Don’t let Harper steal your Retirement Benefits! Sign the petition here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2012
Vancouver, BC
Joyce Murray, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra and Liberal Critic of Small Business and Tourism made the following statement regarding the Conservative government’s attack on Public Pensions:
“This week in public remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Prime Minister confirmed reports of the Conservative government’s plan to take a knife to Canada’s public pension system.
“These comments reveal the government’s profound disconnect with the realities facing Canadians. In a time of increasing income inequality and concern about retirement security, this deliberate undermining of Canada’s middle class is completely unacceptable.
“Don’t let Harper steal your Retirement Benefits! Sign the petition here . You can help by forwarding this petition, sharing it on facebook and twitter, and discussing it with concerned friends and family.
“Liberals are instead advocating for a voluntary supplemental Canada Pension Plan – a low-cost, high-return, universal options that Canadians can trust in their retirement.
“For more details, please read the message from Liberal Leader Bob Rae and Seniors and Pensions critic Judy Sgro.”
Joyce Murray, Member of Parliament
Vancouver Quadra
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2012
Liberals Will Fight Harper Conservatives’ Attack on Public Pensions
MONTREAL and TORONTO– Liberal Leader Bob Rae and Liberal Seniors and Pensions critic Judy Sgro today urged the Harper Conservatives to come clean about their plan to gut Canada’s public pension system.
“The Prime Minister’s attack on public pensions in his remarks at Davos this week, coupled with past statements that his government may raise the qualifying age for Old Age Security (OAS) from 65 to 67, make it clear that this government is preparing to launch an assault on public pensions,” said Mr. Rae.
“Instead of bringing in the changes our pension system needs to ensure sustainable prosperity, this government is stripping benefits from seniors that they rely on and have earned. This is completely unacceptable.”
Mr. Rae went on to say that it was passing strange that Mr. Harper would have gone through an entire election campaign just a few months ago without presenting his grand plan to cut pensions for seniors.
“He didn’t have to go to his Alpine perch to let us in on the news,” continued Mr. Rae. “He should have told Canadians before the election.”
The tough prescription Mr. Harper is planning for OAS is simply not necessary. At current trends, by the time the baby-boom retirement wave peaks around 2031 the share of Canada’s GDP spent on OAS will increase only 0.73 % over today’s level.
“Next week, as Parliament returns, the Harper Conservatives will try to divert attention from their attack on public pensions and the OAS by pushing Bill C-25, wholly inadequate legislation that introduces a band-aid solution,” said Ms. Sgro. “A Registered Pooled Pension Plan touches only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pension reform. What we need is a voluntary supplemental Canada Pension Plan, a low-cost, high-return, universal option that Canadians can trust.”
As our population ages, it is vitally important that the federal government focus its efforts on creating sustainable solutions for seniors to remain financially secure in their retirement.
“While the Conservatives choose to take away benefits from seniors, Liberals will continue to fight for balanced pension reforms that will ensure that Canadians will have a secure pension in their retirement,” concluded Ms. Sgro.
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Background:
The Liberal Party has launched a petition asking the Harper Conservatives to keep their hands off Canadians’ pensions. To view the petition, please click here.
Contact:
Press Office
Office of the Liberal Leader
613-947-5100
