Executives were mentioned after we had agreed we were going to listen to employees.
We've talked to many of these employees, and they do not want to be any part of a witch hunt. They want to be heard. They don't want to see the executives brought here.
Number one, it's inappropriate. The pensions at Nortel—and we need to be very clear on this—are provincial jurisdiction. They are subject to Ontario's Pension Benefits Act, which has nothing to do with this committee and nothing to do with the federal government. The only areas of federal jurisdiction are the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the CCAA, and they in fact, Mr. Chairman, are in the sole purview of the Minister of Industry.
So if anyone is going to hear them, if anyone is going to ask those people to appear, it should be the industry committee and not us. The only federal involvement in the Nortel issue should be done via that committee and through that minister. So there's no formal role for the finance committee or the finance minister.
The other point is that it's in legal process right now, so we shouldn't be interfering in it. That's my assumption of why, when the executives were invited, they said thanks, but no thanks; it's in a court proceeding. We need to respect that.
I know that some of the employees may be disappointed that we're saying this, but I repeat, it's the employees we want to hear. The employees I've spoken to don't want to see this committee delve into a witch hunt. They're concerned about their pensions—and only their pensions, in most part. There's a long-standing process in place for this, and I would encourage us to follow that.
We need not, and should not, politicize this. These people are concerned about their futures, their pensions, and their jobs. So the government cannot support bringing the executive to this committee. It's no part of ours. We welcome hearing from the employees and the retirees, and not the executive.
So we will not be supporting either of these motions.