The City of Weyburn Pension Plan is being transferred to the Municipal Employees Pension plan after the vote was passed during Monday's council meeting.

During the discussion, Youth Council Representative Louise Pasqua explained how the change impacts the lives of young people were parents of youth work for the city but also with future generations when they become city employees. She said the employees of the future need to know there is going to be a stable plan in place.

"The previous council, as well as this council, have been working a number of years to ensure that the city's liability with respect to carrying a pension to see whether or not it could be transported. The discussions have occurred and we asked for the ability to make a transfer to the municipal employment system, which is a much larger system involving a number of municipalities across the province, as a means of reducing our risk, not only in terms of our pensioners and potential pensioners down the road but also in terms of taxpayer costs," explained Roy Hardy, Weyburn's City Manager.

Hardy added that this has been in the works for six years and is an opportunity for the city to make sure the funds are wisely invested and sustainable over a longer term.

There will be an initial cost to the City to make the transfer but will save money in the long run.

Councillor Mel van Betuw explained that the city has had to pay increasing amounts in recent years to keep the plan going. Councillor Winston Bailey also welcomed the transfer but is cautious about a risk of an "open chequebook" in case there are further costs down the road.

The vote passed unanimously.