pension

Saturday August 31, 2024

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Saturday August 31, 2024

Poilievre asks Singh to pull support for Liberal government to prompt fall election

Pierre Poilievre’s impatience and lack of a clear policy agenda risk undermining his party’s chances of capitalizing on current Liberal unpopularity, while Jagmeet Singh and the NDP are unlikely to abandon a coalition that has allowed them to achieve significant policy wins.

News: Pierre Poilievre’s Impatience Risks Derailing Conservative Hopes

The popularity surges of leaders like Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre highlight the perilous tendency of voters to invest unrealistic faith in political figures, underscoring the importance of maintaining critical analysis and skepticism in democratic engagement.

April 13, 2024

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, finds himself in a powerful but precarious position. His party’s poll numbers are soaring, bolstered by widespread dissatisfaction with the governing Liberals. Canadians are feeling the pinch of high interest rates, inflation, and a general fatigue with a Prime Minister who, after nearly a decade in power, appears to have lost his political spark. The conditions seem ripe for a change in government, but Poilievre’s recent actions and rhetoric suggest a leader growing impatient—and that impatience could prove costly.

Recent byelection results reveal the fragility of the Liberal-NDP coalition as provincial leaders like Bonnie Crombie and Naheed Nenshi distance themselves, exposing the risks of political alliances.

June 28, 2024

Poilievre’s repeated calls for NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to pull his party’s support from the Liberal government and trigger an early election are increasingly sounding like the pleas of a politician more concerned with capitalizing on current discontent than with presenting a comprehensive vision for the country’s future. His demand for an immediate “carbon tax election” is rooted in the Conservatives’ popular “Ax the Tax” campaign, which taps into the frustration of cash-strapped Canadians. However, beyond this single-issue focus, Poilievre’s broader platform remains vague, leaving many Canadians wondering what the Conservatives actually stand for beyond opposition to the status quo.

The irony in Poilievre’s rhetoric is palpable. His criticism of Singh’s potential pension entitlement comes across as hollow, given that Poilievre himself qualified for a parliamentary pension at an exceptionally young age. This inconsistency does little to bolster his credibility and instead opens him up to charges of hypocrisy, undermining his attempts to position himself as a champion of fiscal responsibility and integrity.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday December 22, 2023 The shifting Canadian attitudes towards pharmacare, as reflected in recent surveys, involve considerations of health care priorities, political negotiations, and changing sentiments amidst economic uncertainties and the ongoing pandemic, with key players including Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh, and the evolving landscape of Canadian politics.

December 22, 2023

Furthermore, Poilievre’s urgency for an election may be premature. While the Liberals are undoubtedly struggling—hampered by high spending, borrowed NDP policies, and a Prime Minister who seems past his best before date—there are signs that the economic situation might improve. Interest rates could come down, easing the affordability crisis that has plagued Trudeau’s government and offering a potential lifeline to the Liberals. If affordability improves, so too could the Liberals’ standing with voters, making Poilievre’s current window of opportunity narrower than he anticipates.

Rick Mercer: Pierre Poilievre’s Pension

The NDP, meanwhile, has little incentive to abandon its agreement with the Liberals. By securing significant policy wins like dental care, pharmacare, and child care, Singh has demonstrated his party’s ability to influence government policy, fulfilling the NDP’s traditional role as the driver of progressive social programs. These achievements are tangible and meaningful, and they align with the NDP’s long-standing priorities. Why would Singh risk these gains by pulling the plug on the agreement and potentially ushering in a Conservative government that is likely to dismantle them?

Raising concern about Trudeau's governance due to issues like ArriveCAN mismanagement, CERB problems, and potential pitfalls of rushed decisions for political support, such as quick deals on Pharmacare and Dental care.

