Seniors and Pensions

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, tax cuts do not help seniors in poverty. Those seniors are not paying taxes. Canadian workers and failing or bankrupt companies like Nortel and many others need action to protect their pensions. Just last year the underfunded pension plan for CHTV employees in Hamilton wound up with an $8 million shortfall. This, while the executives at CanWest were given $41 million to top up their underfunded pension plan before entering CCAA protection.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, a year ago the House unanimously adopted an NDP motion calling for the government to allow Canadians to increase their CPP contributions. The government finally appears to have gotten the message, but what is missing from its plans is any effort to lift seniors out of poverty by increasing the guaranteed income supplement. The finance minister does not need the provinces to do that.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 20, 2010

ATTACK ON PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS NOT HELPFUL, SAY NEW DEMOCRATS
CFIB should re-think public pension comments

OTTAWA – The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is wrong to label public service pensions as “generous,” say New Democrat Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer and Labour Critic Chris Charlton.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, The very first Bill I introduced after being elected to the House of Commons in 2006 was a bill that would give wages and pensions super-priority in cases of commercial bankruptcy. Since that time, the government has adopted much of what was in my bill with respect to securing workers’ wages, and I am delighted that happened. But sadly, the government has not yet acted in any way to protect pensions in a similar way.

Veterans bill doesn’t solve real problem: Charlton
Gord Bowes, News Staff

A private member’s bill before the House may address a problem with war medals being sold and leaving the country, but it doesn’t solve a more serious problem, says MP Chris Charlton. Veterans shouldn't have to sell their medals and decorations in order to support themselves, said the federal representative for Hamilton Mountain. The men and women who fought for Canada are not getting the respect they deserve from their country.

Op-ed by Chris Charlton originally appeared in the Hamilton Mountain News

By CHRIS CHARLTON

Nov 13, 2009

Large Medium Small Print This Article Tell a friend Whenever my schedule permits, I knock on doors on the Mountain to ask which issues residents would like me to raise on their behalf in the House of Commons. For the last year, no issue has come up as often as the security of workplace pensions and the fear of not having enough money to survive retirement.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, CPP Investment Board members lost a staggering $24 billion, wiping out four years of CPP contributions. They will get millions in bonuses, while retirees will get on average a mere $500 a month. This is an unethical abuse of power.

What is the response from the government? A letter from the minister, asking them to respect a vague set of G20 rules. That simply is not good enough.

Will the minister finally find the courage to do the right thing and demand that the executives pay back these outrageous bonuses?

Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be participating in this evening’s debate on motion M-300 which calls on the government to enhance access to, and the level of, GIS benefits for Canada’s poorest seniors.

Let me say at the outset that I fully support this motion.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, in its budget bill, the government launched an attack on pay equity, environmental assessments and the collective bargaining rights of public sector workers, including wage rollbacks to the RCMP and the Canadian Forces.

It now appears that workers at General Motors are next in the line of attack. GM is describing its pension liabilities as crippling but the Minister of Industry is refusing to protect workers and the pensions they have worked so hard to build.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have a second opportunity to respond to the budgetary policies of the Conservative government.