PSAC is organizing rallies across the country calling on the federal government to resolve issues with Canada Life Insurance for federal public service workers, retirees and their families. 

Members will be protesting outside the offices of Members of Parliament, Canada Life offices and federal buildings to demand action from the government as they continue to mismanage providing critical benefits to workers who’ve already suffered eight years of Phoenix pay issues.  

Since the transition from Sun Life on July 1, 2023, Canada Life has not been able to keep up with the influx of more than 1.7 million new members, retirees, and dependents that they now administer to.  

“This government clearly hasn’t learned the lessons from the Phoenix pay disaster,” said PSAC national president Chris Aylward. “It is unacceptable that they have mismanaged such a vital service for workers who continue to be burned by Phoenix.”  

Tens of thousands of federal service public workers and their dependents continue to experience serious problems with their healthcare coverage over four months after the transition to Canada Life. Many are unable to reach customer service agents for help, face long delays for their claims to be processed, and see their eligible claims get denied. 

At the same time, Phoenix issues continue to haunt federal workers, with more than 242,000 pay issues still in the backlog. 

“I have heard horror stories from many of our members who have nowhere else to turn,” said Aylward. “People with cancer who are fighting to get their life-saving medication covered when they never had any issues before. Workers who are going into debt because they’re paying out of pocket as they wait months for Canada Life to approve their claims.   

“This government needs to hold Canada Life accountable to quickly hire and train staff to reduce wait times and work through the backlog of claims. Workers can’t afford another fiasco.” 

Actions will be taking place at the following locations:  

• Whitehorse, November 17, 2023 – Elijah Smith government building 

• Kingston, November 27, 2023 – Mark Gerretsen MP office 

• Toronto, November 29, 2023 – Canada Life office

• Yellowknife, November 29, 2023 – Greenstone Government building 

• London, November 29, 2023 – Canada Life office (255 Dufferin ave.)

• Calgary, December 5, 2023 – George Chahal MP office

• Edmonton, December 5, 2023 – Randy Boissonnault MP office 

• Winnipeg, December 5, 2023 – Dan Vandal MP office 

• National Capital Region, December 13, 2023 – Jenna Sudds MP office 

• Halifax,  direct lobby action 

• Fredericton, direct lobby action 

• Stephenville, direct lobby action 

• Charlottetown, direct lobby action 

• Montreal, direct lobby action 

• Québec City, direct lobby action 

• Vancouver, direct lobby action 

To get involved in actions in your region, contact your PSAC regional office.