Posted on 25 November 2010
(Ottawa) Today, Senator Art Eggleton and Liberal Critic for seniors and pensions, the Honourable Judy Sgro, expressed extreme disappointment that Conservative Senators on the Senate Banking Committee voted down Bill S-216.
“It is deplorable that Conservative Senators voted down this important legislation,” said Senator Art Eggleton. “Nortel disabled employees are fighting for their lives and the Conservatives are not there to protect them. We will continue the fight to make sure these people get what was owed to them by appealing to Senators to revive this bill at the report stage in the Senate”
Bill S-216 which would have amended the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act to protect employees on long-term disability by granting them preferred status during bankruptcy proceedings was voted down 6 to 5 by Conservative Senators in the Banking Committee. By bringing LTD claimants to preferred status, employees would have been more likely to get their benefit coverage up to age 65, be able to pay their medical bills and continue to live outside of poverty.
“By voting down this bill the conservatives have turned their backs on some of our most vulnerable members of society,” said Judy Sgro. “Nortel disabled employees needed this bill to survive, and to provide for their families. We will continue to fight.”
Peter Burns, a Nortel employee on LTD said before the committee, “Please help us, or pray for those who will die without it.”
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For more information, please call:
Office of the Hon. Art Eggleton
Senate of Canada
613-943-3639
Office of the Hon. Judy Sgro
Liberal Critic for Seniors and Pensions
613-992-7774