February 29, 2024

Indeed, Poilievre’s petulant rhetoric and lack of a clear alternative policy agenda could backfire. Canadians may be discontent with the current government, but they are unlikely to vote for change without knowing what that change would look like. Voters need to hear more from Poilievre than just critiques of the Liberals—they need to understand his vision for the country, how he plans to achieve it, and who will benefit (or suffer) under his leadership. Without this, his calls for an early election may come across as little more than political opportunism, lacking the substance needed to convince Canadians that the Conservatives are ready to govern.

In politics, timing is everything. Poilievre’s impatience, coupled with his reliance on rhetoric over concrete policy proposals, risks alienating voters who might otherwise be open to supporting the Conservatives. If the Liberals manage to stabilize their position, and if the NDP continues to extract meaningful concessions from the government, Poilievre could find that his window of opportunity closes just as quickly as it opened. The pendulum of Canadian politics may indeed be swinging towards change, but unless Poilievre can present a compelling, detailed alternative to the current government, he may find himself watching from the sidelines when the time comes. (AI)

Friday January 29, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday January 29, 2021

Despite resigning, Julie Payette still qualifies for perks such as a $149,484 annual pension for life

January 23, 2021

Julie Payette submitted her resignation as Governor General on Thursday, but despite leaving early due to a workplace scandal she’ll still qualify for a lifetime pension of at least $149,484 per year.

The lifetime annuity is set out in legislation called the Governor General’s Act and it applies to anyone who has held the office, regardless of how they leave it. It rises slowly over time, currently standing at $149,484.

“An annuity payable under this section shall commence on the day the annuitant ceases to hold the office of Governor General and shall continue thereafter during his life,” the legislation says (using outmoded gendered language).

July 14, 2017

On top of that, former governors general are entitled to a lifetime expense program that gives them access to up to $206,000 per year from the budget of the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General.

Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the rules are clear around the entitlements for outgoing governors general.

The expense program was established in 1979 on the rationale that former governors general still carry out duties related to their role after they leave office, such as attending ceremonies and making speeches.

February 20, 2004

Details of the expenses are not mandated to be disclosed and are not subject to federal access-to-information legislation. The National Post has previously reported on them based on an accounting quirk that causes the expenses to show up in the federal government’s public accounts if one person claims more than $100,000 in a year. Only Adrienne Clarkson has repeatedly claimed this amount in recent years.

David Johnston, however, has started proactively disclosing his expense claimsunder the program, the only former governor general to do so. During his time as governor general, Johnston developed the first concrete guidelines around how the expenses can be claimed, implementing them in 2012.

The federal government also provides multi-million dollar grants to former governors general to start their own charitable foundation after leaving office. In the case of Clarkson, for example, the government provided $3 million in a start-up grant plus up to $7 million over 10 years to match donations from the private sector; Clarkson used this funding to start the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. (National Post) 

 

Tuesday June 21, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Tuesday June 21, 2016 CPP reform to dominate finance ministers meeting in Vancouver The federal finance minister says revamping the Canada Pension Plan is critical to ensuring that future generations of Canadians can retire in dignity, no matter the state of their finances. Bill Morneau joined his provincial and territorial counterparts in Vancouver today to discuss reforming the national pension program over concerns that some Canadians will struggle financially come retirement. The pressure is on to reach a deal as Ontario's plans to develop its own pension program are well on their way, though the province's finance minister says his preference would be for a national plan. Ontario wants a deal now, but Saskatchewan and B.C. have suggested the economic conditions aren't right for a change that's likely to lead to an increase in the premiums that come off workers' paycheques. That premium hike is why some critics of the expansion call it a payroll tax, a common refrain from the Opposition Conservatives who oppose an across-the-board expansion of the program. The ministers could agree to that or to more selectively target those Canadian workers who are the least likely to save. Federal research has suggested that group tends to be under the age of 30, earns between $55,000 and $75,000 (although some estimates are higher), and either doesn't save enough or lacks access to a workplace pension plan. The federal and provincial governments are looking at a possible increase in the $55,000 cap on annual maximum pensionable earnings, which would result in both higher premiums and increased pension benefits. Resolving the issue could be harder than changing the Constitution. A change to the CPP requires provinces representing two-thirds of the population; a constitutional amendment needs seven provinces representing at least half. (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/business/finance-minister-cpp-1

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday June 21, 2016

CPP reform to dominate finance ministers meeting in Vancouver

The federal finance minister says revamping the Canada Pension Plan is critical to ensuring that future generations of Canadians can retire in dignity, no matter the state of their finances.

Thursday October 15, 2015Bill Morneau joined his provincial and territorial counterparts in Vancouver today to discuss reforming the national pension program over concerns that some Canadians will struggle financially come retirement.

The pressure is on to reach a deal as Ontario’s plans to develop its own pension program are well on their way, though the province’s finance minister says his preference would be for a national plan.

Ontario wants a deal now, but Saskatchewan and B.C. have suggested the economic conditions aren’t right for a change that’s likely to lead to an increase in the premiums that come off workers’ paycheques.

That premium hike is why some critics of the expansion call it a payroll tax, a common refrain from the Opposition Conservatives who oppose an across-the-board expansion of the program.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday June 15, 2010 Planning for the Future For the past two years, the federal government and provincial finance ministers have been looking at what to do to help Canadians better prepare for retirement. When the bottom fell out of the stock market in the financial crisis that swept the world in 2008, company pensions and registered retirement savings plans were hit hard. It was feared that some pension plans would not be able to meet their obligations to current and future retirees Ñ and that some retirees would have no pension at all if the companies they worked for went bankrupt. People who had to rely on RRSP savings faced the prospect of having to work several years longer than planned to make up for their losses. While markets have recovered much of what they gave up and many plans that were at risk are solvent again, Canadians are still worried about what their retirements will look like. An Ipsos Reid poll commissioned for the Canadian Institute of Actuaries suggests 42 per cent of Canadians over the age of 45 feel they are not financially prepared to live comfortably after they leave the workforce. Seventy-two per cent said they were concerned about maintaining a reasonable standard of living in retirement. A similar poll done by Ipsos Reid in November 2006 for BMO Financial Group suggested that 70 per cent of Canadians don't feel they're on track with their retirement savings Ñ or don't know if they're on track.Ê(Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/business/what-s-being-discussed-1.955300 Canada, retirement, CPP, RRSP, consumerism, consumers, planning, savings, advice, Best Buy, electronics

June 15, 2010

The ministers could agree to that or to more selectively target those Canadian workers who are the least likely to save.

Federal research has suggested that group tends to be under the age of 30, earns between $55,000 and $75,000 (although some estimates are higher), and either doesn’t save enough or lacks access to a workplace pension plan.

The federal and provincial governments are looking at a possible increase in the $55,000 cap on annual maximum pensionable earnings, which would result in both higher premiums and increased pension benefits.

Resolving the issue could be harder than changing the Constitution. A change to the CPP requires provinces representing two-thirds of the population; a constitutional amendment needs seven provinces representing at least half. (Source: CBC News)

Published in the Ottawa Citizen

Published in the Ottawa Citizen

Thursday October 29, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday October 29, 2015 Justin Trudeau has begun repaying Premier Kathleen Wynne for helping him become prime minister. Upon being sworn in to succeed Prime Minister Stephen Harper next Wednesday, Trudeau will reverse his predecessorÕs attempt to derail the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan. That announcement came after a 30-minute meeting Tuesday at QueenÕs Park between the two leaders. ÒWe made progress on our mutual commitment to build greater retirement security for Ontarians and Canadians,Ó said Zita Astravas, WynneÕs director of media relations. ÒOnce it takes office, the incoming federal government will direct the Canada Revenue Agency and the departments of finance and national revenue to work with Ontario officials on the registration and administration of the . . . ORPP,Ó said Astravas. ÒThis would be the same assistance with pension administration that the federal government has extended in the past to Quebec and Saskatchewan. The ORPP is being designed to integrate with any future CPP enhancement,Ó she said, referring to the Canada Pension Plan. Finance Minister Joe Oliver said in July that Ottawa would not provide administrative support for WynneÕs retirement scheme because the Conservatives felt it would Òtake money from workers and their families, kill jobs and damage the economy.Ó ÒAdministration of the ORPP will be the sole responsibility of the Ontario government, including the collection of contributions and any required information,Ó Oliver, who lost his Eglinton-Lawrence seat on Oct. 19, said at the time. During the campaign, Harper boasted that he was ÒdelightedÓ to hinder the Ontario plan, which launches in 2017. ÒKathleen Wynne is mad that I wonÕt help her do that . . . . YouÕre bloody right. The Conservative government is not going to help bring in that kind of tax hike.Ó Wynne created the Ontario plan after Harper refused to bolster CPP, which pays out a maximum ben

