workedover.ca

Today (October 16th/2009), the Toronto Star had an editorial titled “Pension Crisis? Not So Fast.” Interestingly enough, the article did not even stay up on the Star’s Opinion webpage for half a day. It must have received some serious comments from Seniors who Twittered, Facebooked, Skyped and e-mailed each other. In short, it was an article that tried to deflect the social realities facing seniors and how both the Federal and Provincial Governments are responsible for current crisis facing many Canadian citizens. My father and the ever growing pensioners movement (don’t mess with them…they mean business) responded quickly and appropriately. Here is my father’s letter to the editor. Just in case the Star does not print it…I’m making sure it gets out there!

A Response to David Olive’s article: Pension Crisis? Not so fast

David Olive’s article trivializes and masks the rightful claims of former Nortel employees and elicits a false sense of security among other private sector pensioners. This is not about Nortel, a failed company. This is not about the CPP being better than the poorly funded US system. This is not about the increase in housing prices. This is not about Canada scoring 73 on a scale of 100 in an international pension comparison. This is about 20, 000 people who through no fault of their own have been misled and let down by their employer, their governments and the regulators. This is about people who have been denied their severance entitlements. This is about people who can not turn back the clock and reenter the workforce to supplement their pension income. This is about people who will be pushed to the welfare rolls. This is about disabled people who potentially receive nothing. This is about human dignity and human rights.

Chuck McEwan
London, ON