Federal government to ‘freeze’ Bill C-27, legislation that could affect pensions
February 10, 2017

Bill C-27, an Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, a bill that if passed would allow for the retroactive conversion of defined benefit pension plans to target benefit plans for federally regulated employees, including our Unifor National Council 4000 members in the rail industry, has been met with much criticism from unions, workers and pensioners.

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) reports that the vast opposition to Bill C-27 has caused the Federal Liberal government to "freeze" the bill pending further consultations. 

But this is not a withdrawal of the bill, something that the previous Stephen Harper Conservative government did. It is simply a freeze pending consultations.
As retired CAW (now Unifor) National Representative Abe Rosner said in reply to a Tweet by the CLC, “what does 'freeze' mean? No 2nd reading until after consultations? Why not withdraw the bill in the meantime?” There have been no further comments from the CLC.

Despite the freeze to Bill C-27, we should continue to lobby our Members of Parliament and Finance Minister Bill Morneau in demanding the government withdraw Bill C-27 for good. And during future consultations on this bill, we must continue to ensure the interests of those who will benefit from changes to pension legislation do not silence the many who are adamantly opposed to this bill, a bill that will reduce the benefits pensioners rely on and will result in weaker pension plans for workers across Canada.

Barry Kennedy
President, Unifor National Council 4000
Related:

February 1, 2017   Unifor Council 4000 and Local 4002 meet with Winnipeg MP over Bill C-27
​January 12, 2017   Retire Bill C-27! Protect our Pensions