Statement made on 01 October 2009 by Senator Jim Munson
Hon. Jim Munson:
Honourable senators, I have a question to the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
My question is about former Nortel workers. Both the Leader of the Government in the Senate and I recognize and understand some of the issues related to Nortel and the people who have been laid off. This area was once referred to as "Silicon Valley North," where research and development were an essential driver of our economy.
The 5,000 employees who were laid off last November have not received their severance pay, and more than 500 pensioners have already lost their drug, dental, supplementary health care and life insurance coverage. We have already witnessed the creditors, the bond holders, the suppliers and even the United States' Internal Revenue Service make their claims on what is left of Nortel assets. However, the real assets, as both the honourable senator and I know, are the people who made the company an international high-tech leader. They have been told they must wait in line for what I believe is rightfully theirs.
What is the government doing to help these people? I receive many representations each and every day from pensioners who gave so much to make Ottawa a leader and whose lives today are filled with uncertainty and financial hardship.
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