text: Chris in Ottawa: You're correct both in terms of the discrimination faced by older workers as well as the need to integrate younger workers into the workforce. On the first account, governments could reduce the disincentives applicable to hiring and/or keeping older workers by creating a national pharmacare program. This would help workers who are stuck in the "gig economy" as well. When a friend was laid off from his long-time job along with other older co-workers (and I believe replaced by younger temporary workers) he said there was little doubt among those laid off that the employer was dumping benefits costs. My friend was lucky that after exhausting E.I. benefits he was old enough to start collecting a pension he'd contributed to for decades. Others apparently weren't so fortunate.