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On Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne clarified exemption rules for the new Ontario provincial pension plan.

 Wynne says most companies with pension plans — either defined benefit or defined contribution — will be exempt from the new plan being introduced to help more than three-million people who do not have a workplace pension.

It will be phased in starting in 2017 with larger employers, but the Harper government is refusing to help in any way.  

 Wynne says the province might back off the plan if a new federal government is elected in October and decides to upgrade the Canada Pension Plan.  Still, North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce President Jake Lacourse says they are against the plan altogether but they realize there’s not much they can do about it.

Lacourse says he’s pleased the government is widening the definition of what a defined contribution really means for business and that they’ve lengthened the time of the pension taking effect for large businesses of more than 100 employees.

 Lacourse says any company with at least 100 employees will see its payroll taxes increase by $164,000 once it takes effect and its employees will lose that money also.

He adds the result will be companies reducing their workforce as a result.   Lacourse says the plan is another hit for the business sector already beset with higher electricity prices.  He says they want the government to conduct an economic business analysis of the pension plan and its impact.