other programs designed to help families meet the costs associated with raising children, including the Canada Child Benefit. These benefits are also available to seniors and near-seniors raising children.

It is important to note that the Government of Canada cannot unilaterally modify the Canada Pension Plan. Responsibility for the Canada Pension Plan is shared between the federal and provincial governments, in line with the constitutional division of powers. Major changes to the Plan, including modifications to benefits, require not only an act of Parliament, but also the formal approval of two-thirds of the provinces representing two-thirds of the population. As such, introducing a new children’s benefit as suggested in the petition would require the consent of provincial governments.

Federal and provincial ministers of finance review the Canada Pension Plan every three years to ensure its ongoing financial health, and to ensure that the Canada Pension Plan’s benefits remain relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of Canadians. Feedback from Canadians, such as this petition, help inform these discussions.