Hampton demands pension fairness

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton (NDP) is demanding pension fairness for AbitibiBowater workers and retirees.
On Monday during Question Period at Queen’s Park, Hampton asked about the McGuinty government’s recent decision to bail out Nortel’s pension plan.

“Just as a byelection was called in an Ottawa riding where thousands of ex-Nortel workers live, the McGuinty Liberals suddenly found $200 million to put into the underfunded Nortel pension plan,” Hampton noted.
“Will the McGuinty government show the same concern for the 5,000 retirees and 2,500 active workers of AbitibiBowater who learned last summer that the AbitibiBowater pension plan is underfunded by some 25 percent?” he asked.
Responding on behalf of the government, Education minister Leona Dombrowsky expressed little concern over the state of the AbitibiBowater pension plan.
“What the thousands of workers in Thunder Bay, Kenora, Fort Frances, Iroquois Falls, and Thorold heard is the government has $200 million for the underfunded Nortel pension plan,” said Hampton.
“Many of these workers have worked for AbitibiBowater for 30 or 40 years, and have contributed to their pension plan. They were told that their pension plan is a sacred trust beyond financial or political manipulation.
“So their question is this: Will the McGuinty Liberals, who suddenly found $200 million for the Nortel pension plan, show the same concern for these workers at AbitibiBowater?” Hampton added.