Except that OAS doesn't exactly protect against outright poverty.

I'd have to look up the exact numbers, but OAS clawback doesn't start until something like $80,000 per year income an isn't completely clawed back until you have an income over $120,000 per year.

Someone with an income of more than $100,000 a year isn't exactly destitute.  And unless you define poverty as being unable to afford to fly south for six months of the year to play golf, someone with an income over $100,000 per year isn't exactly poverty stricken.

Now I know I would feel the effect of this suggestion after I retire.  But if I was running a government and looking at a place to control costs, I would start clawing back OAS at a much lower income.  And have it completely clawed back at income lower than that needed to but a senior into the top 10% of the population by income.