Please Help
I recently discovered something that I find both shocking and deeply unfair about our Canada Pension Plan (CPP) system, and I wanted to share my experience in hopes of raising awareness and maybe sparking some change.
My friend and I are the same age, nearly identical in many ways. We both worked hard throughout our lives, we never married, and we’ve faced our own unique challenges along the way. Yet, when it came time to receive our CPP benefits, I was stunned to find that my friend receives nearly double the amount I do each month—she gets $575, while I receive just $275.
The main difference between us? I had a baby and raised my child on my own. My friend didn't have kids.
This discrepancy has nothing to do with how hard we worked or the dedication we showed in our lives. It’s about a system that penalizes caregivers—especially single mothers—who take time out of the workforce to raise children. Raising a child is one of the most important contributions to society, yet the time spent nurturing and caring isn’t valued or accounted for in the way CPP benefits are calculated.
The CPP system was supposed to provide for all of us in our retirement, but it clearly falls short when it comes to recognizing the contributions of parents, especially single moms. The Child Rearing Drop-Out provision was meant to help, but it doesn’t come close to bridging the gap. This situation highlights the need for real reforms that better support those who sacrificed their careers, often without recognition or compensation, to raise the next generation.
This isn't just about my friend and me—it’s about all the caregivers, mostly women, who end up facing financial hardship in retirement because the system doesn’t value their unpaid labor. We deserve better, and it’s time for the government to recognize that caregiving is work that deserves compensation, respect, and dignity.
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