Open letter to MP Joe Peschisolido,
Mr. Peschisolido, as my member of parliament and representing me, I am opposed to Bill C-27 being passed.
As the president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Hussan Yussuf said, the bill is an “unconscionable betrayal” and an “attack on future and current retirees.”
The bill has the innocent title: “Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act 1985.” It removes the legal obligation of employers to protect already accrued benefits.
As the CLC put it, “Bill C-27 removes employers’ legal requirements to fund plan benefits, which means that benefits could be reduced going forward or even retroactively.
Even people already retired could find their existing benefits affected, after paying into them their entire working lives.
In a letter to Bill Morneau, Yussuff said, “Bill C-27 was introduced without notice or consultation with Canadians, pensioners, or unions and proposes measures that directly contradict election promises to improve retirement security for Canadians.
“If enacted, it will have negative implications for private and public-sector Defined Benefit plans in every jurisdiction in Canada.”
Yussuff noted that the Liberal platform spoke of guaranteeing retirement security whereas the bill does the exact opposite.
The platform promises to boost the Canada Pension Plan.
Ironically, the former Harper Conservative government, in April 2014, had tried to loosen the rules around public sector pension plans and encourage the growth of Targeted Benefit plans.
There was such strong opposition that the Conservatives dropped the plan. In 2015, they floated changing pension plans again.
Now it seems it is the Liberals who are carrying on Harper policies. Opposition to such policies is what resulted in the Liberals being elected.
Therefore, as my representative and on behalf of many Canadians living here in Richmond, I am asking you to vote against the bill and to take all measures to ensure that the bill does not pass.
Eve Rollet de Darantes
Richmond
