Protection for Seniors Called For

The federal New Democrats say the Harper government has to do a better job helping seniors.

NDP leader Jack Layton was in northwestern Ontario recently to talk with local seniors, and says there are many things the government can do to help them.

"We have been holding meeting with seniors across the country for the past several months," says Layton. "That's why we moved a motion in the House of Commons in June saying that the Canada Pension Plan and the support for seniors needed to be increased and done now; that there has been protection for pensioners where the company goes bankrupt where they should go at the front of the line and not back; and that the whole system of retirement security has to be upgrade for our seniors."

Layton is also pushing the federal government for an overhaul of the Employment Insurance system to make it easier for workers to collect benefits.