{"id":2813,"date":"2023-06-16T14:03:25","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T18:03:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regimeretraite.ca\/espace-michel-lizee-monsieur-retraite\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T05:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T10:53:48","slug":"espace-michel-lizee-mr-retirement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/regimeretraite.ca\/en\/espace-michel-lizee-mr-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Mr. Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Michel Liz\u00e9e\u2019s Corner
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Michel\u2019s Role in Advocating for Supplementary and Public Pension Plans<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the Canadian retirement system, it is undeniable that public pension plans provide retirees with lifetime benefits, indexed to the cost of living. However, it is equally clear that this income is insufficient to lift seniors out of poverty, let alone allow them to maintain their standard of living in retirement. That is why, to ensure financial well-being during their retirement years, it is essential for workers to participate in a pension or retirement savings plan.

As an economist, researcher, and activist, Michel Liz\u00e9e found it unacceptable that so many people were forced to live below the poverty line as they approached retirement. Throughout his career, Michel Liz\u00e9e, aka \u201cMr. Retirement,\u201d proved to be a passionate advocate for pension plans, upholding strong commitments:<\/p>

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Improving public pension plans, benefiting the system as a whole.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Promoting supplementary pension plans, highlighting the advantages of defined benefit plans when they are properly managed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The importance of defined benefit pension plans tailored to employment sectors that do not have access to standard retirement plans, such as those in large companies. This is how he contributed to the development of the RRFS-GCF model.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThese various commitments led Michel Liz\u00e9e to play a dual role, both as a whistleblower and as a provider of concrete solutions for the defense of pension plans.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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His Role in Improving Public Pension Plans<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Public pension plans in Canada include three distinct programs: the Old Age Security (OAS), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), as well as its equivalent Qu\u00e9bec Pension Plan (QPP) for the province of Qu\u00e9bec.

Michel Liz\u00e9e repeatedly emphasized the minimalist nature of this Canadian retirement system. He argued that public pension plans provide only a basic lifetime income, indexed to the cost of living, but which remains far below the poverty line, failing to maintain retirees\u2019 standard of living.

For example, in an article published on the website of the Centrale des syndicats du Qu\u00e9bec (CSQ), Michel warned that even for those who contributed the maximum to the QPP throughout their professional lives, total income remains barely $5,000 more than the minimum paid to those without any other income. This reality keeps retirees at or below the poverty line and does not guarantee adequate wage replacement to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living.

Thus, Michel Liz\u00e9e always advocated for the improvement of public pension plans to ensure that individuals who contributed and worked throughout their careers receive vital guarantees in retirement, allowing them to rise out of poverty and maintain their standard of living.

Michel also played a key role as an instructor, sharing his knowledge of the Canadian pension system with thousands of people through UQAM\u2019s Community Services and the training programs developed for the RRFS-GCF. His remarkable contribution to financial literacy was always accompanied by advocacy for the improvement of public pension plans.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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His Role in Improving Defined Benefit Plans\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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