SAINT JOHN, N.B.- A new shared risk pension plan could make things easier for city taxpayers and city council.

Susan Rowland has been involved in a number of pension plans over the years.

Rowland, who is the current chair of the provincial Pension Task Force, told city council last night about a new kind of plan called the Shared Risk Pension Plan. “Your contributions as an employer will be to make your contributions, collect and make the employees contributions into the plan and enrol new members”, says Rowland. “Other than that you have no responsibility for the plan at all…and the plan is off your books”.

Rowland says pension plans are in trouble everywhere and the city’s plan is not in ruins yet but its close.

Rowland believes the city’s pension plan can be saved under the new system.