News

Nortel pensioners and former employees calling for change on bankruptcy law to move employee claims ahead of other creditors.

Last week I attended an event organized by Nortel pensioners and disabled employees marking the 1-year anniversary of Nortel going into brankruptcy protection.

The following link has video coverage of the event: Nortel Pensioners event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 26, 2010

New Democrats demand urgent action

OTTAWA – The Prime Minister must end prorogation and bring Parliament back so that immediate action can be taken to save the pensions of workers whose former employers are currently in bankruptcy or restructuring proceedings, says New Democrat Pensions Critic Wayne Marston.

Event Date:
01/23/2010
Event Time:
1:00 - 4:00pm
Event Location:
Gore Park, Hamilton, ON

Event Description:
What: Rally for Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament
When: January 23rd, 1:00 pm
Where: Gore Park (also happening in other cities across the country)
Why: Because we pay our MPs to do their jobs. Join thousands across Canada. Tell your MP to Get Back to Work

Additional Location Details.

Speaker : Mr. Marston
Take : 1
Time : 03/12/2009 10:00:52
Context : Introduction of Private Members' Bills
Bill C-487. Introduction and first reading
Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-487, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and another Act in consequence (health-related benefit plans).
He said: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Winnipeg North for her dedication to people with disabilities and for her support here today.

NDP to call for bankruptcy pension protection

Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 12:53 PM ET Comments34Recommend11CBC News

The NDP said Tuesday it will introduce new legislation to protect employees' pensions when companies go bankrupt in an effort to prevent a situation like that currently facing Nortel retirees.

OTTAWA – The recession has exposed serious flaws in Canada’s retirement savings system and has placed at risk the pension plans that many Canadians have paid into during their entire careers, New Democrat leader Jack Layton said today.

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, Canadians know that our major pension plans in this country are facing an unprecedented crisis.

In its most recent study on the issue, the Conference Board of Canada stated that the number of seniors living in poverty has doubled since 1995. The minister must publicly acknowledge this crisis in order to begin the search for solutions.

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, I visited 19 communities this summer and seniors from B.C. to Nova Scotia told me of receiving meagre increases to their government pensions of 30¢ to 40¢ per month.

Seniors receiving OAS and GIS are losing money because the CPI does not reflect provincial differences in the cost of living. Programs indexed to the national average of CPI are not adequate and seniors across Canada are suffering.

http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1650507

Posted By RYLEE IRWIN, SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Posted 4 hours ago

Local seniors will have the opportunity to voice their opinions in a public forum with participation from federal NDP critic for seniors and pensions, MP Wayne Marston and Sault MP Tony Martin.

Issues such as inadequate income support, substandard health care, disappearing pensions and New Horizon programs will be discussed throughout the day on Monday.

The full public forum will be held at 10:30 a. m. at the Senior's Drop In Centre on Bay St.

Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP)
moved:

[Motion]
That, in the opinion of the House, in light of the legitimate concerns of Canadians that pensions and their retirement security may not be there for them in their retirement years, the Government of Canada should begin to work with the provinces and territories to ensure the sustainability of Canadians’ retirement incomes by bringing forward at the earliest opportunity, measures such as: