CPP expansion: Stephen Harper accused of lacking credibility

Opposition leaders suggested Wednesday Canadians shouldn't believe Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he says he'll consider expanding the Canada Pension Plan, since he has been against the idea for years.

During question period Wednesday, both NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau pounced on the finance minister's announcement the day before — that the Conservatives would spend the summer consulting experts and stakeholders on "options" for allowing voluntary contributions to the CPP.

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Mulcair said the prime minister's record on pensions is clear, mockingly suggesting that Harper has now had a "deathbed conversion."

'Blocked every effort'

"He's blocked every effort by the provinces to increase CPP. He even rejected calls for real action," Mulcair said.

Instead, Harper should focus on changing the age of retirement back to 65 from 67, he said.

Trudeau focussed all his questions on the CPP issue. He said for 10 years Harper has stood in the way of pension reform, refused to collaborate with the provinces on the issue, and now suddenly, with the election months away, he has changed his mind.

In recent years, Harper has rejected the idea of a mandatory expansion of the CPP, saying it would kill jobs, hurt the economy and burden families with extra costs.

But Harper fended off suggestions he had flip-flopped, pointing out that his government always favoured voluntary savings options for Canadians.

"The government favours allowing a range of options for people so they can save," Harper said. "Not only can they save but they can actually reduce their taxes by saving. 

"What the Liberal party wants to do is it wants to force Canadians to save by taxing them, but taking their money away. Canadians do not accept that option and will not accept that option."

However, Trudeau went back at Harper again, saying that the Liberal party, experts and the provinces have all called for strengthening Canadians retirement security and the CPP.

'Why should Canadians believe him?'

"He repeatedly said he saw no desire for CPP expansion, he repeatedly said it did not need to be improved. He even said it would hurt the economy," Trudeau said. "So why should Canadians believe him now when he says that he pretends to care about our seniors?"

Harper shot back at Trudeau, dismissing his "so-called imaginary experts" and slamming Trudeau for not asking real Canadians what they want and don't want.

"I note today the Liberal leader says that unlike us he will show leadership on this," Harper said. "Yeah, he'll show leadership on raising taxes. We'll show leadership on cutting taxes."