Kurt and all of you. It is the total compensation package which is important. Public sector total compensation should be equal to private sector compensation for similar work. Federal Treasury Board says that is a principle they use now. There is NO reason for pensions to  be equal. The one with no pension usually has more salary.  

The problem is that there is so much misinformation about the public service pension plan that reasonable discussion simply is not possible. 

I have appeared before 4 Committees of Parliament concerned with pensions. I tried to make that 5 but appearance before the committee considering private pensions under the regulation of the federal government was by invitation only. I chuckled at the situation of two equally qualified people for the subjects at hand - my Mother in Winnipeg could appear before a Parliamentary Committee on boxing but I could not appear in Ottawa before a committee on pensions.