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BC University Professors Applaud the End of Mandatory Retirement - April 25, 2007

Written by Robert Clift Wednesday, 25 April 2007 BC University Professors Applaud the End of Mandatory Retirement

CUFA/BC News Release April 25, 2007

VANCOUVER - The organization representing BC's public university professors today applauded the introduction of new legislation that will end mandatory retirement in British Columbia by January 1, 2008.

"Today is a great day for older British Columbians. A day our organization has been working towards for the past year," said Robert Clift, Executive Director of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA/BC). "As of January 1st next year, it will become illegal in British Columbia to force someone to retire because of their age."

Bill 31, the Mandatory Retirement Elimination Act , makes changes to the Human Rights Code to eliminate provisions that allowed forced retirement at age 65. The bill also allows for the continuation of benefit plans past age 65, but permits those plans to offer different levels of coverage for older workers.

"Unlike Ontario, which allows employers to cut off benefits to workers over age 65," Clift said, "the BC legislation continues benefit coverage, but allows for age-based differences in how the benefits will work. This is a fair and sensible approach."

The professors group thanked the Premier, the Attorney General and the Minister Responsible for Seniors for their leadership in ending mandatory retirement.

"It took a lot of work to get today's announcement, and we wouldn't have gotten to this point without the leadership of Premier , Attorney General Wally Oppal, and Minister Responsible for Seniors ," Clift said. "We offer them our thanks for a job well done."

Despite the fact that the Bill 31 will not come into force until January 1st, 2008, CUFA/BC reminded employers that they can end mandatory retirement at any time before that date.

"Although mandatory retirement will not become illegal until January 1st, there's nothing stopping employers from ending mandatory retirement before then," Clift said. "In fact, those employers who end mandatory retirement early will have an easier time recruiting older workers with the experience and skills needed in this booming economy." Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 April 2007 )

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