CUPE says no to voluntary CPP

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) believes CPP enhancement is a better option than a voluntary CPP.

Of the nine questions the federal government set out in its consultation document, CUPE only answers the first one: “Do you believe a voluntary supplement to the CPP should be an option for Canadians to save for
retirement?”

The union’s response: “no.”

Read: IFIC dislikes voluntary CPP

The other questions posed by the government “are all loaded questions that depend on a positive response to this first question,” CUPE says in its submission. “The bulk of the questions are therefore designed to stimulate replies favourable to the government’s proposal as a whole.”

The union then gives six reasons why it rejects a voluntary CPP :

  • Canada faces a significant broad-based retirement income problem;
  • Conservatives know a voluntary CPP supplement won’t work;
  • another voluntary savings scheme won’t solve the crisis;
  • employers would not be required to contribute;
  • the proposed supplement would only provide insecure benefits; and
  • the government should stop blocking real CPP expansion

To read the submission, visit CUPE’s website.

Also read: