BC: Premier promises to end mandatory retirement
Premier Gordon Campbell promised Friday to eliminate mandatoryretirement to cope with a “silver tsunami” — one quarter of thepopulation — who will be over 65 within 25 years.
Campbell was responding to a report of the Premier’s Council onAging and Seniors’ Issues, which described the lack of protection fromage discrimination for British Columbians 65 and over as fundamentallyunfair.
By 2031, there will be 1.3 million British Columbians over 65 — double the number today.
“We want to see a future where older people are seen as an integralpart of our social and economic life,” said Patricia Baird, chairwomanof the 18-member premier’s council, which has met with hundreds ofseniors, community organizations, academics, health professionals andbusiness leaders over the past 13 months.
“Older people should be welcomed to use their talent and experience,but also assisted when poor health or low income prevent a good qualityof life.”
B.C. will be one of the last provinces to eliminate mandatoryretirement. Legislation in Ontario takes effect this month. Campbellsaid he expects to introduce legislation in the spring. B.C.’s HumanRights Code prohibits discrimination because of a person’s age butdefines age as being “an age of 19 years or more and less than 65years.”