THUNDER BAY – Today I join thousands of hardworking men and women across Northwestern Ontario in celebrating Labour Day.
Your hard work, and that of our parents and grandparents, has helped build a more equal and just society in Canada, and one that we should all be extremely proud of. However, this work has been carried out knowing that far more progress is needed, especially at this critical moment. You should know, as always, that Canada’s New Democrats and I stand with you in working toward a better future.
Many of you have been voicing your concerns for a number of years about the perilous state of pension security in Canada. When times were good, the shortcomings of our labour, bankruptcy and insolvency laws went largely unnoticed, but then something happened. Things got bad. Large and small employers across Canada start losing money, undertaking restructuring, or entering bankruptcy. Pension security went from a theoretical concern for many families to a massive societal problem that threatens the economic well-being of hundreds of thousands of Canadians.
I want to thank you today for leading the charge for improved conditions for working families, and in particular for leading the way in the battle for better pension security in Canada. You shared your experiences, and made your collective voice heard. C-501 was tabled as a result of your determination to correct the injustice that puts banks and big institutional lenders ahead of working families and pensioners when a company enters restructuring, bankruptcy, or liquidation proceedings. Together, we can correct this injustice and secure hundreds of thousands of pensions across Canada.
In closing, I thank you again for your hard work, determination, and the significant contribution that you have made to our great society. This is your day, a great day, and I hope you enjoy it.
John Rafferty, MP.
Thunder Bay – Rainy River