Calls for Meeting Renewed

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty renewed calls in the House of Commons for a meeting between the finance minister and AbitibiBowater and the Communication Energy and Paperworkers Union to discuss their plans to secure workers pensions.

Rafferty says since his first request two weeks ago, there's been no such meeting.

"Mr. Speaker, on November 20, I rose in this House and asked the Ministry of Finance if he was willing to meet with representatives of AbitibiBowater and CEP to hear their requests for changes in federal regulations to secure the pensions of more than 25,000 Canadian forestry workers," said Rafferty. "The minister agreed to such a meeting, but only after they met with his provincial counterparts first. Those provincial meetings have now happened, so I ask today, has the minister finally met with these representatives as he said he would, and if not, is such a meeting scheduled? Will the minister be part of the solution?"

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance Ted Menzies said a meeting is still planned, but no date has yet been set.