New Brunswick has tabled amendments to the province’s Financial Administration Act in an effort to prohibit special pensions or payments to staff as part of leadership changes.
“Your government is taking action to fix the problem of outgoing governments of the past awarding special pensions or payments to staff after an election,” said New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant, in a press release. “Prohibiting these special pensions or payments is the right thing to do.”
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The release noted legislation already exists in the province to ensure the terms and conditions of various pension plans are respected, but the government is aiming to avoid the receipt of a “special” pension as part of a platform commitment. If passed, the amendments would ensure that, during a change in leadership, the government wouldn’t be able to provide a payment greater than the individual is entitled to under the legislated pension plans and the terms and conditions of employment.
“We are making historic changes through legislation to ensure this does not happen again,” said Roger Melanson, president of the New Brunswick Treasury Board, in a release. “We pride ourselves in creating a culture of equality, fairness and transparency.”
The amendments would be applicable to all public service employees, save for those subject to other collective agreements.
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