Bill S-223 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, 3rd 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-223 would allow people who apply late for Canada Pension Plan retirement or survivor pensions to receive retroactive payments for up to 5 years instead of the current 12 months.
Bill S-223 proposes to change how far back the Canada Pension Plan will pay retroactive benefits when someone applies late for retirement or survivor pensions. Currently, if you apply for a retirement pension after age 70, the plan will pay you back up to 12 months. If you apply for a survivor's pension, the plan also pays back up to 12 months. This bill would extend the retroactive period to 5 years (60 months) in most cases. The bill makes specific changes: - For people who apply for a retirement pension between ages 65 and 70, retroactive payments would go back up to 11 months (current rule). - For people who apply for a retirement pension after age 70, retroactive payments would go back up to 60 months (5 years), but not earlier than when they turned 70. - For people who apply for a retirement pension after age 75, retroactive payments would go back up to 60 months (5 years). - For survivor pensions, retroactive payments would go back up to 59 months (nearly 5 years). This would allow people who delayed applying for pensions to receive more back pay than they currently can under the rules.
- Extends the retroactive payment period for retirement pensions from 12 months to 60 months (5 years) for applicants over age 70, with the restriction that payments cannot go back before the month they turned 70
- Extends the retroactive payment period for retirement pensions from 12 months to 60 months (5 years) for applicants over age 75
- Extends the retroactive payment period for survivor pensions from 12 months to 59 months (nearly 5 years)
- Maintains the current 11-month retroactive period for retirement pension applicants between ages 65 and 70
- Specifies that these changes do not apply to section 114 of the Canada Pension Plan
- People aged 65 and over who apply for Canada Pension Plan retirement pensions
- People who apply for Canada Pension Plan survivor pensions
- Specifically, applicants over age 70 seeking retirement pensions (would receive up to 5 years back pay instead of 1 year)
- Applicants over age 75 seeking retirement pensions (would receive up to 5 years back pay)
- Applicants seeking survivor pensions (would receive up to nearly 5 years back pay instead of 1 year)
- Eligible applicants would have the right to receive retroactive pension payments going back up to 5 years instead of 12 months in specified circumstances
- The retroactive payment period for applicants over age 70 cannot go back earlier than the month they turned age 70
- The changes do not apply to section 114 of the Canada Pension Plan (which deals with how the Plan applies to certain situations)
- Bill received First Reading on October 5, 2010
- Section 3 of the bill is stated to come into force on the later of when the bill comes into force and when section 38 of the Economic Recovery Act (stimulus) (2009) comes into force
- Other sections would come into force when the bill is given Royal Assent (the specific date is not specified in the bill text)
- Note: The bill status indicates 'Bill not proceeded with,' meaning it did not advance to become law
- The bill would increase Canada Pension Plan benefit payments to eligible applicants by extending the retroactive period they can claim, resulting in higher payouts for people who delayed applying for pensions
- The total financial impact is not quantified in the bill text
- The bill does not specify new penalties or enforcement mechanisms; it only changes the rules for how far back benefits can be paid
- The bill does not specify the exact date the bill would come into force, only that section 3 would come into force on the later of the bill's commencement and section 38 of the Economic Recovery Act
- The bill text does not explain the rationale or justification for extending the retroactive period from 1 year to 5 years
- The bill is in Senate form (S-223) and received First Reading in 2010 but the status indicates it 'was not proceeded with,' meaning it did not become law
- The bill does not specify whether these changes would apply retroactively to people who already received pension payments under the old rules
Changes the maximum retroactive period for retirement and survivor pension payments from 12 months to up to 5 years in specified circumstances
Source: Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 amend paragraphs 63.1(3)(b), 67(2)(e), 67(3.1), and 72(1) of the Canada Pension Plan respectively
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-223, an Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan regarding retroactivity of pensions, was introduced in the Senate, but was ultimately withdrawn and not proceeded with after a point of order was raised.
This record indicates that Bill S-223, an Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan concerning the retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions, completed its first reading in the Senate on October 5, 2010. However, the bill was later withdrawn on March 10, 2011, pursuant to a Speaker's ruling. A point of order was also raised regarding the bill's acceptability. The bill was not proceeded with.
On October 5, 2010, the Senate held its first reading of Bill S-223 concerning the Canada Pension Plan, alongside debates on climate change, the 2011 census, and other routine proceedings.
