Federal Liberals would support pension reform efforts: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne

Wynne believes a Liberal win in next year’s election would mean good things for her made-in-Ontario pension plan

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is putting her money on Liberal support for her pension reform idea should they take the election next year.

While the federal Liberals are still working on their platform, Wynne says their team has been talking to her team.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, meanwhile, has been critical of the Ontario premier’s plan, saying people prefer tax breaks for saving for retirement and would not want to have taxes hiked to force retirement savings.

Wynne is critical of the Conservative government’s approach, however, saying Ottawa is “punting on its obligations to help Canadians prepare for retirement.”

She says premiers and leaders of different political stripes across the country agree where is a retirement security problem and the federal government is not addressing it.

Wynne began developing the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan when it "became clear" the province couldn't wait any longer for leadership from Ottawa on pension reform.

The Conservative government has argued increased contributions from workers and employers would be harmful at this point in the economic recovery, but Wynne sees the Ontario plan as being too gradual a change to have any impact.

The plan would require contributions from employees and companies starting in 2017.

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