• Retirement challenges: participants commented that many workers reach the end of their career and are faced with the difficulties of living with inadequate retirement income. Participants also pointed to the need to revise pension plan structures (including the Canada Pension Plan), because they often create important barriers for older workers who could otherwise continue contributing to an organization (e.g. inability to return to work if a retiree started collecting her/his pension).

4.4 Poverty and Literacy

Participants stated that poverty was an issue that must be addressed or as one participant put it, "we must be taking care of our people." On this matter, they noted that a large proportion of Islanders are living in poverty and that figures on low-income work in the province are skewed because of the high proportion of part-time and seasonal workers. Participants also pointed out that:

• Under current E.I. policies, only 42% of unemployed PEI workers are eligible for E.I.
• The current minimum wage is too low, so people do not earn enough to ensure a decent quality of life (e.g., 50% of those working are paid less than $10.50 an hour; 25% get less than $8.50/hr).
• Too often, people have to take on more than one job; they are stressed and overworked; they have education debts; they often lose hope.
• "Education is a luxury for poor people."
• Unemployed people do most volunteer work in PEI

Participants called on government to ensure a decent, liveable income for people. However, they also believed that this must be balanced against the needs of small/mid-sized businesses and seasonal employers who generally cannot afford to pay big salaries. Finally, participants thought that poverty and literacy were closely related problems.