This record details a sitting of the Senate on October 5, 2010. During the sitting, various senators made statements on diverse topics including recognizing individuals, commenting on political events in New Brunswick, and responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Igor. Routine proceedings involved tabling annual reports from various offices, including the Privacy Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer. A significant procedural event was the first reading of Bill S-223, an Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan concerning the retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions. The sitting also included Question Period, where senators discussed issues such as climate change legislation, the 2011 census, and the funding of a sports complex in Quebec City. Several other bills and motions were also debated or referred to committee. The sitting concluded with the adjournment of the Senate.
Bill S-223, aiming to amend the Canada Pension Plan for pension retroactivity, was withdrawn from the Senate's agenda on March 10, 2011, after a point of order was raised.
This record indicates that Bill S-223, concerning amendments to the Canada Pension Plan regarding the retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions, was dropped from the Senate's Order Paper on March 10, 2011, following a Speaker's ruling. The bill had reached the second reading stage in the Senate, with major speeches occurring on February 8, 2011, and March 1, 2011. A Point of Order was also raised concerning the bill's acceptability during its progression.
During a Senate sitting on November 24, 2010, various senators discussed healthcare, media representation, and international aid, while also proceeding with routine matters and debating legislation including Bill S-223 concerning the Canada Pension Plan.
On November 24, 2010, the Senate met. The sitting included statements by senators on various topics, including tributes to the late Prime Minister of Barbados, David John Howard Thompson, and a discussion on the resilience of Evaline Apoko. Senator Gerry St. Germain spoke about the sustainability of Canada's health care system. Other discussions included racial stereotyping in media, the 150th anniversary of Jack & Co. insurance brokerage, and reports from parliamentary associations. Routine proceedings involved tabling a certificate of nomination for Privacy Commissioner and motions related to this appointment. Bills were introduced, including the Fighting Internet and Wireless Spam Bill. Question Period addressed topics such as French language services, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, financial aid to sub-Saharan Africa, untendered government contracts, and the Sydney Harbour Project. The Senate then moved to "Orders of the Day." Bill S-223, concerning retroactivity of Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor's pensions, was introduced for second reading, and debate was adjourned. Other debates continued on topics like public safety, controlled drugs and substances, and pluralism and racism in Canada. The Senate also authorized a committee to extend its report date on the forest sector study. The sitting concluded with the Senate adjourning.
In the Senate, a debate occurred at the second reading stage of Bill S-223, concerning an increase in the retroactivity period for Canada Pension Plan retirement and survivor's pensions, with the sponsor arguing for its adoption.
This record details a debate in the Senate regarding Bill S-223, which proposes to amend the Canada Pension Plan. Senator Catherine S. Callbeck spoke in favour of the bill, explaining that it would increase the retroactivity period for retirement and survivor's pensions from 12 months to five years. She noted that this change would align the Canada Pension Plan with the Quebec Pension Plan and several other international pension plans. Senator Callbeck also addressed potential concerns about the bill's financial implications and provincial consent, stating that legal opinions indicate it does not require a royal recommendation and does not necessitate provincial consent under section 114 of the Canada Pension Plan Act. She also mentioned that she had contacted all provincial and territorial premiers, and received no negative feedback. The debate was adjourned.
The Senate continued its debate on Bill S-223 regarding the Canada Pension Plan, but the debate was adjourned.
On February 8, 2011, the Senate continued its debate on Bill S-223, an Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan concerning the retroactivity of retirement and survivor's pensions. The debate on this bill was adjourned.
A Senate sitting on March 1, 2011, included tributes, discussions on Libya, the tabling of documents, and debates on various bills, with a point of order raised on Bill S-223 regarding its admissibility and need for a Royal Recommendation.
This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on March 1, 2011. It details various proceedings including tributes to former Senator Marian Maloney, discussions on international events such as the situation in Libya, and the tabling of various documents like the Estimates and annual reports. Several bills were also at different stages of debate, including Bill S-223 concerning amendments to the Canada Pension Plan. A point of order was raised regarding Bill S-223, questioning its admissibility due to potential new expenditures, and the Speaker reserved their ruling. The sitting also included the presentation of committee reports and the adjournment of debates on several bills.
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