Statement made on 14 December 2010 by Senator Art Eggleton
Hon. Art Eggleton:
Honourable senators, my question is directed to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. I have a message from Jim Barber, a Nortel employee.
The letter states:
Both my wife and I have MS and neither of us are capable of working. The loss of benefits and wages would have a huge impact on our family. First our home is still mortgaged so we would have to sell our home. Secondly, the drugs that I take are around $2400 per month and my wife requires about $500 per month. I would have to stop taking the drugs against the advice of my neurologist and risk advancing my symptoms. We also provide partial support for one of our sons who has a medical condition that requires additional financial support.
If Mr. Barber lived in the United Kingdom, he would have some cause for relief because last week, a U.K. court ruled in favour of the U.K. Pensions Regulator to force Nortel in that country to prop up their underfunded U.K. pension and disability funds, making payments totalling $3.6 billion, which is far in excess of what people are looking for here.
Judge Michael Briggs said in his judgment:
Parliament has legislated to create financial obligations applicable to and payable by a company in an insolvency process.
This shows that governments can act to protect their workers when they are facing an unjust and dire situation.
I ask the Leader of the Government in the Senate: When will this government act to help the over 400 Nortel disabled who are being cut off at the end of this month?
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