charting retirement

The narrative that Canadians are living longer has been largely true for the past 100 years, and in the public consciousness for perhaps the last 40. It is the main reason given for why we should save more for retirement and retire later. It is also why Stephen Harper’s government felt that Old Age Security pensions should start at 67 , rather than 65.

That narrative, however, is shifting. Whether one measures life expectancy from birth or from age 65, the number has plateaued. When measured from age 65, life expectancy in 2023 was virtually the same as it was in 2016. When measured from birth, it was actually lower in 2023 than it was in 2012.

When an important long-term trend suddenly reverses, it is natural to wonder why. The following reasons represent my per

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