As a sitting MP for over 20 years, Poilievre is sitting pretty with a secure government pension worth over $3 million dollars when he retires. BUT he doesn’t want YOU to have a secure government pension. He’s never shied away from an opportunity to weaken pensions and retirement security for his fellow Canadians.
- In 2012, Poilievre voted with Conservatives to raise the age of eligibility from 65 to 67.
Seniors were forced to work two years longer to receive Old Age Pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Pressure from labour, the NDP, and ordinary civilians, reversed the Harper government’s policy in 2015.
- Poilievre and Conservatives created a pension plan to profit banks and insurance companies.
The Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP) was a for-profit scheme started in 2012. After 10 years, the PRPP covered few workers. Very few employers contributed. The financial sector profited, but PRPP was a monumental failure for the pensions of ordinary Canadians.
- Poilievre backed “trickle down” economic theory for pension coverage.
This discredited idea claims that the Conservatives’ corporate tax cuts would raise more pension coverage. The opposite happened. Pension coverage steadily declined.
- In 2014, Poilievre supported a change from defined benefits to target benefits.
The Harper government’s legislation shifted the risk from employers to workers in paying stable benefits after retirement. Poilievre supported the plan allowing employers to stop paying benefits promised to retirees and to abandon the pension set up for those still working.
- In 2016, Poilievre voted against expanding the Canada Pension Plan.
He showed his true allegiance to corporations, not workers. Despite Poilievre’s opposition, CPP was expanded and workers are earning 33% greater benefits now.
- In 2021, Poilievre voted against a 10% increase to the Old Age Security pension.
For Canadians who are 75 and above this increase was welcome but nowhere near adequate. Fortunately, the 10% increase was passed.
Poilievre is committed to the Conservative Party Policy Declaration (September 2023). In Section 33 it states, “public sector pensions should be switched to a . . . model comparable to the private sector.” According to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) these models “favour employers and shortchange workers.” Again, pension plans could be abandoned leaving workers and retirees stranded.
An election is coming. Some people are saying “It’s time for a change.” Consider carefully the change you’re looking for.
When the Conservatives were last in power, they axed Canada’s public pension system:
- They passed the largest cut in pension history
- It was a cut they didn’t campaign on
- It took years to recover from their mistakes
Other issues besides pension plans are equally at risk if Conservatives are elected.
Advocacy Group who are members of Quirk-e: Lorri Rudland, Don Orr Martin, Ellen Woodsworth, Chris Morrissey, Farren Gillaspie, Pat Hogan, River Glen, Stephen Hardy, Adriaan de Vries, Daniel Cook, and Val Innes.
