Trudeau to help on new Ontario pension plan
TORONTO — Justin Trudeau was greeted like a rock star as he arrived at the Ontario legislature Tuesday for a meeting with Premier Kathleen Wynne, and rewarded her campaign efforts on his behalf with a promise of federal help for a provincial pension plan.
Wynne, one of Trudeau’s most ardent supporters during the federal campaign, gave the prime minister-designate a big hug as he stepped out of his car while virtually the entire Liberal cabinet and hundreds of Liberal staffers applauded and cheered.
Trudeau and Wynne met for a half hour in her office before both left to attend the funeral for former ambassador Ken Taylor..
After the meeting, Wynne’s office issued a statement saying she and Trudeau would be “active partners” in a national discussion on pension enhancement, including the Canada Pension Plan and the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan.
“Once it takes office, the incoming federal government will direct the Canada Revenue Agency and the Departments of Finance and National Revenue to work with Ontario officials on the registration and administration of the ORPP,” they said. “The ORPP is being designed to integrate with any future CPP enhancement.”
That’s a major reversal of the position taken by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who said he “delighted” in refusing all federal co-operation with the ORPP, something he described as a job-killing payroll tax. It also means Ontario will get the same federal assistance on its pension as Ottawa gives Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Wynne has said Ontario will plan to start payroll deductions for the ORPP on Jan. 1, 2017, unless there is an agreement to enhance the CPP. She added that the only reason the provincial pension was conceived in the first place was due to Harper’s flat refusal to look at increasing deductions and benefits under the CPP.
Neither Wynne nor Trudeau held a media availability after their meeting, ducking most questions during their photo op.
“Cabinet will be sworn in next week and there will be lots to say in the following days,” Trudeau said.