Quebecers are least likely to contribute to RRSPs and most likely to depend on a pension plan for their senior years, according to a survey released today by Royal Bank.

Only 38% of Quebecers polled said they plan to contribute to RRSPs, compared with the national average of 47%

However, 42% of Quebecers said they are likely to contribute to a pension plan, compared with 33% nationally.

Fifty-seven per cent of Quebec’s adult population has a RRSP, but this is lower than the national average of 65%.

Quebecer’s also lag well behind when it comes to how much money they contribute to RRSPs.

The average contribution in Quebec will be $3,974 for the 2004 taxation year, but the national average is $5,560.

As for investors in other regions of Canada, 55% of Atlantic Canadians polled said they have an RRSP and 52% of that group does so for the express purpose of retirement planning.

The average planned contribution this year among Atlantic Canadians is $4,933. British Columbians expect to contribute $4,371, while investors in the Prairie provinces plan to contribute $6,105. The largest contributions are planned by Ontario investors — $6,600.

The RBC Financial Group/Ipsos-Reid poll conducted between Nov. 4 and 23 involved 1,201 adult Canadians interviewed by telephone. The results are considered accurate within 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.