Bill S-234 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill S-234 proposes to extend the maximum retroactive payment period for Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor pensions from 12 months to 60 months.
This bill proposes to change the rules for how far back payments for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement and survivor pensions can go. Currently, these retroactive payments are limited to a maximum of 12 months. If this bill passes, it would extend this maximum retroactive period to five years (60 months) for those who apply for a retirement pension after turning 70, or for survivor pensions. It also makes technical changes to align with this longer period. The bill clarifies that certain other sections of the CPP do not apply to these changes.
- Amends the Canada Pension Plan to allow for a longer retroactive payment period for retirement and survivor pensions.
- Changes the maximum retroactive payment period from 12 months to 60 months (five years) for individuals applying for a retirement pension after age 70, or for survivor pensions.
- Modifies specific sections of the Canada Pension Plan related to the commencement of pension payments and the calculation of retroactivity.
- Clarifies that section 114 of the Canada Pension Plan does not apply to the amendments made by this bill.
- Individuals applying for a Canada Pension Plan retirement pension after reaching 70 years of age.
- Individuals applying for a Canada Pension Plan survivor pension.
- Individuals applying for a retirement pension after age 70 may be eligible for retroactive payments for up to 60 months.
- Individuals applying for a survivor pension may be eligible for retroactive payments for up to 60 months.
- The bill text does not specify an exact commencement date for these changes; it would take effect upon royal assent if passed.
- The bill applies specifically to retirement pensions for those applying after age 70 and to survivor pensions. It does not appear to change the retroactivity period for retirement pensions applied for before age 70, beyond the general provisions referenced.
Changes the maximum period for retroactive payments of retirement and survivor pensions from 12 months to 60 months.
Source: Sections 63.1(3)(b), 67(2)(e), 67(3), and 72(1)
Specifies that section 114 of the Canada Pension Plan does not apply to the provisions of this amending bill.
Source: Section 4
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
Bill S-234, concerning retroactivity of Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor's pensions, completed its first reading in the Senate on May 6, 2009.
This record describes the first reading of Bill S-234 in the Senate on May 6, 2009. This procedural step marks the formal introduction of the bill into the Senate. The bill's title indicates it is intended to amend the Canada Pension Plan concerning the retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions. The record also notes that the bill was later at the second reading stage, with a sponsor's speech by Senator Catherine S. Callbeck on September 16, 2009, and further debate on November 17, 2009.
The Senate of Canada introduced Bill S-234 for its first reading and scheduled it for second reading.
On May 6, 2009, the Senate of Canada held its first reading for Bill S-234, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions). Following this procedural step, the bill was scheduled for second reading two days later. The sitting also included various Senate statements on diverse topics, questions from senators to the government, and debates on other bills and committee reports.
Bill S-234, concerning retroactivity of Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor's pensions, was undergoing debate at its second reading in the Senate as of November 17, 2009.
This record describes the procedural stage of Bill S-234, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions), at its second reading in the Senate. The latest activity noted is the debate at second reading on November 17, 2009. The bill had its first reading on May 6, 2009, and its second reading on September 16, 2009, with a sponsor's speech by Senator Catherine S. Callbeck on that date.
During a Senate sitting on September 16, 2009, the debate on Bill S-234, which proposes extending the retroactivity period for Canada Pension Plan benefits, was suspended due to unanswered questions from the bill's sponsor to the government, while other Senate business proceeded.
This Senate debate record from September 16, 2009, primarily focuses on procedural matters and other business before the Senate, rather than a substantive debate on Bill S-234. The debate on Bill S-234, concerning retroactivity of Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor's pensions, was suspended. Senator Catherine S. Callbeck introduced the bill and expressed frustration over the lack of government answers to her questions regarding the Canada Pension Plan, which she had been seeking for two years through various means. She highlighted that many Canadians, particularly elderly women who left the workforce to raise families, may be unaware of their entitlement to benefits due to a one-year application limit. The bill aims to extend this limit to five years for both retirement and survivor benefits. The rest of the sitting involved other routine proceedings, tabling of reports, question period, and debates on other bills, including consumer product safety and tobacco.
The Senate began debate on a bill to extend the retroactivity period for Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor's benefits, with the sponsor expressing concerns about government responsiveness to her inquiries.
On September 16, 2009, the Senate began debate on Bill S-234, which aims to amend the Canada Pension Plan. Senator Catherine S. Callbeck, the sponsor of the bill, spoke about its purpose, which is to extend the retroactivity period for retirement and survivor's pensions. She highlighted that many individuals, particularly women who left the workforce to raise families, may not apply for benefits on time and are currently limited by a one-year retroactivity period. The bill proposes to extend this period to five years for both retirement and survivor's benefits. Senator Callbeck also expressed frustration with the government's lack of response to her inquiries about the Canada Pension Plan, which she has pursued through multiple channels over two years. The debate on this bill was suspended.
In the Senate on November 17, 2009, debate on Bill S-234 concerning the Canada Pension Plan was continued and then adjourned, and the Senate also addressed other government business.
On November 17, 2009, the Senate debated Bill S-234, an Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan regarding the retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions. The debate on the bill was adjourned, meaning it was not completed on this date and will be continued at a later time. The proceedings also included other matters such as statements by senators on various topics, the tabling of reports, question period on subjects like the H1N1 vaccine and funding for the Arctic Winter Games, and ongoing debates on other bills and motions.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced