Retirement Security for Everyone!
On December 18 and 19, federal and provincial finance ministers will meet in Victoria, B.C. to discuss issues facing the provinces and the nation as a whole. The federal government is trying to push the provinces into accepting its Pooled Registered Pension Plan -very similar to the failed RRSP program.
Provincial finance ministers need to hear from YOU about why improving CPP is critical and why they should reject the PRPP. Please take a moment to send a letter to your provincial finance minister. Voice your support for a doubling of the CPP benefit and ask the minister to endorse this important change.
Click here for the contact information of your premier and provincial finance minister.
The CAW, along with the Canadian Labour Congress and other labour unions across the country, have a plan to rebuild and reform Canada's pension system that has three key proposals:
. Expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) working towards doubling the benefits.
A gradual increase of CPP earnings to a maximum of $1,635 per month would improve pension security and leave a better pension system for our children.
. Increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) to Old Age Security pensions
No senior in Canada should live in poverty. A $682 million boost in GIS spending would help ensure no senior does. Increasing the income of Canada's seniors will also help provide much-needed consumer spending at a time when our economy is struggling.
. Introduce a federal system of pension insurance.
This would protect pensions to a maximum of $2,500 a month when an employer enters bankruptcy proceedings and cannot pay out pension benefits. The insurance system would also adopt pension plans when an employer declares bankruptcy and shuts down permanently. It would require Ottawa's new securities regulator to levy a small tax on stock market trades to make speculators pay for large pension insurance claims. With this protection in place, workers wouldn't fear losing their entire pensions due to employer mismanagement or bankruptcy.
It's time to raise the floor in our pension system!
Follow the links below for more information. Bookmark this page and check back often for information on how you can take action to support this national campaign!
- List of premiers and provincial finance ministers
- Special: Ontario Pension Consultation - Find out how you can get involved!
- Tips for Lobbying Elected Officials
- Retirement Security Campaign - Dignity in Retirement for All
- Retired Workers Speak out on Why Pension Reform is Necessary!
- Pension Reform Community Forums
- Retirement Security Campaign - Let's Expand the Canada Pension Plan
- Retirement Security Campaign - We Need Pension Reform - CAW leaflet
- Retirement Security Campaign - Fact Sheet (Women & Pensions)
- Retirement Security Campaign - Metal Detector Ads (Downloadable)
- Retirement Security Campaign - Piggybank Ads (Downloadable)
- Retirement Security Campaign - Booklet
- Retirement Security Campaign - Activist Workbook
Free trade with the European Union is a bad idea for Canada
The Harper government's relentless push to sign a new Canada-EU free trade deal would undermine the rights of federal, provincial and municipal governments to manage public spending over goods and services; it would privatize public services like drinking water, prevent us from adopting strong measures to combat climate change and wipe out up to 150,000 Canadian jobs, among a long list of additional concerns. CAW President Ken Lewenza says:
So far, all signs point to a free trade deal that is lopsided, unfair and would do more harm than good to Canadians. 
