https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/pension-reform-lawsuits-costs-1.4732109
David Amos
@Rosco holt Methinks folks would have enjoyed my reply to you but nobody can read it now N'esy Pas?
Content disabled.
David Amos
David Amos
@Rosco holt "Why were pensions underfunded to begin with? "
Methinks they never were underfunded That was just what the actuaries claimed so that the mindless conservatives and union bosses would fall for the scam N'esy Pas?
Methinks they never were underfunded That was just what the actuaries claimed so that the mindless conservatives and union bosses would fall for the scam N'esy Pas?
Content disabled.
David Amos
David Amos
@Deborah McCormack "For all the comments I have read perhaps you would like the rest of the story"
Therein lies the rub I know for a fact some of my comments were blocked so it follows that other people were blocked as well Methinks you should ask yourself why N'esy Pas?
Therein lies the rub I know for a fact some of my comments were blocked so it follows that other people were blocked as well Methinks you should ask yourself why N'esy Pas?
Province spends more than $2M fighting civil servants in court
4 years after lawsuits were launched, legal costs are racking up
Gabrielle Fahmy
· CBC News
·
In the four years since lawsuits were launched by former and
current civil servants fighting the government on changes to their
pension plans, no cases have reached a resolution or settlement, and
legal costs on both sides are piling up.
As of late 2017, the province had spent $2,378,524 on legal fees to defend itself in three lawsuits, CBC News found through right to information requests.
The new shared-risk system introduced six years ago by David Alward's Progressive Conservative government didn't guarantee a set amount of pension benefits the way the previous system did.
After outcries and protests, the Liberals, who came to power in the next election, offered a compromise, but retirees rejected it and filed lawsuits instead.
Two other lawsuits were brought around the same time — one by a former deputy minister and another by current civil servants.
Pension reform was brought in by the
Progressive Conservative government of David Alward, who argued the old
system couldn't be sustained, especially with people retiring earlier
and living longer. (CBC)
New Brunswick's Office of the Attorney General initially refused to
disclose the amount spent defending the pension changes in court, citing
solicitor-client privilege.
But after a complaint was made by CBC News, the office of the integrity commissioner said that while releasing the amount spent defending each case might compromise ongoing legal proceedings, the public had the right to know the total amount spent on the issue.
"I'm not surprised at the amount, it's sad really," said Claire LePage, a former deputy minister with the Department of Energy, who is now chair of the Pension Coalition of New Brunswick, a group formed when the changes were under consideration in 2012.
The coalition was first to file for legal action, representing 13,000 retired New Brunswick public servants. They were last in court in the fall of 2016 and decided to put legal proceedings on hold, pending resolution of another case, according to LePage.
"It's been a long journey so far," she said. "The province has used every tactic possible to burn everybody out.
"We've had to deal with … motion after motion, and that's very costly in court."
Claire LePage, a former deputy minister
now part of a coalition challenging the pension reforms, accuses the
province of stalling tactics to avoid trial. (CBC)
Another right to information request, this one made by the coalition,
revealed the province had employed the law firm of Stewart McKelvey for
the case, and that under the agreement, up to 23 lawyers could be
working on the case at a time.
The Office of the Attorney General said that given the matters are before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment on any case or the costs.
"We've been in court since 2014, and here we are 2018, and really the essence of this case has not been heard in court," LePage said.
The case where resolution seems the most likely is the one filed by Guy Levesque, a former deputy minister with the cabinet secretariat. He sued in 2015, alleging the break in contract is illegal.
Others are watching the case closely as they believe its outcome will impact the other proceedings.
Levesque would not give an interview to CBC because he is under a court order not to speak about the case, pending resolution of the latest motion.
A third lawsuit is led by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and CUPE, representing 800 current employees, including engineers and prosecutors.
The employees' argument is that changes to pension plans should have been negotiated, not legislated.
Some of the pension reform protesters had
heated words for former finance minister Blaine Higgs, who pushed the
changes. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
The province has fired back with a statement of defence saying it
created a task force when looking at reforming the pension systems, and
unions could have participated.
A few unions, such as the one representing nurses, got behind the reforms.
Unions that left the discussions said they were one-sided.
As for Claire LePage, she said the proceedings have cost the pension coalition roughly $300,000 so far, which includes the money spent on its own case, and in support of the Levesque case.
At the time of the overhaul in 2012, the Alward government argued the guaranteed income system was designed at a time when people worked longer and lived shorter lives. Now, people were retiring earlier and living longer, making the plan unsustainable.
Without the changes, there wouldn't be enough money in the coffers to pay pension benefits to public workers, the PCs said, citing examples of companies that had slashed pensions when they went bankrupt.
