Open Letter 2
Open Letter 2
Open Letter 2
Immediate
Release
Ottawa,
ON
-
Prime
Minister
Stephen
Harper
released
the
following
open
letter
to
Canada's
public
service:
Since
coming
to
office,
our
Conservative
government
has
made
life
more
affordable
for
Canadian
families
and
protected
Canadas
fragile
economy
in
the
midst
of
the
most
severe
global
recession
in
a
generation.
We
have
worked
to
lower
taxes
on
individuals
and
job-creating
businesses,
increase
Canadas
economic
opportunities
around
the
world
through
new
trade
agreements,
and
protect
Canadians
here
at
home
and
from
threats
abroad.
We
have
accomplished
all
of
this
because
of
our
partnership
with,
and
the
hard
work,
dedication
and
integrity
of
you:
Canadas
public
servants.
Canadians
are
well-served
by
our
world-class
public
service,
and
I
have
seen
this
first-hand
as
Prime
Minister.
During
our
time
in
Government,
we
have
worked
with
you
to
ensure
your
efforts
are
focused
on
the
things
that
matter
most
to
Canadians,
and
to
create
a
healthier
workplace
where
good
work
is
recognized,
red
tape
is
removed,
and
benefits
meet
real
needs.
Unfortunately,
in
the
current
election
context,
misleading
statements
are
being
made
about
certain
issues
that
matter
to
you
and
your
families,
including
sick
leave
and
pension
entitlements.
I
want
to
give
you
the
facts
to
correct
this
misinformation.
Sick
Leave
A
new
round
of
collective
bargaining
between
the
Government
of
Canada
and
federal
public
service
bargaining
agents
began
in
2014
to
renew
the
Governments
collective
agreements.
The
Governments
overarching
goal
in
these
negotiations
is
to
reach
agreements
that
are
fair
and
reasonable
for
both
employees
and
taxpayers.
The
Governments
priority
in
the
current
benefit
negotiations
is
to
ensure
public
servants
have
a
disability
and
sick
leave
program
that
is
modern,
comprehensive
and
actually
meets
your
needs.
The
current,
antiquated
sick
leave
system
is
failing
everyone.
Here
are
the
facts:
Over
60
per
cent
of
public
servants
do
not
have
enough
banked
sick
leave
to
cover
a
full
period
of
short-term
disability
(13
weeks).
25
per
cent
of
employees
have
fewer
than
10
days
of
banked
sick
leave.
Many
employees,
especially
new
and
younger
employees,
have
no
banked
sick
days
at
all.
In
contrast,
a
select
few
long-tenured
individuals,
including
many
executives,
have
far
more
banked
sick
days
than
they
will
ever
reasonably
need.
The
current
sick
leave
system
leaves
gaps.
The
Government
wants
to
fill
those
gaps
so
that,
if
you
get
sick,
you
have
seamless
support.
Canadians
are
best
served
by
a
healthy
and
productive
public
service.
You
want
a
healthy
workplace
and
peace
of
mind
knowing
that,
if
you
face
a
serious
illness,
you
will
have
the
support
you
need.
Our
Conservative
government
wants
the
same.
Some
of
you
have
accumulated
sick
days,
but
are
being
told
that
these
will
all
disappear
as
though
you
are
starting
your
career
in
the
public
service
all
over
again.
This
is
not
true
and
has
never
been
true.
These
days
will
be
assigned
an
extra
value
under
the
new
system,
and
will
be
available
to
those
who
need
them.
Discussions
are
ongoing
about
how
best
to
integrate
banked
sick
days
into
any
new
plan.
Pensions
Recently,
some
public
sector
union
executives
have
alleged
that
the
Government
wants
to
take
away
your
pension,
in
whole
or
in
part.
This
is
false.
In
2012,
we
moved
to
modernize
and
secure
the
public
service
pension
plan
by
ensuring
employees
and
taxpayers
both
pay
a
fair
share
towards
pension
contributions
for
public
servants.
Since
2012,
the
Government
has
not
proposed
any
other
changes
to
the
public
service
pension
plan
nor
are
any
contemplated.
We
will
not
be
moving
away
from
the
current
defined
benefit
plan
to
a
defined
contribution
plan,
target
benefit
plan,
or
any
other
shared-risk
model.
The
public
service
pension
plan
is
solid
and
fully-funded,
and
there
is
no
need
to
make
any
such
changes.
These
are
the
facts.
Our
Conservative
government
has
been
proud
of
the
good
work
done
by
Canadas
public
servants
as
we
navigated
the
global
economic
recession,
cut
taxes
on
families
and
job-creating
businesses,
and
balanced
the
budget.
Like
other
families
across
Canada,
we
know
our
public
servants
want
Canadas
economy
to
grow
and
thrive,
despite
the
continued
economic
turmoil
we
see
around
the
world.
We
have
protected
Canadas
fragile
economy,
and
our
positive
low-tax
plan
for
the
next
four
years
will
do
even
more,
with
your
help,
to
make
our
country
strong
and
prosperous.
Sincerely,
Rt.
Hon.
Stephen
J.
Harper
Prime
Minister
of
Canada
Leader,
Conservative
Party
of
Canada
-30-
For
media,
please
contact:
Conservative
Party
National
Campaign
(613)
755
-
2035