The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
Log in

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

Published on 30 August 2018

22 January 2018
Separating

Statement on Unifor’s withdrawal from the Canadian Labour Congress

The news that Canada’s largest private-sector union, Unifor, has decided to withdraw its membership from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has taken many by surprise.
12 January 2018
Phoenix

Phoenix: Problems with Reporting Overpayments?

It has come to our attention that many of you who are trying to report overpayments by the January 19, 2018 deadline cannot get through to Contact Centre staff because of busy signals or being put on hold for extended periods.
20 December 2017
Announcement

President’s New Year Message 2018

Predictions are rarely 100% accurate. But some offer better-educated guesses than others. Here then are my forecasts (and a few resolutions) for the coming year.
24 November 2017
Phoenix

Don’t Blame Bargaining for Phoenix Failures

Earlier this month, PSPC Minister Carla Qualtrough asked me if I would be willing to negotiate simplifying some of the pay rules bargained over decades that, some claim, contribute to the dysfunction of the federal pay system.
8 November 2017
Announcement

PIPSC supports changes to Canadian bankruptcy and insolvency laws

Canadians should not have to worry about their retirement. But actions taken by the federal government raise questions about its commitment to enhancing retirement security for Canadians – a key promise in the last federal election.
7 November 2017
Message

PIPSC Salutes its Medical Radiation Therapists on MRT Week

Medical Radiation Therapist (MRT) Week, which recognizes the essential role these professionals play in Canada’s healthcare system, runs from November 5 to 11, 2017.