The Hon. Judy Sgro, Liberal Seniors andPension Critic, has posted an online survey asking the Canadian public to provide input to help the Liberal party devise policy directives related to pension and retirement income systems.
http://survey.liberal.ca/s.aspx?sm=8pZJLFbbU_2b9_2fns7LnC_2fetw_3d_3d
There is even a question about protection of pension benefits after bankruptcy.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
NORTEL COMPLETES SALE OF CDMA BUSINESS AND LTE ACCESS ASSETS TO ERICSSON
• FOLLOWING SATISFACTION OF ALL CLOSING CONDITIONS, SALE IS EFFECTIVE END OF DAY NOVEMBER 13, 2009
• MORE THAN 2,500 NORTEL EMPLOYEES ARE JOINING ERICSSON
November 13, 2009
TORONTO – Nortel* Networks Corporation [OTC: NRTLQ] announced today that it, its principal operating subsidiary Nortel Networks Limited, and certain of its other subsidiaries including Nortel Networks Inc., have completed the sale of substantially all of Nortel’s CDMA Business and LTE Access assets to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) for a purchase price of US$1.13 billion. The sale was subject to court approvals in the U.S. and Canada as well as regulatory and other customary closing conditions. These conditions have now been satisfied and the sale was concluded effective today.
"Completion of this first large-scale divestiture is a major milestone in Nortel’s plan to preserve the value of its innovation and know-how while maximizing value through the sale of its businesses," said Pavi Binning, Chief Restructuring Officer, Nortel. "As we stated following July’s auction, the sale of our CDMA business and LTE Access assets to Ericsson represents a very positive prospect for our customers, our employees and for many of our other stakeholders. Our customers will benefit from having an experienced and financially strong partner supporting their CDMA and future LTE networks, while more than 2,500 skilled employees will now have new opportunities with a world-class technology company."
Under the terms of the sale, Nortel will provide transitional services to Ericsson, and Ericsson will provide products and services to Nortel in support of those CDMA customers remaining with Nortel.
• MORE THAN 2,500 NORTEL EMPLOYEES ARE JOINING ERICSSON
November 13, 2009
TORONTO – Nortel* Networks Corporation [OTC: NRTLQ] announced today that it, its principal operating subsidiary Nortel Networks Limited, and certain of its other subsidiaries including Nortel Networks Inc., have completed the sale of substantially all of Nortel’s CDMA Business and LTE Access assets to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Ericsson) for a purchase price of US$1.13 billion. The sale was subject to court approvals in the U.S. and Canada as well as regulatory and other customary closing conditions. These conditions have now been satisfied and the sale was concluded effective today.
"Completion of this first large-scale divestiture is a major milestone in Nortel’s plan to preserve the value of its innovation and know-how while maximizing value through the sale of its businesses," said Pavi Binning, Chief Restructuring Officer, Nortel. "As we stated following July’s auction, the sale of our CDMA business and LTE Access assets to Ericsson represents a very positive prospect for our customers, our employees and for many of our other stakeholders. Our customers will benefit from having an experienced and financially strong partner supporting their CDMA and future LTE networks, while more than 2,500 skilled employees will now have new opportunities with a world-class technology company."
Under the terms of the sale, Nortel will provide transitional services to Ericsson, and Ericsson will provide products and services to Nortel in support of those CDMA customers remaining with Nortel.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Canadian Bill to adjust the BIA to help pensioners.
All the efforts by the Canadian retirees is beginning to have an effect. Mr. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-476 to the Canadian Parliament. This is an Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other Acts (unfunded pension plan liabilities).
The following is a transcript of what he said:
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to table my latest bill in an ongoing effort to protect the pension plans of hard-working Canadians. The official name of my bill is an Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other acts. In 1927, it was J.S. Woodsworth, the leader of the CCF, who introduced Canada's first pension legislation, the old age security pension, as a way to address seniors' poverty. It was adopted by the minority Liberal government of the day. In the mid-1960s, again it was the NDP member, Stanley Knowles, who forced the minority Liberal government of Lester Pearson to adopt CPP, again to further address seniors' poverty.
Clearly it has been and remains the NDP that has shown the way on pension reform in Canada, and we continue that work with the tabling of this significant bill. I refer to my bill as the Nortel bill, because it would address in a real way the very serious situation these workers find themselves in as Nortel goes through the CCAA process. The Nortel bill amends the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, among others, to ensure companies make good on their unfunded pension liabilities. The Nortel bill classifies these unfunded pension liabilities as preferred creditors and places them on the same tier as other secure debt to bondholders, investors and other such creditors. It is designed to prevent speculators from buying up assets on the cheap while leaving pension funds gutted and workers without the benefits they have earned.
In addition, the Nortel bill, through new procedures, helps former employees of bankrupt corporations to claim moneys owed. The bill also ensures that payouts resulting from bankruptcy will not be deducted from employment insurance benefits. Finally, unlike the situation with current pension protections, there is no cap on the amount of benefits protected. It would not be retroactive, meaning that for Nortel to benefit, a judge would need to order that the liquidation be conducted under the BIA.
Having consulted for many months with seniors' pension experts, I know the bill would give security and peace of mind to millions of Canadians.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4199760&Language=e&Mode=1
The following is a transcript of what he said:
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to table my latest bill in an ongoing effort to protect the pension plans of hard-working Canadians. The official name of my bill is an Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other acts. In 1927, it was J.S. Woodsworth, the leader of the CCF, who introduced Canada's first pension legislation, the old age security pension, as a way to address seniors' poverty. It was adopted by the minority Liberal government of the day. In the mid-1960s, again it was the NDP member, Stanley Knowles, who forced the minority Liberal government of Lester Pearson to adopt CPP, again to further address seniors' poverty.
Clearly it has been and remains the NDP that has shown the way on pension reform in Canada, and we continue that work with the tabling of this significant bill. I refer to my bill as the Nortel bill, because it would address in a real way the very serious situation these workers find themselves in as Nortel goes through the CCAA process. The Nortel bill amends the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, among others, to ensure companies make good on their unfunded pension liabilities. The Nortel bill classifies these unfunded pension liabilities as preferred creditors and places them on the same tier as other secure debt to bondholders, investors and other such creditors. It is designed to prevent speculators from buying up assets on the cheap while leaving pension funds gutted and workers without the benefits they have earned.
In addition, the Nortel bill, through new procedures, helps former employees of bankrupt corporations to claim moneys owed. The bill also ensures that payouts resulting from bankruptcy will not be deducted from employment insurance benefits. Finally, unlike the situation with current pension protections, there is no cap on the amount of benefits protected. It would not be retroactive, meaning that for Nortel to benefit, a judge would need to order that the liquidation be conducted under the BIA.
Having consulted for many months with seniors' pension experts, I know the bill would give security and peace of mind to millions of Canadians.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4199760&Language=e&Mode=1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)