The issue I have, in looking at the act, is that under “pensions” in paragraph 7.3, it says to “retain the surplus” to ensure that the plan is at a “prudent margin”. I'm just curious about paying this out. Instead of paying it out of general revenues, it seems to be kind of hidden. You need to maintain the surplus at a prudent value, but you're clearing $1.5 billion or $1.9 billion out of it for the early buyouts.
On the flip side, within the act, if there's a deficit, the deficit has to be made up by taxpayers. It also states that when it is in surplus, the government stops contributions, which means taxpayers stop contributions.
It looks to me like you are whittling down the surplus, and taxpayers are having to basically make it up. Taxpayers are on the hook for any shortage or deficit of the pension, and therefore any surplus, I would think, would go back into general revenues. It looks like you are playing fast and loose with the act in several ways.