The move was backed by the Liberals, who were then in opposition.
Mario Levesque believes the province has spent a lot of money on the lawsuits. (CBC)
Mario Levesque at Mount Allison University, said
the province has spent a large sum of money on these cases, possibly to
avoid dealing with something.
"It is a lot of money overall — $2.4 million and counting," said Mario Levesque. "But it pales in comparison to the amount of money the province would have to pay out to [pensioners] and government employees over time if they were to lose the case."
"So for the government, it's batten down the hatches and fight this tooth and nail all the way."
Levesque said the government may be trying to wear the pensioners — like Claire LePage — down.
"It's a real David and Goliath case," he said. "They are fighting and pulling out all the stops to make sure this does not move forward.
"You figure an individual, how long can he or she stay in this kind of legal battle with their resources, compared to the government?"
As of late 2017, the province had spent $2,378,524 on legal fees to defend itself in three lawsuits, CBC News found through right to information requests.
The new shared-risk system introduced six years ago by David Alward's Progressive Conservative government didn't guarantee a set amount of pension benefits the way the previous system did.
After outcries and protests, the Liberals, who came to power in the next election, offered a compromise, but retirees rejected it and filed lawsuits instead.
- Retired civil servants launch pension-reform lawsuit
- Retired civil servants seek class action status in pension fight
Two other lawsuits were brought around the same time — one by a former deputy minister and another by current civil servants.
But after a complaint was made by CBC News, the office of the integrity commissioner said that while releasing the amount spent defending each case might compromise ongoing legal proceedings, the public had the right to know the total amount spent on the issue.
'It's sad really'
"I'm not surprised at the amount, it's sad really," said Claire LePage, a former deputy minister with the Department of Energy, who is now chair of the Pension Coalition of New Brunswick, a group formed when the changes were under consideration in 2012.
The coalition was first to file for legal action, representing 13,000 retired New Brunswick public servants. They were last in court in the fall of 2016 and decided to put legal proceedings on hold, pending resolution of another case, according to LePage.
"It's been a long journey so far," she said. "The province has used every tactic possible to burn everybody out.
"We've had to deal with … motion after motion, and that's very costly in court."
The Office of the Attorney General said that given the matters are before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment on any case or the costs.
"We've been in court since 2014, and here we are 2018, and really the essence of this case has not been heard in court," LePage said.
The Levesque case
The case where resolution seems the most likely is the one filed by Guy Levesque, a former deputy minister with the cabinet secretariat. He sued in 2015, alleging the break in contract is illegal.
Others are watching the case closely as they believe its outcome will impact the other proceedings.
Levesque would not give an interview to CBC because he is under a court order not to speak about the case, pending resolution of the latest motion.
A third lawsuit is led by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, and CUPE, representing 800 current employees, including engineers and prosecutors.
The employees' argument is that changes to pension plans should have been negotiated, not legislated.
A few unions, such as the one representing nurses, got behind the reforms.
Unions that left the discussions said they were one-sided.
As for Claire LePage, she said the proceedings have cost the pension coalition roughly $300,000 so far, which includes the money spent on its own case, and in support of the Levesque case.
Rationale for overhaul
At the time of the overhaul in 2012, the Alward government argued the guaranteed income system was designed at a time when people worked longer and lived shorter lives. Now, people were retiring earlier and living longer, making the plan unsustainable.
Without the changes, there wouldn't be enough money in the coffers to pay pension benefits to public workers, the PCs said, citing examples of companies that had slashed pensions when they went bankrupt.
The move was backed by the Liberals, who were then in opposition.
"It is a lot of money overall — $2.4 million and counting," said Mario Levesque. "But it pales in comparison to the amount of money the province would have to pay out to [pensioners] and government employees over time if they were to lose the case."
"So for the government, it's batten down the hatches and fight this tooth and nail all the way."
Levesque said the government may be trying to wear the pensioners — like Claire LePage — down.
"It's a real David and Goliath case," he said. "They are fighting and pulling out all the stops to make sure this does not move forward.
"You figure an individual, how long can he or she stay in this kind of legal battle with their resources, compared to the government?"
About the Author
Gabrielle Fahmy
Reporter
117 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Methinks folks should Google David Amos Federal Court N'esy Pas?
Rosco holt
The Conservative party should foot the bill for this(it's their decision).
Politicians pensions didn't go shared risk, but got more generous. Following the same train of thought we can't afford politicians pensions which are 6 figures a piece + perks & bonuses, all after 4 years of (dis)service.
Civil servants for the most part fullfilled their contractual obligations, while politicians continually reneg theirs.
Politicians pensions didn't go shared risk, but got more generous. Following the same train of thought we can't afford politicians pensions which are 6 figures a piece + perks & bonuses, all after 4 years of (dis)service.
Civil servants for the most part fullfilled their contractual obligations, while politicians continually reneg theirs.
David Amos
@Rosco holt "The Conservative party should foot the bill for this(it's their decision)."
Methinks they are broke because they can't manage money yet they want to oversee ours N'esy Pas?
Cash-strapped PCs selling party headquarters in Fredericton
The Regent Street building could be all yours for just $479,000
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jan 12, 2018 6:30 AM A
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/progressive-conversative-headquarters-sale-fundraising-1.4484153
Methinks they are broke because they can't manage money yet they want to oversee ours N'esy Pas?
Cash-strapped PCs selling party headquarters in Fredericton
The Regent Street building could be all yours for just $479,000
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Jan 12, 2018 6:30 AM A
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/progressive-conversative-headquarters-sale-fundraising-1.4484153
Rosco holt
@David Amos
Politicians continue to make stupid and expansive decisions out of greed and power.
We need a way to make them accountable and discourage them from participating in this race to the bottom that we are in.
And the only way I see to get politicians to do the right things is to hit them where it hurts..... Their wallet.
Politicians continue to make stupid and expansive decisions out of greed and power.
We need a way to make them accountable and discourage them from participating in this race to the bottom that we are in.
And the only way I see to get politicians to do the right things is to hit them where it hurts..... Their wallet.
Marc LeBlanc
We're sorry for living longer
David Amos
@Marc LeBlanc "We're sorry for living longer"
Nay not I
Methinks all old taxpayers who do not have the benefit of a fancy pension should be grateful to stay alive long enough to watch this circus After all we are paying for it N'esy Pas?
Nay not I
Methinks all old taxpayers who do not have the benefit of a fancy pension should be grateful to stay alive long enough to watch this circus After all we are paying for it N'esy Pas?
Rosella Melanson
Calling it "shared risk" is
taking sides. Retirees have the risk. The former Chief Actuary for govt
of Canada, Bernard Dussault, said so. NB Auditor General was not
impressed with the "risk" the govt says it is taking in her 2013 report.
Content disabled.
David Amos
David Amos
@Rosella
Melanson Methinks
the actuaries who canned Higgs and his cohorts were profound liars and I
told them so out of the gate and put it writing long before this issue
became an matter of history. In a nutshell Mr Sinclair has a mountain of
money to play with on the stock market and the pension plans were
NEVER in jeopardy even in 2008. When Victor Boudreau's budget in 2009
made the taxpayers top up the bureaucrat's pension plan to cover for
Sinclair's faux pas I let everybody know just how disgusted I was N'esy
Pas?
David Amos
@David Amos Methinks some
folks know that my words were published elsewhere at the same time and
that they will not go "Poof" in that domain so easily N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer
Imagine being offered a job where you are told they cannot pay what you are currently earning, but instead they offer a guaranteed, fully-indexed pension. You accept the offer and spend the next 35 years working and after retiring, your employer says "Sorry, we cannot hold up our end of the bargain and we need to cut your fully-indexed pension. That's what happened here folks and it is a disgrace.
You gave up 35 years of higher salary at your former employer only to be shafted by the government of New Brunswick in the end
David Amos
@Fred Brewer Methinks in many
folks who worked in the private sector for years and got done in by a
questionable employers suffered and lot more and the shareholders and
our governments quite simply don't care N'esy Pas?
Here is a local example
Nackawic mill pensioners will fight Tory plan
CBC News · Posted: Jan 19, 2006
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nackawic-mill-pensioners-will-fight-tory-plan-1.577888
Ex-Nackawic mill CEO gets 2 months in jail for hiding $8.4M from IRS
George Landegger's sentence cold comfort for former employees left with underfunded pension
CBC News · Posted: May 20, 2015 5:48 PM AT
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ex-nackawic-mill-ceo-gets-2-months-in-jail-for-hiding-8-4m-from-irs-1.3080276
Here is a local example
Nackawic mill pensioners will fight Tory plan
CBC News · Posted: Jan 19, 2006
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nackawic-mill-pensioners-will-fight-tory-plan-1.577888
Ex-Nackawic mill CEO gets 2 months in jail for hiding $8.4M from IRS
George Landegger's sentence cold comfort for former employees left with underfunded pension
CBC News · Posted: May 20, 2015 5:48 PM AT
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ex-nackawic-mill-ceo-gets-2-months-in-jail-for-hiding-8-4m-from-irs-1.3080276
Rosco holt
@Samual Johnston
Just to state that salaries are way higher in the private sector than the public.
A lineman make around 40-45K(before taxes+ exp.) in the public, while in the private they make 80-100K for the same time period.
