QUEEN’S PARK – On Tuesday Hamilton East—Stoney Creek MPP and NDP Pension critic Paul Miller announced he'll join NDP MP Scott Duvall’s End Pension Theft Tour when it stops in Toronto on Wednesday, April 11.
The tour will continue in Ontario in the coming weeks making stops in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Hamilton, along with other locations.
“I am happy to be joining Scott Duvall tomorrow evening starting at 7 p.m. at the United Steel Workers Hall here in Toronto. If you’re watching from your TV screens or in the legislature, consider this a formal invitation to come out to talk about much needed pension change,” said Miller.
Duvall has been travelling across the country discussing pension issues and talking about his Private Member’s Bill C-384, which would change bankruptcy laws to protect workers, pensioners, at the federal level.
“Throughout this great tour, the message he has shared has been loud and clear,” Miller said. “We need pension reform in this country. This includes changes to our country’s lop-sided CCAA and Bankruptcy and Insolvency legislation. Too many hard-working pensioners have been ripped off and we’re not going to stand for it anymore.”
Miller also highlighted the importance of coverage improvements to the provincially regulated Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund (PBGF). The PBGF serves as a back-up relief fund for single-member defined benefit pension plans.
“I have spoken out many times for the need for better pension security for Ontarians. This certainly includes Sears pensioners and Stelco pensions whose plans are both based in Ontario. We want to see meaningful commitments made by the province. This should include a strengthened PBGF fund.” Miller said.
“Right now the PBGF only covers pensioners up to $1500 a month, meaning that many could live below the poverty line. That is why I have always advocated a PBGF coverage of at least $2,500. This type of upgrade is long overdue.”