Letter to Minister Brison about Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

August 30, 2018

The Honourable Scott Brison, P.C.
President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Scott.Brison@parl.gc.ca

Minister Brison,

I am writing on behalf of Canada’s federal nuclear workers, hundreds of whom are represented by our union, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

In July 2014, the Conservative federal government announced that Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) would be managed under a government-owned, contractor-operated (GoCo) model. I am deeply preoccupied about the status of CNL as a GoCo, and what it means for its employees’ pension plans.

In September 2015, CNL employees were given notice that following a three-year period of transitional coverage, they would no longer be able to contribute to the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP); subsequent hires were not even offered this transitional coverage.  The current government has received numerous appeals to allow the continued participation of all CNL employees in the PSPP. To date, however, no action has been taken in that respect.

The September 2018 deadline to overturn the former government’s decision is fast approaching. Once it has been reached, however, Canada’s federal nuclear workers will no longer fully enjoy the financial security afforded by the Public Service Pension Plan. This will impact not only the employees themselves, but also their families and the communities they live in. To their dismay, the Treasury Board will not disclose the actual cost of their continued participation in the Plan, and the current government has yet to explain the rationale for its inaction on this issue. 

There are likely to be significant, negative long-term consequences to the Canadian nuclear industry if the situation is not remedied, particularly with regards to the recruitment and retention of industry professionals.  If the Canadian government is truly committed to helping Canadian workers and growing the middle class, it will make the necessary legislative changes to allow all CNL employees to remain in the Public Service Pension Plan. Time is running out, and action must be taken now.

Sincerely,

Debi Daviau
President, PIPSC