The January 6 announcement by Prime Minister Trudeau regarding the prorogation of Parliament is an unsurprising yet disappointing bump in the road toward seeing the government fulfill its commitment to introduce equitable retirement for our members.
While this decision means that new legislation cannot be introduced until Parliament is recalled on March 24, 2025, the Customs and Immigration Union continues to explore all avenues to see 25-and-out retirement made a reality for our members in opportune time, in line with the federal government’s previous commitment.
CIU has worked diligently over the years to advance our members’ work conditions and see them treated like other public safety workers. We were pleased to see federal leadership finally take note in 2024. In many ways, the announcement in June 2024 by Treasury Board regarding the expansion of early retirement was a monumental leap in and of itself. Indeed, we have never been closer to achieving this important step.
Last December, as part of its Fall Economic Statement, the federal government reiterated its intention to follow through on providing early retirement benefits to frontline federal workers. Unfortunately, the decision to prorogue makes it so that the current Liberal leadership is unlikely to be able to fulfill this commitment.
Let’s be clear: While prorogation further delays the implementation of fair, equitable retirement provisions for our members, it is likely that the government would have been able to enact the required legislative changes were it not for the misguided attempts at bringing parliamentary business to a grinding halt by the official opposition, in the hope of triggering an election. Holding a government to account is a worthwhile endeavour; preventing meaningful legislative debate isn’t.
Given this, once Parliament reconvenes, it would be sensible for this chapter to conclude with the post-prorogation Liberal leadership having the chance to make good on their commitment and pass the legislation necessary for equitable pension reform, with the support of all parties. However, should future political turbulence make this impossible, we are hopeful that this initiative will enjoy broad support from federal representatives of all stripes, and we will engage with decision-makers accordingly.
Our union has been through multiple fights and achieved much in the past quarter century, from securing arming provisions to negotiating class-leading collective agreements. These victories did not happen overnight, and the push for equitable retirement benefits is no different. If our past is any indication, this, too, will be achieved.
