Heather McPherson MP tables bill to protect CPP

Statement on Bill C-387, an Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan

Today, I took a major step toward protecting the CPP and ensuring Albertans’ and all Canadians’ retirement security.

Danielle Smith’s plan to remove Alberta from the CPP doesn’t just threaten Albertans’ retirement security, it threatens the retirement security of all Canadians and could spell the end of the CPP as we know it. That’s why, this morning, I tabled Bill C-387, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan. My bill puts a significant check on Danielle Smith’s efforts to take away Albertans’ CPP to create her own, politically driven pension plan, and protects the CPP from political interference by Conservatives.

Bill C-387 changes the requirements for a province to pull out of the CPP, making provincial withdrawal more difficult and less likely. Currently, the only requirements for a province to withdraw from the CPP are provincial legislation and the recommendation of the Minister of Employment and Social Development. My bill adds an additional requirement - approval of two thirds of the provinces currently enrolled in the CPP.

Add your name to the list of Canadians who want to protect the CPP.

Canadians’ retirement security is far too important to leave the decision on CPP withdrawal up to a single minister. The two thirds requirement is already written into the CPP for other changes, like changes to contribution and benefit rates. It makes sense to have the same requirement for provincial withdrawal given the profound impact it would have on all Canadians’ retirement security.

But it’s not just Danielle Smith I’m worried about.

Pierre Poilievre has spent his entire political career attacking the CPP and Canadians’ retirement benefits. He began his political life calling for the elimination of the CPP; while serving as Minister of Employment and Social Development in the Harper government, he raised the minimum retirement age from 65 to 67 (reversed by the Liberal government); as Conservative Leader, he has called for cuts to the CPP; and Poilievre has refused to say whether a future Conservative government would approve Alberta’s or other provinces’ withdrawal from the CPP.

It's not hard to imagine a Poilievre government breaking up the CPP by granting political favours to supportive Premiers. Under that scenario, Alberta could be lining up alongside other Conservative led provinces, vying for deals and creating a withdrawal cascade that would destroy the CPP.

The Canada Pension Plan is a critical part of Canadians’ retirement security. The CPP is ranked as the best performing pension plan in the world. The funds in the CPP are completely separate from government funds and are protected from political interference. And the fund is stable – able to pay benefits – for at least the next 75 years.

We must protect the CPP. Canadians are counting on us.

New Democrats are committed to doing everything necessary to protect the CPP from Pierre Poilievre, Danielle Smith, and the Conservatives who are bent on destroying it.