NEWS RELEASE
JACLYNNE HAMEL, ONTARIO LIBERAL CANDIDATE
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We know that pension and retirement security is a concern for some workers, especially for those in certain private sector jobs.
That’s why the Ontario Liberals have committed to taking concrete action to expand access to private sector employer-based pension plans.
We are ensuring that workers in all sectors and all situations can rely on a secure retirement.
“When the Ontario Liberals succeeded in fighting for an expanded Canada Pension Plan, every worker in Ontario and Canada got a better retirement,” said Jaclynne Hamel, Ontario Liberal candidate for Sault Ste. Marie.
The new measures proposed will expand coverage, improve portability of plans and create opt-in options for the self-employed and other workers.
The Ontario Liberals will help ensure that pensioners are also better protected and receive greater priority in the event of a bankruptcy. An Ontario Liberal government will take steps to expand access to retirement savings opportunities so that more workers can take advantage of them.
For workers moving between jobs within the same field, we will support the creation of portable pension plans that stay with a worker from one job to the next. These plans could be sponsored by unions, associations, or multiple employers within a sector so that changing jobs wouldn’t have to mean losing your pension.
For workers seeking more or better coverage, we will use our regulatory and policy tools to remove barriers that prevent existing successful private sector pension plans from offering their services to more people and in new, more agile combinations.
For workers already enrolled in an existing plan, we will ensure that retirees receive the benefits that they are promised, including by strengthening the ability of the pension regulator to intervene in cases where pensioners are treated unfairly.
The Ontario Liberals are the only party with a plan to increase access to pensions, and the track record of improving pension policy for everyone.
Neither the Doug Ford Conservatives nor the NDP have brought forward a detailed plan to help workers retire with greater security.
“Throughout this campaign I have heard from voters that pension improvements and retirement security are top of mind. Everyone deserves to enjoy retirement after decades of work, and I am ready to fight for these issues when elected”.
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