Just to state that salaries are way higher in the private sector than the public.
A lineman make around 40-45K(before taxes+ exp.) in the public, while in the private they make 80-100K for the same time period.
Dianne MacPherson
@Rosco holt
FAKE NEWS !!!!
FAKE NEWS !!!!
Rosco holt
@Dianne MacPherson
Can't think of a proper reply, beside FAKE NEWS. LOL.
Can't think of a proper reply, beside FAKE NEWS. LOL.
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Dianne MacPherson Methinks this is old news and definitely far from Fake News that even you may recall N'esy Pas?
In 2013 knew the actuaries who conned Higgs and his union cohorts were profound liars. I put it writing and posted it in blogs long before this issue became an matter of history and the lawsuits began. In a nutshell Mr Sinclair our highest paid employee has had a mountain of money to play with on the stock market. The pension plans were NEVER in jeopardy even in 2008. When Victor Boudreau's budget in 2009 compelled the taxpayers top up the bureaucrat's pension plan to cover for Sinclair's losses I let everybody know just how disgusted I was immediately and posted those word within blogs as well Remember me now? Trust that many lawyers and politicians certainly do.
In 2013 knew the actuaries who conned Higgs and his union cohorts were profound liars. I put it writing and posted it in blogs long before this issue became an matter of history and the lawsuits began. In a nutshell Mr Sinclair our highest paid employee has had a mountain of money to play with on the stock market. The pension plans were NEVER in jeopardy even in 2008. When Victor Boudreau's budget in 2009 compelled the taxpayers top up the bureaucrat's pension plan to cover for Sinclair's losses I let everybody know just how disgusted I was immediately and posted those word within blogs as well Remember me now? Trust that many lawyers and politicians certainly do.
David Amos
@Rosco holt Methinks I should
thank somebody for blocking my last comment it proved my point in
spades to the lawyers involved in this matter but nobody else can read
it N'esy Pas?
Rose Michaud
Not just living longer, but
when Bernard Lord let hundreds go out on early retirement packages, that
really took a huge amount out of a pension plan designed for people
retiring at 65, not 50-55. And the rest of the civil service has to pay
for Bernard Lords promise to 'reduce' the civil service. (Which he
didn't, they of course just hired more back after they retired).
Dianne MacPherson
@Rose Michaud
The largest employer in NB is the
NB Govt.......a lot of votes there !!!!!!
We are ALL going to have to 'bite the bullet'
in order to get this Province back on its feet.
The largest employer in NB is the
NB Govt.......a lot of votes there !!!!!!
We are ALL going to have to 'bite the bullet'
in order to get this Province back on its feet.
Joseph Vacher
@Rose Michaud
NB also has the highest percentage of people working for government than any other province
NB also has the highest percentage of people working for government than any other province
Rosco holt
@Joseph Vacher
Why is that?
The private sector gets whatever they want with the promise of jobs(that rarely materialize).
Where are all the jobs that were promised?
Why is that?
The private sector gets whatever they want with the promise of jobs(that rarely materialize).
Where are all the jobs that were promised?
stephen blunston
@Joseph Vacher that's what
happens when you run 2 separate systems for everything , duplication is
the biggest thing needed addressed I agree 100 % in bilingualism , but
NB run apartheid keeping everything separate and the n wonder why they
cant find bilingual eople duh
David Amos
@Dianne MacPherson Methinks
there are a lot more folks who do not earn big government wages and who
will have to get by in their old age without a fancy pension. They have
the right to vote too N'esy Pas?
Colin Seeley
The best thing the Alward govt ever did was to slow down the gravy train that was leading us to bankruptcy.
Nobody deserves an risk free pension . Especially those who are well paid and receive benefits the rest of us can only dream of like sick days and dental .
Why do those who work for Govt think they are so special !
Nobody deserves an risk free pension . Especially those who are well paid and receive benefits the rest of us can only dream of like sick days and dental .
Why do those who work for Govt think they are so special !
David Amos
@Colin Seeley Methinks you will always continue to speak like a true blue conservative no matter what N'esy Pas?
Rosco holt
@Colin Seeley
Funny Alward speed up the gravy train on behalf of the Irvings (forestry & electricity agreements) that IS leading us to bankruptcy.
Funny Alward speed up the gravy train on behalf of the Irvings (forestry & electricity agreements) that IS leading us to bankruptcy.
David Amos
@Rosco holt Methinks you folks went way off the topic of this article N'esy Pas?
Dianne MacPherson
The plan was and is "unsustainable".
We taxpayers are all tapped out !!!
The only ones who will 'benefit' from
these civil suits are the Lawyers !!!
We taxpayers are all tapped out !!!
The only ones who will 'benefit' from
these civil suits are the Lawyers !!!
