INBOX
EVENTS DEFENDING RETIREMENT SECURITY
CATHOLIC TEACHERS HELP HAITI
During the 2015 federal election campaign, the Liberal Party campaigned on a promise to consult with workers, unions, and pensioners, and to enact measures that would protect and strengthen retirement security for Canadians. Once in government, they moved quickly to act on this promise, convening a meeting of provincial leaders to hash out agreement on enhancements to the Canada Pension Plan.
Late September and early October are always known as “hurricane season” for residents of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean, but this season was especially dangerous, with Hurricane Matthew battering Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas, as well as the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Southwest Haiti was particularly hard-hit by the “category 5” storm, which had winds blowing in excess of 260 kilometres per hour.
So it was with some shock that we learned they had followed up this success by quietly introducing Bill C-27, An Act to Amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985. Bill C-27 would permit employers in the federally regulated private sector and Crown corporations to convert existing defined benefit pension plans to so-called targeted benefit plans, with the consent of individual employees. While a relatively small number of workers would be immediately impacted, the precedent set by this bill would be monumental. Permitting employers to single out individual workers to forfeit the pension benefits that they have already earned, and creating scenarios where long-term retirement savings are converted to short-term gains, only benefits the employer. Employees will be left vulnerable to employers who want to back out of their pension commitments, which will create confusion and division among workers and diminish the vitality of the employees’ pension plan. Once such a scenario is established at the federal level, it is highly likely that similar legislation will eventually be introduced at the provincial level. Since learning about the legislation, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and its affiliates have launched a determined effort to have the bill withdrawn. In a letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, CLC President Hassan Yussuff pointed out that the bill “was announced without consultation or advance notice,” and called it a “betrayal of the legal rights and protections of plan members.” OECTA President Ann Hawkins has also written to the minister to criticize the content of the legislation and the process by which it was unveiled, as have several unit presidents and individual members. On February 7, CLC representatives stepped up the pressure with a concerted lobby of members of parliament. Teachers understand the value of defined benefit pension plans to individuals and their families, as well as communities at-large. By providing predictable, adequate levels of income, defined benefit plans ensure retirement security for pensioners, while enabling spending on goods and services that fuel our economy. Your Association understands the implications of this legislation, and will continue to be actively involved in letting the government know that they have no mandate to go down this road.
Realizing the extent of the devastation and the duty of Catholic teachers to help those in dire need, the OECTA Provincial Executive moved quickly to approve a donation of $10,000 to Medicins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), a well-trusted aid agency that has long been established on the ground in Haiti. The donation helped MSF provide medical care and anti-cholera treatments, clean water, hygiene kits, reconstruction supplies, and cookware. There are still thousands of Haitians without adequate shelter, food, and potable water, but the efforts of MSF and others have been successful in averting what was anticipated to be a widespread cholera epidemic.
Since September, the Association has also provided donations to the following organizations:
• Victims of Violence – Canadian Centre for Missing Children • The Jesuit Development Office • Workers Arts and Heritage Centre • Forum on Theology and Education • Ontario Coalition of Black Trade Unionists • Equal Voice – Daughters of the Vote • Operation Christmas Cheer • Indspire
FEBRUARY 2017 |
@ OECTA
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