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The Liberals unwound the savings that were to be booked over the next three years.

In fact, briefing documents prepared for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted that if a short-term disability plan wasn’t implemented this year “then the $900 million in savings will need to be unwound.”

Jean-Luc Ferland, a spokesperson for Treasury Board President Scott Brison, said in an email that it was “irresponsible and unfair” for the Conservatives to book savings before reaching a deal with unions. He said the government won’t speculate “on what savings may or may not result” from the current bargaining discussions.

The Liberals are clearly proceeding with some kind of sick leave reform or “modernization” particularly since the government seemed to pick up talks where the Conservatives left off. Any savings coming out these talks can only be booked when a deal is reached.

The Conservatives could confidently book the savings because it passed legislation giving it the power to impose whatever sick leave deal it wanted at any time. The Liberals have tabled a bill to reverse that. A deal on sick leave is nowhere in sight and certainly not in time to book savings for this year.

Some argue that reversing the $900 million saving removes a threat hanging over bargaining by diminishing the pressure to quickly reach a deal.

“Removing the savings may be further evidence that the Liberal government was serious when saying they wanted to bargain in good faith, but that’s looking at it as positively as I can, said Ron Cochrane, co-chair of the joint union and management National Joint Council. “The proof is in the pudding and that is what happens at the bargaining table. How this will translate into negotiations is still the question.”