Latest news with #PublicServicePensionPlan
Ottawa Citizen
18-07-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
What will Carney's 15 per cent cut mean for the public service?
Article content 'We'd really love to see the details of how, because the execution is often more complicated than the intention of these exercises,' Khan said, noting that the spending base in the operational budget that is cuttable is between $180-$200 billion. Article content Article content Many departments and agencies could shrink, but DND will likely grow, as the prime minister has promised to reach a NATO pledge to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence by the end of this fiscal year. Article content It might be hard for some public servants to transfer to DND, as the skills required could be different from the expertise government workers have in other departments and agencies. Article content While Champagne asked ministers to come up with 15 per cent in savings, some question whether that will actually be realized. Article content Jason Jacques, the PBO's director general of economic and fiscal analysis, said 'probably not' and that there are 'still a lot of questions' around how the government will approach cuts in an unstable geopolitical context. Article content Article content Jacques added that gutting departments that could need more capacity later in a time of crisis could result in a scramble to 'race back and hire all the people, right?' Article content Khan said he believes the Liberal government may be looking to find 'a pool of opportunities' on what can be cut. Article content 'I think cabinet wants to figure out what's possible, they'll assess the political implications of cutting program spending in certain areas and the feasibility of increasing it,' he said. Article content Can attrition prevent layoffs? Article content In the Liberal campaign platform, Carney promised to find $28 billion in savings for reallocation. Article content 'So it really shouldn't have been a surprise to think that have been telegraphed pretty clearly during the election,' Khan said. Article content Still, Carney's rhetoric promised a side-stepping of cuts to the public service in favour of a so-called cap. During the election, Liberal campaign officials told the Ottawa Citizen that a cap for the public service would be done through attrition, and that more details would emerge in a spending review. Article content Article content Khan said he expects that there could be a 'greater reliance' on attrition than layoffs, due to the upfront costs of providing severance to laid off public servants. Article content Jacques pointed to a surplus in the Public Service Pension Plan that could be leveraged 'if you get creative' to offer incentives for attrition. Article content For example, Jacques pointed to the possibility of omitting pension penalties for early retirement for public servants. Article content By using the pension surplus, Carney's government could avoid the fiscal hit on the government's bottom line. Article content 'So they could decide that they wanted to offer some additional generosity on that front to make things easier on public servants transitioning to the next stage of their career,' he said.
Vancouver Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Ontario MPPs to get raises after 16-year freeze and access to new pension plan
Ontario members of provincial parliament are getting big raises and access to a pension plan, under legislation introduced by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and passed with the support of all parties at breakneck speed. Shortly after members sent the pay raise bill barrelling through the legislative process — it spent about 13 minutes from tabling to passage — representatives from all parties stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside the chamber in rare agreement. 'When we're looking for other candidates, qualified people, to actually direct the future of this province, for most of them, they have to take a huge pay cut to come here and give up, in many cases, pensions,' said NDP Opposition house leader John Vanthof. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'We're not going to build the future of this province by excluding the people who have the qualifications and have the knowledge to move us forward. So we're fully in support and I'd like to thank Premier (Doug) Ford and his government for, quite frankly, having the guts to do this.' The base pay for Ontario's elected officials has been frozen since 2009 at $116,550, and the changes would boost the salary to $157,350, which is 75 per cent of what federal MPs make. That will still be less than what city councillors in Toronto earn. Premier Doug Ford's salary would rise from about $209,000 to about $282,000 and cabinet ministers would see their pay increase from about $166,000 to about $224,000. The bill would also resurrect a pension plan for the members of provincial parliament, 30 years after the previous one was abolished by former premier Mike Harris' government. The new plan would see members enrolled in the existing Public Service Pension Plan, and they would then be entitled to supplemental benefits for MPPs who serve at least six years. Representatives of the Liberals, Greens and the lone Independent member also said it was time for the pay freeze to end. 'I want to thank the premier,' said Bobbi Ann Brady, who represents Haldimand-Norfolk as an Independent. 'I want to thank the minister and the government house leader for righting what I feel is almost a 16-year wrong,' she said. 'I continually talk about the spirit of co-operation amongst us all and I think today there is a nice spirit of co-operation here.' Bethlenfalvy said it is the right thing to do. 'I know that many people across the province work tirelessly each day to put food on the table and pay the rent,' he said. 'It's fair and reasonable. It'll be at 75 per cent of the federal compensation. It's still less than a Toronto city councillor will be paid or a Mississauga city councillor and we're going to work tirelessly each and every day, sometimes in different ways, to help all Ontarians.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Ontario MPPs to get raises after 16-year freeze; bill to establish new pension plan
TORONTO - Ontario members of provincial parliament are set to get big raises and access to a pension plan, under legislation introduced by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. The government says this comes with the support of all parties in the legislature. The base pay for Ontario's elected officials has been frozen since 2009 at $116,550, and the changes would boost the salary to $157,350, which is 75 per cent of what federal MPs make. Premier Doug Ford's salary would rise from about $209,000 to about $282,000 and cabinet ministers would see their pay increase from about $166,000 to about $224,000. The bill would also resurrect a pension plan for the members of provincial parliament, 30 years after the previous one was abolished by former premier Mike Harris' government. The new plan would see members enrolled in the existing Public Service Pension Plan, and they would then be entitled to supplemental benefits for MPPs who serve at least six years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ontario MPPs to get raises after 16-year freeze; bill to establish new pension plan
TORONTO – Ontario members of provincial parliament are set to get big raises and access to a pension plan, under legislation introduced by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. The government says this comes with the support of all parties in the legislature. The base pay for Ontario's elected officials has been frozen since 2009 at $116,550, and the changes would boost the salary to $157,350, which is 75 per cent of what federal MPs make. Premier Doug Ford's salary would rise from about $209,000 to about $282,000 and cabinet ministers would see their pay increase from about $166,000 to about $224,000. The bill would also resurrect a pension plan for the members of provincial parliament, 30 years after the previous one was abolished by former premier Mike Harris' government. The new plan would see members enrolled in the existing Public Service Pension Plan, and they would then be entitled to supplemental benefits for MPPs who serve at least six years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
