You can take action by demanding your local candidates to commit to reinstating the defined benefits pension plan for all public servants. Click here to download the leaflet now.
The Professional Institute recently wrote to the main provincial political parties asking them where they stand on issues of interest to our members ahead of the September 24, 2018 election. I would like to share the answers we have received with you.
Better Together!
Debi Daviau
President,
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Question (1) Recent changes to the New Brunswick public service pension plans has resulted in provincial public service employees being required to extend their careers and pay more in order to receive a smaller pension at the time of retirement. Subsequent analysis of the state of the provincial public service pension plan, when these drastic changes were made, indicate that the plan was in a sound financial condition. What steps will your party take to repair the damage caused to the plan?
Response: Green Party
We would restore the defined benefits pension plan for public sector employees.
Response: Liberal Party
We are in the process of negotiation regarding this decision. That being said, upon the
election of the Liberal government in 2014, there were meetings and discussions
between our Government and a group of retirees about that might be made to address
some of their concerns.
Since 2014, the following accomplishments were made in partnership with the Labour-Government Steering Committee:
● Caught up with the rest of the country by introducing first contract arbitration
legislation;
● Provided paid leave and job protection for victims of domestic, partner, and sexual
violence who need to take time off of work;
● Added workplace harassment and violence protections to the Occupational Health
and Safety Act;
● Abandoned the process started by the previous government to outsource nonclinical services at hospitals;
● Supported enhancements to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
On that note, by joining the federal government in supporting enhancements to the
CPP we are demonstrating our seriousness about giving today’s workers and
tomorrow’s generations a safe, secure, dignified retirement. This will put more
money in the pockets of retiring New Brunswickers, providing the opportunity to
spend more time with family and less time worrying about savings. The enhancement will increase the maximum CPP retirement benefit by about 50% for New Brunswickers.
We recognize that the labour members of this committee, which were chosen by the
NBFL and CLL are not as inclusive as they could be. We look forward to revisiting
the membership if re-elected.
A re-elected Liberal Government will strengthen labour laws through seeking
continued partnership with the Labour-Government Steering Committee and other
stakeholders to modernize the Employment Standards Act, the Occupational Health
and Safety Act, the Industrial Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act,
and the Civil Service Act.
Question (2) Over the last several years the New Brunswick public service has been described as a "finishing school" for public servants as professionals leave for other provinces and the federal public service. What is your party's plan to create an environment, within New Brunswick's public service, which will attract new recruits and entice current workers to continue their careers in the province?
Response: Green Party
We would have to look into what is specifically needed to do this. But, we would work with
those in the public service to create a positive work environment that will attract recruits and
retain current employees.
Response: Liberal Party
Our Liberal Government is committed ensuring a positive environment within the
public service, which is why we extended pay equity throughout the provincial
government in our previous mandate.
As mentioned before, we will ensure more protection and support for workers in our
province through modernizing and strengthening labour laws, including the
Employment Standards Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Industrial
Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act, and the Civil Service Act, in
partnership with the Government-Labour Steering Committee and other stakeholders.
A re-elected Liberal Government will continue to implement the “Proud, Productive,
and Professional” vision to ensure a strong civil service delivering important services to
New Brunswickers, and we will help to provide better parental benefits.
Question (3) According to the 2016 Census New Brunswick was the only Canadian province to experience a population decrease between 2011 and 2016. If elected, what would your government do to make the province a more attractive place to live and work? How does security in retirement play into your plan?
Response: Green Party
Security in retirement is important to the Green Party. That’s why our platform commits to
establish a public inquiry into the adequacy of retirement income for all New Brunswickers. In
order to make NB a more attractive place to work, we would raise minimum wage to
$15.25/hr by 2022. We would also aim to create more jobs through an import substitution
strategy and by re-directing loan guarantees from large corporations to small, locally-owned
businesses.
Response: Liberal Party
Our Government is focused on creating a fairer economy while making responsible
investments into healthcare and education. A re-elected Liberal Government will raise the
minimum wage $14 by 2022 and freeze NB Power Rates for the next four years, putting
more money in the pockets of those who need it most. Furthermore, we will extend our
Strategic Infrastructure Inititative by two years at $75 million per year to invest in
important community projects, as well as build safer roads, and better schools and
hospitals.
To retain and attract youth to New Brunswick, Gallant added that a re-elected Liberal
Government will:
● Ensure students completing internships with government agencies in the
education, healthcare, social work, and sports and culture fields are paid for their
work;
● Appoint more youth on provincial agencies, boards and commissions;
● Enhance its signature Free Tuition program;
● Enhance its Tuition Relief for the Middle Class program by ensuring more New
Brunswickers qualify for financial assistance;
● Eliminate interest on all current and future provincial student loans, providing
financial relief to tens of thousands of New Brunswickers;
● Expand its Free Childcare program for low-income families and its Middle-Class
Childcare Subsidy program province-wide and will make the financial support
that they provide to families more generous, ensuring that no family pays more
than 15 per cent of its gross income on child care; and
● Double its investments in the Youth Employment Fund, providing thousands of
young New Brunswickers with valuable experiential learning opportunities.
To help attract more workers to New Brunswick, a re-elected Liberal Government will also
work with professional associations to develop fair, reasonable and consistent practices to
recognize foreign credentials. We will also create a more equal workforce by imposing pay
equity upon local governments and organizations in the quasi-public sector by 2020, and to
large businesses in the private sector by 2022.
As mentioned before, the Gallant Government joined the Federal Government in supporting
enhancements to the CPP because we want everyone’s retirement to be safe, secure, and
dignified. This enhanced CPP will be phased in over a seven-year period beginning in 2019.
This will put more money in the pockets of retiring New Brunswickers, providing the
opportunity to spend more time with family and less time worrying about savings. The
enhancement will increase the maximum CPP retirement benefit by about 50% for New
Brunswickers.
It is the hope of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick that we are given the opportunity to
keep this positive momentum flowing. A re-elected Liberal Government will continue to
take transformative actions like these that give New Brunswickers a better quality of life.
Together, we work to move New Brunswick forward through ensuring fairness and
opportunity for all.