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 29, 2015

Justin Trudeau delivers help for Kathleen Wynne’s Ontario pension plan

Justin Trudeau has begun repaying Premier Kathleen Wynne for helping him become prime minister.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday October 22, 2015 Justin Trudeau owes Kathleen Wynne after election win Endorse early, endorse often. ThatÕs how Kathleen Wynne turned the old political joke (ÒVote early, vote oftenÓ) on its head. Except she wasnÕt fooling around. Long before Canadians settled on Justin Trudeau, well before any prime ministerial honeymoon, OntarioÕs premier was an early adopter. And an enthusiastic endorser. She showed him political love when he was running last, and showered him with praise when he was pulling ahead. Wynne went out on a limb by placing a big bet on the Liberal leader when few others saw his growth potential. Wynne cheered him on, early on, at a Regent Park rally with a passion that seemed unseemly to critics. And she badmouthed NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair in an un-premier-like way when he was still well-placed to win the election. The investment was not only personal but political Ñ Wynne didnÕt just stick out her own neck, she loaned out much of her provincial electoral machine: The vast majority of campaign managers for federal Liberal candidates emanated from the partyÕs provincial wing. Now, the gamble has paid off. Wynne is the bearer of a monumental IOU. So too are the Ontarians who voted massively for Trudeau at her behest. They are counting on her to collect in full on their behalf, and fully expecting his new government to deliver. How big is that political debt? About $11 billion big, if you count the amount that Ottawa collects annually from Ontario taxpayers for distribution everywhere else through equalization and other social transfers for health and education. But that fiscal imbalance, long an irritant at QueenÕs Park, wonÕt evaporate overnight. Ontarians have swung massively behind the federal Liberals in the past, only to be taken for granted when it came time for Ottawa to give the countryÕs biggest province its due. Former prime minister Jean ChrŽtien won virtua

Upon being sworn in to succeed Prime Minister Stephen Harper next Wednesday, Trudeau will reverse his predecessor’s attempt to derail the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan.

That announcement came after a 30-minute meeting Tuesday at Queen’s Park between the two leaders.

“We made progress on our mutual commitment to build greater retirement security for Ontarians and Canadians,” said Zita Astravas, Wynne’s director of media relations.

“Once it takes office, the incoming federal government will direct the Canada Revenue Agency and the departments of finance and national revenue to work with Ontario officials on the registration and administration of the . . . ORPP,” said Astravas.

Tuesday November 25, 2014“This would be the same assistance with pension administration that the federal government has extended in the past to Quebec and Saskatchewan. The ORPP is being designed to integrate with any future CPP enhancement,” she said, referring to the Canada Pension Plan.

Finance Minister Joe Oliver said in July that Ottawa would not provide administrative support for Wynne’s retirement scheme because the Conservatives felt it would “take money from workers and their families, kill jobs and damage the economy.”

Thursday January 22, 2015“Administration of the ORPP will be the sole responsibility of the Ontario government, including the collection of contributions and any required information,” Oliver, who lost his Eglinton-Lawrence seat on Oct. 19, said at the time.