David Amos
@Dianne MacPherson "The only ones who will 'benefit' from these civil suits are the Lawyers !!!"
Methinks this lawyer is enjoying the litigation far to much and at our expense N'esy Pas?
Ronald Pink of law firm Pink Larson in Halifax represents the trustees of the shared-risk plan. He maintains the legislation is a necessary and reasonable solution to the pension conundrum.
“Nowhere is there an employer with a DB plan who is not under water, and every government is trying to find a way to reduce these liabilities,” he says. “At the same time, the objective is to continue providing a reasonable retirement allowance, and the way they’ve chosen to achieve that balance is by removing guarantees from employers and making pensions a joint venture with employees.”
Paul Bourgoin
Dr. Eilish Cleary's stand on
Glycophate was dead on and I wonder who had the political influence to
overlook the scientific facts. Money over People Money wins every time
but it does not make it right!
Dianne MacPherson
@Paul Bourgoin
Dr. Cleary made no statement on Glyphosate but
she did walk away leaving a lot of people believing
she was dismissed from her job because of it !!
'Dozens of regulatory bodies around the world, including
the European Food Safety Authority and HEALTH CANADA
have concluded that Glyphosate is NOT a health risk.' !!!!!
Dr. Cleary made no statement on Glyphosate but
she did walk away leaving a lot of people believing
she was dismissed from her job because of it !!
'Dozens of regulatory bodies around the world, including
the European Food Safety Authority and HEALTH CANADA
have concluded that Glyphosate is NOT a health risk.' !!!!!
Rosco holt
@Dianne MacPherson
Dr. Cleary was canned because some in the private sector didn't like was her research was about to find.
While other regulatory bodies around the world banned it.
You know HEALTH CANADA is looking after the financial health of corporations not Canadians..
Dr. Cleary was canned because some in the private sector didn't like was her research was about to find.
While other regulatory bodies around the world banned it.
You know HEALTH CANADA is looking after the financial health of corporations not Canadians..
Dianne MacPherson
@Rosco holt
FAKE NEWS !!!!
FAKE NEWS !!!!
David Amos
@Paul Bourgoin "Dr. Eilish
Cleary's stand on Glycophate was dead on and I wonder who had the
political influence to overlook the scientific facts."
Methinks the lady took a golden handshake and no longer cares N'esy Pas?
Methinks the lady took a golden handshake and no longer cares N'esy Pas?
Rosco holt
@Dianne MacPherson
How convenient, crying Fake news!?
How convenient, crying Fake news!?
Rosco holt
@Dianne MacPherson
Glyphosate is a poison that is used to kill trees( a live organism) like agent orange was and it was deamed safe at the time.
Drink water that is tainted with Glyphosate if you believe it safe.
I won't and regulatory bodies are controled by politicians/ government that will do/ say anything their rich backers says.
Glyphosate is a poison that is used to kill trees( a live organism) like agent orange was and it was deamed safe at the time.
Drink water that is tainted with Glyphosate if you believe it safe.
I won't and regulatory bodies are controled by politicians/ government that will do/ say anything their rich backers says.
Paul Bourgoin
Dr. Eilish Cleary. was
muzzled and the health consequences affecting the People of New
Brunswick will at the end of the day l cost more financially while
inflicting pain and suffering to our NB residents. She was dead on with
the scientific facts with regard to Glycophate! There must have been
some political funding influence to arrive to such a decision!
David Amos
@Paul Bourgoin "Levesque
would not give an interview to CBC because he is under a court order not
to speak about the case, pending resolution of the latest motion."
Methinks that everybody knows the Crown can't put a muzzle on me N'esy Pas?
Methinks that everybody knows the Crown can't put a muzzle on me N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@Paul Bourgoin Methinks its hard to a muzzle on Pete Mockler too N'esy Pas?
"New Brunswick lawyer Pete Mockler, who represents plaintiff Guy Levesque, is seeking damages. But he’s not relying on Charter arguments; instead, he says the defendants have committed breaches of contract, trust and fiduciary duty. He claims the unions and the trustees breached the terms of his employment by concurring in the transfer of assets to the new fund and other terms of the legislation.
Mockler believes a precedent established in 2012 favours his client.
“While the discussion about the shared-risk plan were ongoing, the government applied for a ruling on whether the province could relieve itself of its liability under the old legislation to top up the COLA adjustments, if there was insufficient money in the plan for that benefit. The judge ruled that the benefits were vested and couldn’t be taken away by negotiation.”
Mike Morton
I find it ironic that the
"free-the-beer" case, which was also complicated, was resolved very
quickly relative to this file. It seems Government is more about the
money than the people...
