Chris in the News: Attack on public sector pensions not helpful, say New Democrats

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 20, 2010

ATTACK ON PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS NOT HELPFUL, SAY NEW DEMOCRATS
CFIB should re-think public pension comments

OTTAWA – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is wrong to label public service pensions as “generous,” say New Democrat Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer and Labour Critic Chris Charlton.

“I would like to remind members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business that thousands of these pensioners and current civil servants are people who serve in the Canadian Forces and RCMP,” said Stoffer. “Many of these people are in dangerous jobs and serve and protect our country on a daily basis.”

“They are correctional officers, food inspectors, customs officials, transport inspectors and thousands of other professionals who help protect our borders, natural resources, transportation systems, and the health and safety of our communities,” said Charlton.

Stoffer and Charlton noted that the CFIB is wrong to pit private sector employees against public sector employees in the pension debate.

“We have a very serious pensions crisis facing this country,” said Stoffer. “It is not helpful to pit private sector employees against public sector employees. But this is exactly how the Conservative government wants to frame the debate so that they can make cuts to public sector pensions.”

“We’re talking about deferred earnings here. These pensions belong to the workers. What the federal government actually needs to do is strengthen pensions for all Canadians, including the small business sector,” said Charlton.

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