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PSAC Pension Fightback CampaignThe letter below is in response to a letter from PSAC National President Nycole Turmel to Treasury Board President Robillard about a March 31, 2001 article in The Ottawa Citizen suggesting that the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee is engaged in reforming federal superannuation plans including changing the retirement age without penalty from fifty-five (with thirty years’ service) to age sixty.
Unofficial translation May 14, 2001 Mrs. Nycole Turmel Dear Ms. Turmel: This is further to your letter dated April 4, 2001, concerning an article published in the March 31 issue of the Ottawa Citizen. That article suggested the Public Service pension plan advisory committee had initiated discussions with a view to amend the pension plan. As you know, the terms of reference of the advisory committee, appointed in accordance with the Public Service superannuation plan, are to review the management and the funding of pension plans, as well as any other matter related to their format, and to make recommendations to the Minister on those issues. To this date, I have not asked the committee to review the issues raised in the Ottawa Citizen article, and I have not received any recommendations from the committee on that matter. I must therefore conclude that the individuals who were quoted were expressing personal views, or that their words were incorrectly reported. The committee is reviewing the Public Service pension plan in order to ensure that it supports the government's objectives with respect to the recruitment and the retention of a qualified staff representing the diversity of the Canadian society. The provisions dealing with early retirement are not part of this review. Thank you for taking the time to write me. I am confident this explanation will alleviate your concerns. Sincerely, |
