Tories Way Off Track on Pensions

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 30, 2012) - The Congress of Unions Retirees of Canada (CURC) says the Harper government's attack on Old Age Security (OAS) is like taking an axe to retirement security for our children and grandchildren.

CURC President Pat Kerwin says, "The budget does little to assist young people today through affordable education and jobs and will penalize them when they do retire."

He says instead of forcing Canadians to work longer before they can retire the more logical approach would have been to make improvements to the Canada and Quebec Pension Plans.

Kerwin accuses the Tories of blaming an aging population for a lot of the problems facing Canadians. The cost of health care, he says, is another example of that. He urges the government to bring in a national pharmacare program which would tackle the fastest growing element in health care costs over the past decade.

Kerwin says all Canadians should expect to be able to reap the benefits of living in resource rich prosperous country, regardless of age, now and into the future.

He says, "The Congress of Union Retirees of Canada will work with students and young workers to ensure that politicians understand our common concerns."

The Congress of Union Retirees of Canada represents over half a million retired union members. Website: http://unionretiree.ca