ORPP progress encouraging but enhanced CPP overdue: Unifor

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor is encouraged by today's announcement that the Ontario government will proceed with implementing the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan beginning January 1, 2017. Unifor believes retirement income is best delivered through a stable, cost effective publicly administered pension such as the CPP or ORPP. 

"With 75 per cent of workers without a workplace pension, the ORPP is extremely important," said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Katha Fortier. "I'm pleased that Ontario is moving forward on the ORPP in the interim but the reality is the need for an enhanced CPP has never been greater."

Unifor calls for the Ontario government to continue advocating for an expanded CPP with the federal government and the provinces.

"Canadians cannot afford to wait years for a national consensus on improving the Canada Pension Plan. With the increase in low wage and precarious jobs, the federal government needs to act now to safeguard retirement income for the majority of Canadian workers, without a secure workplace pension plan," said Fortier.

Unifor continues to urge the Ontario government to mirror the ORPP with the CPP in order to facilitate integration with an enhanced CPP in the future.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Kathleen O'Keefe at [email protected] or 416-896-3303 (cell).