Status of Women committee  The FTQ takes exactly the same position; that is our leitmotiv. We have really spearheaded group plans and public plans. As Ms. Casara said earlier, we support the position taken by Mr. Denison, who pointed out how difficult it is for individuals to make profitable investments.

Status of Women committee  In fact, the Quebec Pension Plan is the plan in place in Quebec, whereas the CPP is the plan in place in the rest of Canada. I am no expert on contribution rates, nor do I have technical expertise in this area, because I work in educational resources. I think it is simply the plan that operates in Quebec.

Status of Women committee  As regards risk management, I fully agree with Nathalie Joncas. Everything depends on that, in fact. It is the cushion you build up through your pension plan that allows you to deal with the fluctuations that affect defined benefit plans. We need to rethink the structure of our defined benefit plans in order to be able to handle the kinds of crises that we have experienced.

Status of Women committee  That is one of the proposals the FTQ brought forward today. Based on our figures, the amount is $3,500. It has been raised from $500 to $3,500, but that is for employment income. That is all that is allowed. We think this should also include RRSPs. Canadians are being encouraged to save money and put it in an RRSP, but when they are already living close to the poverty line—we're talking about an income bracket of between $17,000 and $21,000—and want to withdraw that money, they are taxed on it at a rate of 80%.

Status of Women committee  In my opinion, one of the avenues that should be explored--

Status of Women committee  Well, the CLC's position--

Status of Women committee  We would just like to add--

Status of Women committee  Are you asking whether we were consulted with respect to CPP reforms?

Status of Women committee  No, we were not, but the Minister of Finance announced that a study on pension reform had been carried out during the year.

Status of Women committee  To my knowledge, we were not. I am with the Education Department--

Status of Women committee  With respect to young people, I would just like to say that public plans are completely transferable. Young people often worry about having to hold a number of jobs in their lifetime, and wonder how they will manage both the public and private plans. For young people, however, the public plans are quite attractive because they are plans that will follow them for the rest of their lives.

Status of Women committee  No.

Status of Women committee  That's a very good question. The FTQ is currently holding consultations with its affiliates with a view to developing a policy. The CLC currently has its own policy. There is a whole debate going on because of the fact that each of our affiliates has its own views on that issue.

Status of Women committee  The legislation is federal, so--

Status of Women committee  Yes, the FTQ has set up a new retirement plan called the Régime de retraite par financement salarial. Changes were made to the Quebec Pension Plan rules to allow such a plan to be introduced. As the representatives of the CSN were saying earlier, this is a multi-employer plan that meets the requirements of the smallest companies, while responding to the need to ensure that people have financial security in retirement.