Ontario campaign aims to save youth money and jobs

June 11, 2015, Toronto – Restaurants Canada released its online campaign, #FixTheORPP, to urge the Ontario government to raise the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan contribution age from 18 to 25 to better reflect today’s workplace and the need to preserve youth jobs.

“Youth today are enrolled in post-secondary education at record rates,” said James Rilett, Restaurants Canada’s vice-president, Ontario, in a news release. “As it stands, the ORPP will force them to save for retirement before their careers even start. It would cost the average young worker about $300 a year, at a time when they can least afford it. A higher contribution age would reflect the fact that people are starting their careers later and retiring later.”

If the ORPP is not fixed, it would also put more youth jobs at risk. Youth unemployment is three times higher than the rest of the population.

“The ORPP would add an employment tax on youth job creators,” Rilett said. “Fewer jobs for youth will be an unintended consequence of the new system.”

The association’s campaign includes a website and video that raise awareness of the issue. For details, visit www.fixtheorpp.ca.