@Mike Morton Methinks
everything is political and its always about the money. In y humble
opinion this is a case of greedy people who work for government making a
deal to do themselves in and now that the light has dawned on their
marblehead they what to change it back. However the old ones who were
already retired had no say in the matter hence they have very legitimate
beef but they cannot afford to argue the government abusing us all and
using our money to do it N'esy Pas?
Joseph Vacher
Im sorry but your pension plans were underfunded, and unsustainable.
welcome to the real world, where you dont get everything you want
and that retirement allowance that no one in the private sector gets
welcome to the real world, where you dont get everything you want
and that retirement allowance that no one in the private sector gets
@Joseph Vacher
Why were pensions underfunded to begin with?
To allow businesses to steal to pension of their employees.
Why were pensions underfunded to begin with?
To allow businesses to steal to pension of their employees.
stephen blunston
@Rosco holt that is the easy part because NB is broke
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Rosco holt "Why were pensions underfunded to begin with? "
Methinks they never were underfunded That was just what the actuaries claimed so that the mindless conservatives and union bosses would fall for the scam N'esy Pas?
Methinks they never were underfunded That was just what the actuaries claimed so that the mindless conservatives and union bosses would fall for the scam N'esy Pas?
Rosco holt
@stephen blunston
And who got NB to this point and why?
Also if we are broke, how can government continue to give sweet deals to businesses.
And who got NB to this point and why?
Also if we are broke, how can government continue to give sweet deals to businesses.
David Amos
@Rosco holt Methinks folks would have enjoyed my reply to you but nobody can read it now N'esy Pas?
Anne Bérubé
Well, Alward wanted us not to
live a long life, Gallant thinks the same, I call it bullying. Shame on
both of them. Even the Courts are on it as well by postponing the
procedures indefinitely. Everyone who did not accept a civil servant job
with the Feds back then, now regrets it. I know I do.
Dianne MacPherson
@Anne Bérubé
Watch for a shared-risk pension plan coming
to a FEDERAL Public servant near you......as soon
as there's a Govt. in Ottawa with the backbone
to implement it !!!!
Watch for a shared-risk pension plan coming
to a FEDERAL Public servant near you......as soon
as there's a Govt. in Ottawa with the backbone
to implement it !!!!
Rosco holt
@Anne Bérubé
Alward doesn't have that problem with his PM pension on top of the token job he got from Harper.
Alward doesn't have that problem with his PM pension on top of the token job he got from Harper.
David Amos
@Anne Bérubé Welcome to the circus
stephen blunston
wow these greedy union and
civil servants . boohoo . they should be thankful they have pensions at
all. overpaid for the little they do . if these people worked in
private sector and got paid by their worth they would ll have no pension
and take a 45% pay cut
do they not understand that NB is broke , they didn't take away their pensions like 85% of private businesses did just trying to make it a little better for province , and they are still getting golden pensions with the changes
do they not understand that NB is broke , they didn't take away their pensions like 85% of private businesses did just trying to make it a little better for province , and they are still getting golden pensions with the changes
David Amos
@stephen blunston I concur
Deborah McCormack
@stephen blunston Thank you for your compliment
Having worked as a PH Nurse for thirty years and continue to volunteer
Nice to know what my citizens think of me
Having worked as a PH Nurse for thirty years and continue to volunteer
Nice to know what my citizens think of me
David Amos
@Deborah McCormack What am I chopped liver? Say Hey to Hutchison, Kaplan and your friends for me will ya?
Lou Bell
It appears possibly many of
these suits are spearheaded by deputy ministers , many of whom have been
appointed by , and fed from the trough by their party of favour !
Could this just be an extension of " partisan politics " ??
David Amos
@Lou Bell "It appears possibly many of these suits are spearheaded by deputy ministers"
Methinks all of them were N'esy Pas?
Methinks all of them were N'esy Pas?
Deborah McCormack
@Lou Bell you are so wrong
Take a look at the membership
Take a look at the membership
David Amos
@Deborah McCormack Trust that you don't know the whole story
Lou Bell
Actually N.B. 's pension fund
is doing quite well now that it's out of the gready hands of the
politicians. All of these people complaining haven't lost a dime in
their pensions, and it doesn't appear that they ever will ! It appears
they may just want more !
David Amos
@Lou Bell YUP
Lou Bell
Take a look at these people. They're the ones costing us money !
David Amos
@Lou Bell Trust that they don't care
Valencia Deuchler
The average Canadian Deputy
Minister basic salary ranges for those in the federal government's EX
category in 2015 range between $106,900 and $202,500 a year. That is
according to CBC. How dare he waste our government's time and resources
and taxpayers money trying to get MORE? He made more in 1 year then most
Canadians make in a decade! In fact I work 40 hours a week as does my
husband and it would take us 2 years to make what he made in one IF he
were at the lower end of the spectrum, did you not plan for tomorrow?
