Millions of Single (Solo) Seniors Face Unfair Tax Burdens

Across Canada, millions of seniors who live alone face disproportionately higher tax burdens than married or common-law couples. Because women are more likely to age alone due to longer life expectancy, caregiving disruptions, widowhood, and lower lifetime earnings, these inequities have a significant gendered impact.

“BPW Canada has a long history of advocating for women’s economic, social, and political rights. Tax inequities for single seniors are a pressing concern, disproportionately affecting women due to their greater numbers, income disparities, caregiving responsibilities, and longer life expectancy.”

— Shannon McEwing, President, Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Canada)

📊 Why This Matters

• 68% of seniors living alone are women
• 39% of Canadian seniors are single
• Single seniors are four times more likely to live in poverty than couples
• Women often live longer than men, increasing financial strain over time
• Current tax rules favour couples, creating inequities in pension income splitting, non-refundable tax credits, and RRSP/RRIF inheritance taxation

“Twice as many single seniors are women compared to men, and unfair tax policies affect over 2 million single senior women every year.” — SSTF, 2024

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Institute on Ageing, and Single Seniors for Tax Fairness research.

♀️ Why This Is a Women’s Equity Issue

Women are significantly more likely than men to age alone due to longer life expectancy, widowhood, caregiving interruptions, wage inequities, and lower lifetime pension accumulation. As a result, tax policies that favour couples disproportionately disadvantage older women and contribute to financial insecurity later in life.

💬 Language Matters: “Single Seniors” and “Solo Seniors”

Single Seniors for Tax Fairness (SSTF) continues to use its official name while increasingly using the term “solo seniors” in communications. This more inclusive language helps clarify that SSTF represents seniors who are widowed, divorced, separated, or never married — not only those who have never married.

⚖️ What SSTF Is Advocating For

• Fairer treatment of single and solo seniors in the federal tax system
• Review of pension income splitting inequities
• Greater equity in non-refundable tax credits
• Recognition of the financial realities facing seniors who age alone
• Gender-responsive tax and retirement policies

🤝 BPW Canada & SSTF: Working for Change

At the 2025 BPW Canada Annual General Meeting, members unanimously passed a resolution supporting Single Seniors for Tax Fairness (SSTF). This advocacy is included in BPW Canada’s 2025 Brief to the Federal Government, opposition parties, and allied organizations.

BPW Canada stands with SSTF and its partners in urging the federal government to implement fair, inclusive, and gender-sensitive tax policies for single and solo seniors.

📢 Recent Advocacy & National Impact

SSTF continues to advocate nationally for greater tax fairness for solo/single seniors in Canadian tax legislation.

Major Achievements

• SSTF Director Elizabeth Brown appeared as a witness before the Federal Standing Committee on the Status of Women during its study on the Abuse and Financial Vulnerability of Senior Women. SSTF appreciates the invitation extended by MP Connie Cody.
• At the 2026 Liberal Party Convention in Montreal, SSTF’s policy resolution received the highest number of votes among proposals submitted through the Liberal Party’s Senior Liberal Commission. The resolution advanced to the convention floor on April 11, 2026.

Federal Government Submissions & Parliamentary Advocacy

• SSTF submitted five recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance as part of the federal government’s pre-budget consultations for Budget 2026.
• MP Judy Sgro presented SSTF’s parliamentary petition in the House of Commons in March 2026.
• More than 126 supporters contacted 75 Members of Parliament during SSTF’s national tax season advocacy campaign.

Outreach & Public Awareness

SSTF continues to expand public education and outreach efforts across Canada through meetings with Members of Parliament, public presentations, media interviews, podcasts, and community events.

Recent presentations and outreach activities have included:

• Municipal Retirees District Vancouver
• Rexdale Community Health Centre
• Municipal Retirees Association North Vancouver
• CARP Mississauga
• BPW Caledon/Bramalea
• River Grove Seniors Show

Ongoing Advocacy

SSTF continues to meet regularly with Members of Parliament and government representatives to advocate for fairer treatment of solo seniors within Canada’s tax system.

SSTF also submitted a formal request for support to the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP). While CARP declined formal endorsement, SSTF continues to emphasize that its advocacy complements broader seniors’ advocacy, as many married or common-law seniors will eventually become solo seniors.

🌍 Global Recognition at the United Nations (CSW70)

At the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), global leaders held the first-ever high-level ministerial dialogue dedicated specifically to the rights, economic security, and well-being of older women.

This discussion highlighted key priorities including:

• Pension equity
• Gender-responsive social protection systems
• Stronger responses to elder abuse
• Action on social isolation
• Improved income security for older women

For BPW Canada and SSTF, this global recognition strengthens the case for fair, inclusive, and gender-sensitive policies in Canada to support the growing number of women ageing alone.

📰 SSTF in the Media

• CBC Radio – “The Current”
  On February 5, 2026, SSTF was quoted and referenced on The Current, hosted by Matt Galloway and broadcast nationally across Canada.
  Listen: Are you feeling the pinch of the singles’ tax?
• Empowered TV
  On November 7, 2025, SSTF Director Elizabeth Brown appeared on Empowered, hosted by Elizabeth Naumovski.
  Watch: Protecting Solo Seniors’ Finances
• Radio Interviews & Podcast Features
  Additional SSTF media interviews and podcast appearances are available through SSTF’s Updates page and social media channels.

🔗 Learn More & Take Action

📱 Connect with Single Seniors for Tax Fairness

📣 What You Can Do

• Learn more: Explore research, submissions, and updates from SSTF.
• Share your story: Personal experiences help policymakers understand the real impact of unfair tax policies.
• Support advocacy: Add your voice to petitions and public consultations calling for fair tax treatment of single and solo seniors.
• Engage with government: Write to your Member of Parliament and ask them to support tax equity for solo seniors.
• Suggest outreach opportunities: Help SSTF connect with community groups, seniors’ organizations, and advocacy networks.

“After losing a spouse, living costs do not simply fall in half — but the tax burden can become much heavier.”

Together, we can help ensure Canada’s tax system reflects fairness, dignity, and financial security for seniors who live alone.