information are well used, both in terms of accurately crediting wages and in alerting the public about Social Security benefits. We therefore oppose legislation at this time.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF DONALD WALSH

The Canada Pension Plan Administration recognized a need to better inform the public and in 1983 conducted a pilot project to assess their reaction to an information package which included a "statement" of credits paid to date, pension calculation estimates, and descriptions of the various pensions payable.

More than 91% of the recipients surveyed indicated that they intended to retain the documents for future reference.

As well more than 75% stated that the documents were informative and helpful.

In view of the positive response to the pilot project the Canada Pension Plan Administration implemented a "contributor information programs" in 1985.

The "primary" purpose of this program was to encourage the public's involvement with the Canada pension plan.

It's objectives were:

-to provide advice and information to all contributors regarding the Canada Pension Plan;

-to promote an understanding and awareness of the significance of their contributions as they relate to potential benefits,

-to make contributors aware of the importance of ensuring that their earnings and contributions records are accurate and complete; and

-to ensure that benefits are applied for.

The pension entitlement estimates shown on the "contributors statement" are calculated using actual figures only and reflect a pension value that would be payable as of the date that the "statement" is issued.

The Canada Pension Plan Administration has refrained from attempting to project earnings and pension estimates over a lifetime due to the many variables involved, and more importantly did not want to mislead the individual into a false

sense of security that may not materialize if changes occurred in the employment pattern.

The Canada Pension Plan, "contributor information program," has just completed it's fifth year of operation in march 1989.

In total more than 17 million "statements" have been sent to contributors between the ages of 20 and 92. Most of the contributor population have now received two "statements". The program is designed to send a new "statement" every three to four (4) years.

A contributor still retain the right under the Canada Pension Plan legislation to request a statement of his credits once in am twelve month period.

Of the 17 million "statements" mailed to date, only slightly more than 700,000 were returned as undeliverable due to an incorrect address or death.

This program is also directly responsible for the more than 200,000 inquiries regarding pension entitlement, or requesting an investigation of missing or incomplete earnings and contributions information.

Although the Canada Pension Plan Administration has not conducted a formal survey during the past five years, it is reasonable to conclude that the contributor information program has been well-received by the general public.

It is generally agreed that the contributor information program has achieved it's stated objectives.

At the present time the department of National Health and Welfare (Canada) has no intentions of ceasing this program.