Why are you hurting your fellow Canadians with your greed Mr. Levesque?
The average wage of a CUPE employee on the low end is admin and it's
between 48k-52k a year the mean is around 100k a year according to
averages posted on Glassdoor... again .... you have the means to plan
for your future stop being so damn greedy and taking money from fellow
Canadians who earn way less than you and could use those resources now!
Take the energy you are spending on this fight that is hurting your
fellow Canadian and put it towards things like fighting the government
for gas price reforms right now we are paying top $ for gas, in fact we
are paying more for gas now at lower crude prices than we were when
crude prices were $10 more a barrel, fight for getting THAT put in
check. Rogers Telus Bell are taking a third of most Canadians paychecks
that don't make what you civil servants make the prices keeping going up
and up other than the internet package I have I have the most basic
cable and phone and I still pay over 230/month, if you put your energy
towards getting caps put on that you would probably make more from those
two things than you are wasting tax payers money to get from the
government directly. Think about it!
Dianne MacPherson
@Valencia Deuchler
From out of Province are you ???
From out of Province are you ???
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Dianne MacPherson Methinks everybody knows that overpaid people from out of province are blocking my comments N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@David Amos Methinks I struck a nerve N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@David Amos Methinks some folks may find this an interesting read. No doubt many local lawyers will know the judge N'esy Pas?
September 13, 2017
"A group of retired public servants learned the hard way just how difficult it can be to mount a constitutional challenge to benefits changes, according to a Toronto lawyer.
In Bemister v. Canada (Attorney General), retired members of the voluntary public service health-care plan, which also covers active federal employees, claimed a move to double their share of premium costs violated sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 2014, the federal government shifted the cost-sharing split for premiums paid by retired members of the plan, boosting their portion to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. The government is phasing in the move, which was effective April 1, 2015, over four years.
Read: Government, public sector agree on changes to health benefits
In a verdict last month, Federal Court Justice Ann Marie McDonald rejected the retired members’ claims. “I conclude that the applicants have not established any breach of the Charter,” she wrote. “Further, had I concluded there had been a breach of Charter rights, I would have also found that the actions of the [Treasury Board] reflect a proportionate balancing of Charter values against the broader statutory objectives, and therefore that the [Treasury Board]’s actions and its decision were reasonable."
John O'Brien
Why should civil servants who
already enjoy a host of gold-plated perks, have guaranteed pension with
COLA when most of the taxpayers supporting that luxury, are forced to
make do with less and less every year. The stench of greed coming out of
every door in Fredericton is becoming unbearable- politicians, civil
servants, bureaucrats, contract workers , judges, cops, and on and on.
David Amos
@John O'Brien Methinks
everybody knows I agree. Why else would I sue the Crown in 2015? Its
interesting that nobody talks about that lawsuit N'esy Pas?
Deborah McCormack
For all the comments I have read perhaps you would like the rest of the story
I am one of those retirees no not a Deputy Minister however I am a retired Nurse
Average pension for a retiree 19 thousand dollars per year
Very diverse group
As a single parent for 27 years I could have used the extra pay that was taken from my cheque
I did not have a choice although many individuals who could put money away in the private sector chose not to as they believe let the government look after me in my old age
Also it was a union who renegotiated to change my pension
When I had already retired and we know the mandate of a union is not to be concerned for the retiree
So when you decide to malign a civil servant remember the pandemic scare H1N1
Snow plough operators NB Power when your electricity is down Public Health Inspectors with food safety
The list is endless
And by we are not victims only fighting for a contract that was denied
I am one of those retirees no not a Deputy Minister however I am a retired Nurse
Average pension for a retiree 19 thousand dollars per year
Very diverse group
As a single parent for 27 years I could have used the extra pay that was taken from my cheque
I did not have a choice although many individuals who could put money away in the private sector chose not to as they believe let the government look after me in my old age
Also it was a union who renegotiated to change my pension
When I had already retired and we know the mandate of a union is not to be concerned for the retiree
So when you decide to malign a civil servant remember the pandemic scare H1N1
Snow plough operators NB Power when your electricity is down Public Health Inspectors with food safety
The list is endless
And by we are not victims only fighting for a contract that was denied
Dianne MacPherson
@Deborah McCormack
"I am entitled to MY entitlements:" !!!!!
"I am entitled to MY entitlements:" !!!!!
Content disabled.
David Amos
David Amos
@Deborah McCormack "For all the comments I have read perhaps you would like the rest of the story"
Therein lies the rub I know for a fact some of my comments were blocked so it follows that other people were blocked as well Methinks you should ask yourself why N'esy Pas?
