Alberta Teachers want full debate on pension bill
Posted Jun 23, 2020 9:02 am.
Last Updated Jun 23, 2020 9:03 am.
EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – The Alberta Teachers Association (ATA) wants a debate in the legislature regarding the future of the teacher’s pension plan.
On Tuesday morning, the standing committee on private bills and private members’ public bills will meet to make a recommendation on Bill 203, the Pension Protection Act, which would either kill the bill or see it debated on the floor of the legislature.
The ATA is hoping the committee will make changes to Bill 22 which was passed last year.
The bill gave the government more control over public sector pensions.
“The unilateral change of investment managers was heavy-handed and undemocratic,” said ATA President Jason Schilling.
“Teachers were never consulted and the enacting legislation was rushed through the legislature, despite overwhelming opposition from plan members and concerns expressed by external pension experts. ”
Around 50,000 e-mails were sent by teachers, retired teachers and those in the Opposition NDP but the bill was pushed through the legislature passing three stages of debate in just over a day and a half.
Schilling has sent a letter to the MLA chairs of the committee urging them to give Bill 203 a full debate in the legislature.
