Interested People Invited to Discuss Pensions

A panel appointed by the province is seeking public input about registered pension plans.

The panel, appointed in February, released a discussion paper today, May 27. The panel is inviting comments and suggestions from employees, employers and pension professionals about ways to improve the regulation of pensions under the Pension Benefits Act.

"This public consultation will help us make recommendations for changes to the legislation that will make pension plans work better for both employers and employees," said Bill Black, chair of the pension review committee and former president and CEO of Maritime Life.

Forty-one per cent of employed, paid workers in the province contribute to registered pension plans. Plans subject to the act include private employers' plans, universities, municipalities, multi-employer pension plans, hospitals and nursing homes, and non-teaching school board staff.

Mr. Black is serving on the review panel with Ronald Pink, founding partner of Halifax law firm Pink Breen Larkin, and Dick Crawford, also a former president of Maritime Life as well as past-president of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

The deadline for comments on the paper is July 4. The discussion paper can be viewed online at www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/pensionreview or by calling 1-800-567-7544.