During the campaign, Harper boasted that he was “delighted” to hinder the Ontario plan, which launches in 2017.

“Kathleen Wynne is mad that I won’t help her do that . . . . You’re bloody right. The Conservative government is not going to help bring in that kind of tax hike.”

Wynne created the Ontario plan after Harper refused to bolster CPP, which pays out a maximum benefit of little more than $12,000 annually.

Trudeau received a hero’s welcome at Queen’s Park as he arrived to thank Wynne for her help in winning power. (Source: Toronto Star)

One play by play of the meeting courtesy of the National Post.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Thursday October 15, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday October 15, 2015 Trudeau win could cancel need for Ontario pension, Wynne says A majority win for Justin TrudeauÕs Liberals next Monday could ÒabsolutelyÓ negate the need for an Ontario pension plan, says Premier Kathleen Wynne. ThatÕs because Trudeau has promised to enrich the existing Canada Pension Plan, possibly making the proposed complementary Ontario Retirement Pension Plan redundant. ÒIf we have a partner in Justin Trudeau to sit down and work out what theyÕre looking at as an enhancement to CPP that was always my starting point,Ó Wynne said Tuesday as she campaigned in four ridings in Toronto, Oakville, and Burlington to help the federal Liberals. ÒThat was the solution. A couple of years ago, thatÕs what we were looking at. We were looking at finance ministers across the country who agreed that theyÕre needed to be a change to the Canada Pension Plan,Ó she said. She noted two-thirds of Ontarians have no workplace pension. WynneÕs provincial Liberals introduced the ORPP, which takes effect in 2017, after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper refused to improve CPP benefits, which pay out a maximum of about $12,000 annually. Under the scheme, workers without a plan would have to contribute 1.9 per cent of their pay, which would be matched by their employers. On the eve of launching the 11-week election campaign, Harper said Ottawa would not aid QueenÕs Park by administering the new provincial plan, which he views as a Òpayroll tax.Ó ÒKathleen Wynne is mad that I wonÕt help her do that,Ó he said in August. ÒYouÕre bloody right. The Conservative government is not going to help bring in that kind of tax hike.Ó But Trudeau, who is leading in most opinion polls, has repeatedly pledged to boost CPP and work with Wynne to bolster retirement security. (Source: Toronto Star) http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/10/13/trudeau-win-could-negate-need-for-ontario-pension-wynne.html O

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 15, 2015

Trudeau win could cancel need for Ontario pension, Wynne says

A majority win for Justin Trudeau’s Liberals next Monday could “absolutely” negate the need for an Ontario pension plan, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

That’s because Trudeau has promised to enrich the existing Canada Pension Plan, possibly making the proposed complementary Ontario Retirement Pension Plan redundant.

“If we have a partner in Justin Trudeau to sit down and work out what they’re looking at as an enhancement to CPP that was always my starting point,” Wynne said Tuesday as she campaigned in four ridings in Toronto, Oakville, and Burlington to help the federal Liberals.

“That was the solution. A couple of years ago, that’s what we were looking at. We were looking at finance ministers across the country who agreed that they’re needed to be a change to the Canada Pension Plan,” she said.

She noted two-thirds of Ontarians have no workplace pension.

Wynne’s provincial Liberals introduced the ORPP, which takes effect in 2017, after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper refused to improve CPP benefits, which pay out a maximum of about $12,000 annually.

Under the scheme, workers without a plan would have to contribute 1.9 per cent of their pay, which would be matched by their employers.

On the eve of launching the 11-week election campaign, Harper said Ottawa would not aid Queen’s Park by administering the new provincial plan, which he views as a “payroll tax.”

“Kathleen Wynne is mad that I won’t help her do that,” he said in August. “You’re bloody right. The Conservative government is not going to help bring in that kind of tax hike.”

But Trudeau, who is leading in most opinion polls, has repeatedly pledged to boost CPP and work with Wynne to bolster retirement security. (Source: Toronto Star)