A National Seniors Day message from Federal Retirees
Federal Retirees’ CEO, Anthony Pizzino, looks at why retirement security matters for older Canadians, their communities and the country as a whole.
![Two [AJ5.1]older adult women working together in a community garden.](https://www.federalretirees.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Community-2350443587-WEB.png)
Retirement income security supports well-being, independence and community engagement as we age.
On National Seniors Day, we recognize the contributions older adults make to our communities, our economy and our country, and the importance of ensuring all Canadians can age with security, dignity and choice. October 1 is also the International Day of Older Persons, observed around the world.
There is a lot competing for governments’ attention right now, and priorities can shift quickly. In that environment, the needs of older Canadians risk being pushed aside. That’s exactly when we need to make sure they stay on the agenda.
For anyone living on a fixed income, volatility isn’t an abstract concept. When the costs of housing, groceries or other essentials rise, there’s often no room to absorb those increases. In periods of economic instability, reliable retirement income can help people manage unexpected expenses while maintaining their well-being.
That kind of security matters at home, but it also reaches much further.
Across all levels of government, a one-dollar increase in pension income results in 41 cents being recouped. That’s one finding from The Power of Pensions, a Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report supported by Federal Retirees. The report also found that workplace pensions put $84 billion into Canadians’ hands in 2021 — income that helps sustain local businesses and communities across the country.
What pensions cost is only one side of the equation. Reliable retirement income supports greater financial security for retirees, steadier local economies and less reliance on programs such as Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Defined benefit pensions — among the most reliable sources of retirement income — have been declining in the private sector for decades. That matters because weakening pension security shifts more financial risk onto individuals.
Protecting pensions and retirement income is one of Federal Retirees’ five advocacy priorities, and in uncertain times, it matters more, not less. With Parliament’s fall sitting now underway, that work continues. I’ve shared more about what we’ll be watching in the months ahead.
No one understands the value of retirement security better than the people who depend on it. On National Seniors Day and every day, we’ll keep making sure governments hear their voices.
Anthony Pizzino
