Response from NDP Leader Jack Layton to my email

I received the following email from Jack Layton (NDP) re Bill C-501

Tom


Thank you for your past email concerning pension protection in Canada.

Our legislation, Bill C-501, that will put workers at the front of the
line when a company goes bankrupt moved one step closer to becoming law
when it passed second reading on May 26. Regrettably, a majority of
Conservative MPs voted against Bill C-501 although only a year ago they
voted unanimously in support of a New Democrat motion calling for
pension funds to be at the front of the line. Looking forward, the
Conservatives' reversal on this issue may represent a significant
obstacle to ensuring pension fairness.

Bill C-501 is very similar to NDP MP Wayne Marston's own 'Nortel Bill'
(C-476). However, due to a parliamentary procedure that uses a "lottery
system" to determine the order for Private Members' legislation, Mr.
Rafferty's bill will be considered first by Parliament. Therefore, our
Party took this immediate step as we view pension protection to be a
national crisis that requires national leadership. There should be no
further delay or empty talk.

In addition, Mr. Marston has also tabled a bill known as the "Nortel
Long Term Disability Protection Act" to provide bankruptcy protection
for those receiving health benefits. For more information, please visit:
http://www.ndp.ca/press/new-democrats-table-nortel-long-term-disability-
protection-act.

You may be interested to know that we have dedicated a section of our
website to allow Canadians to share their concerns over retirement. For
more information this and our plan to protect pensions, please visit:
http://www.ndp.ca/retirement and
http://www.ndp.ca/retirement/add-your-support.

Again, I appreciate your interest in this important matter. Feel free to
share my reply to with your contacts. All the best.

Sincerely,


Jack Layton, PC, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats