NUPGE seeks pension changes for public safety occupations

Probation and parole officers, sheriffs, highway safety officers and conservation officers should be given the same pension accrual rate as police, correctional officers and paramedics

Ottawa (18 Jan. 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is lobbying the federal government to extend the same pension eligibility to probation and parole officers, sheriffs, highway safety officers and conservation officers that now apply to police officers, correctional officers and paramedics.

NUPGE president James Clancy made the request in a letter this month to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in advance of the upcoming federal budget.

"The previous government took a positive step forward in the 2005 budget when it expanded the list of public safety occupations to include paramedics as well as increased the maximum pension accrual rate to 2.33%," Clancy says.

"Sadly, they did not also recognize those women and men who work under similar conditions in law enforcement, such as probation and parole officers, sheriffs, highway safety officers and conservation officers," he notes.

"The importance of this issue is considerable. By allowing a maximum pension accrual rate the federal government will be recognizing the work that these people do, the inherent risks of these occupations and the long-term health toll that serving our country in this way entails."

Flaherty is holding pre-budget consultations and inviting input from Canadians as he prepares to bring down a new budget in the coming weeks. Below is the full text of Clancy's letter to the minister.

Honourable James M. Flaherty, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
House of Commons
Parliament Hill
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Flaherty:

I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of considerable importance to thousands of Canadian women and men who work in Canada’s criminal justice system. Specifically, I am urging you to extend the provisions in the Income Tax Regulations covering the pension accrual rate for public safety officers to include others who work in the sector, and face many of the same risks, but who are not considered police or correctional officers. This important matter can be addressed in the upcoming federal budget.

Across this country there are thousands of people working to ensure that our communities are safe and secure. Probation and parole officers, sheriffs, highway safety officers and conservation officers spend their days enforcing the laws of this country. Many have work responsibilities that are directly comparable to our nation’s police or correctional officers. They deal with offenders and criminal justice issues as a condition of their employment. Unfortunately, many of them are not considered public safety officers by the Income Tax Act.

The previous government took a positive step forward in the 2005 budget when it expanded the list of public safety occupations to include paramedics as well as increased the maximum pension accrual rate to 2.33%. Sadly, they did not also recognize those women and men who work under similar conditions in law enforcement, such as Probation and Parole Officers, Sheriffs, Highway Safety Officers and Conservation Officers.

The importance of this issue is considerable. By allowing a maximum pension accrual rate the federal government will be recognizing the work that these people do, the inherent risks of these occupations and the long-term health toll that serving our country in this way entails. Workplace stress and hazards with these occupations have all too often meant that these workers are unable to enjoy a full and long retirement.

Your government has gone on record as supporting the many women and men in this country who work in law enforcement. By extending the definition of public safety occupations in the Income Tax Regulations to include these workers you will be further recognizing their contributions and helping them take another step towards retiring at an age that will allow them to enjoy a well earned period of rest.

Should you or your department have any further questions regarding this matter please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours,
(original signed by)
James Clancy
National President

c.c. Larry Brown, National Secretary-Treasurer, NUPGE
National Executive Board, NUPGE
NUPGE Working Group of Probation and Parole Officers
Hon. Jack Layton, MP, Leader of the New Democratic Party
Gilles Duceppe, MP, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Hon. Stéphane Dion, MP, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada