As consumer debt levels soar and baby boomers approach retirement, the federal government is looking at adopting a long list of measures designed to prod Canadians into making smarter financial decisions.

The measures recommended by a federal task force cover a wide range of initiatives. Employers who offer pensions would be required to automatically enrol employees and escalate their contributions, so that employees would have to opt out rather than opt in. Financial institutions would be forced to simplify and improve information available about everything from mortgages to mutual funds. Tax breaks would be offered for workplace financial literacy programs, and students would be taught more about debt if they take out a student loan.

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