Therein lies the rub I know for a fact some of my comments were blocked so it follows that other people were blocked as well Methinks you should ask yourself why N'esy Pas?
David Amos
@Deborah McCormack "Also it was a
union who renegotiated to change my pension. When I had already retired
and we know the mandate of a union is not to be concerned for the
retiree "
Methinks everybody knows your complaint is legit but the lawyers are not N'esy Pas?
Methinks everybody knows your complaint is legit but the lawyers are not N'esy Pas?
Fred Sanford
Three things:
1. Civil servants pay significant payroll deductions for their pension plans - generally about 10% of their gross income.
2. Whether you think government pension plans are too generous or not, it's never right to change the terms of a pension agreement after someone retires. If the pension plan is unsustainable, change the terms, but phase them in for current and future employees - not retirees.
3. There are a lot of petty, jealous, bitter people on here that seem to begrudge people that have chosen to work in a career that offers a pension plan. How about making your own situation better rather than trying to drag everyone down with you?
1. Civil servants pay significant payroll deductions for their pension plans - generally about 10% of their gross income.
2. Whether you think government pension plans are too generous or not, it's never right to change the terms of a pension agreement after someone retires. If the pension plan is unsustainable, change the terms, but phase them in for current and future employees - not retirees.
3. There are a lot of petty, jealous, bitter people on here that seem to begrudge people that have chosen to work in a career that offers a pension plan. How about making your own situation better rather than trying to drag everyone down with you?
David Amos
@Fred Sanford Cry me a river
David Amos
@Fred Sanford Methinks that CBC is rather dumb to believe that you are whom you claim to be N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
@Fred Sanford And since the
change was made, how much have you lost ? Answer - whatever your groups
lawyers have filled their pockets with !
Gabriel Boucher
So let me get this straight.
This civil servant lawsuit is being represented by the law firm of
Stewart McKelvey, the same law firm that Mr. Gallant himself used to
represent before he became Premier? See where I'm going with this? This
is the part that needs to be investigated.
@Gabriel Boucher Methinks
that the Irvings, the liberals, NB Power the EUB, and everybody in the
know knows that the law firm of Stewart McKelvey and I are far from done
with our spit and chews N'esy Pas?
Chuck Michaels
Time to start naming some of
these political types as parties to the lawsuits and seek damages from
them. This whole concept of "crown immunity" is offensive.
David Amos
@Chuck Michaels Check my work
David Amos
@Chuck Michaels Methinks that
Leonard Lee-White, the local liberals and many other "political types"
throughout Canada would consider the affidavit of James Harnum an
interesting piece of work as well N'esy Pas?
Lou Bell
In the years the shared risk
plan has been in effect, no one has lost a red cent, except those who
were duped by lawyers , insinuating they were gonna lose their shirt !
The pension plan has done quite well , actually exceeding yearly
projections . For those fighting the change, your lawyers are gonna
stretch this out as long as they can ! Should be the ones being sued !!
David Amos
@Lou Bell Methinks you will
change your tune soon. and taxpayers will be relieved that we won't
have to "Top Up" the pension plans like we did in 2009. It cannot be
denied that stock markets have soared to astounding highs based on
speculation only as the Yankee's national debt roared into the
stratosphere. When Trump's Trade Wars make the worldwide economy take
the predicable nosedive the recession of 2008 will look like a
cakewalk in comparison. Lets just hope "The Donald" and his NATO pals do
not start another war as well N'esy Pas?
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Lou Bell Methinks that you
may know that in 2013 knew the actuaries who conned Higgs and his union
cohorts were profound liars. I put it writing and posted it in blogs
long before this issue became an matter of history and the lawsuits
began.
In a nutshell Mr Sinclair our highest paid employee has had a mountain of money to play with on the stock markets. The pension plans were NEVER in jeopardy even in 2008. When Victor Boudreau's budget in 2009 compelled the taxpayers top up the bureaucrat's pension plan to cover for Sinclair's losses. Many politicians should not deny that I let everybody know just how disgusted I was immediately byway of emails and posted my words within blogs as well N'esy Pas?
In a nutshell Mr Sinclair our highest paid employee has had a mountain of money to play with on the stock markets. The pension plans were NEVER in jeopardy even in 2008. When Victor Boudreau's budget in 2009 compelled the taxpayers top up the bureaucrat's pension plan to cover for Sinclair's losses. Many politicians should not deny that I let everybody know just how disgusted I was immediately byway of emails and posted my words within blogs as well N'esy Pas?
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Lou Bell Methinks that even
you would be curious as to what was in my last reply to you that was
blocked just before the comment section closed N'esy Pas?
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