Bonjour. Good afternoon.
Mr. Chairman, honourable members of the committee, mesdames et messieurs,
Thank you for your invitation to appear before your committee.
First, I applaud you: retirement income security for Canadians--I like that. I sincerely hope I can make today a positive contribution to your efforts.
I am Gladys Comeau, née Murray, born in Alberta. I have also lived in B.C. and now live in Quebec. I have been widowed 15 years, the surviving spouse of Gilbert Comeau. Gilbert worked 41 years for Northern Electric, Northern Telecom, Nortel. He was a compassionate, hard-working husband and father and always looked forward to his due pension--I repeat, due pension. He opted for a reduced pension to ensure that I would be financially protected with the survivor's pension.
I can still picture him during his last four months of life when we knew the inevitable. He worried if I would be able to make ends meet, despite the survivor pension that he had made provision for, never thinking that Nortel would default on its promise and enter into bankruptcy.
We both worked, I not as long, of course, as Gilbert. We reached middle class. Not today--I'm at the bottom of middle class.
In 2009 I received notice from the appointed monitor of Nortel's intended bankruptcy that my survivor pension would be impacted immediately. On my own, I requested that my federal MP, Madame Marlene Jennings, and the provincial MLA, Monsieur François Ouimet, provide documentation on the government stand on the effects of bankruptcy on company-sponsored pensions. I have only recently been a resident of Lachine. I lived many years in Châteauguay. I also contacted Madame Carole Freeman, the MP for Châteauguay. These people were there for me, and they still are.
The legal implications were not familiar to me, but I soon learned that I would be entering near poverty if the government did not change the legislation to protect all Canadians. I am 75 years old, receiving minimum old age pension, rentes du Québec, and the Nortel survivor pension, which survivor pension keeps me above the poverty line.
Please believe me; this is the truth. I live in a mortgaged one-bedroom condo and have no car. I lead a modest life that includes many hours of volunteer community work. I feel fortunate to have this survivor pension. It means I'm not a burden on society or on my children. As a direct consequence of Nortel's bankruptcy, my survivor pension will be reduced by over 30% this September 30, in six months. Who can do something in six months for us? The future looks grim.
I have to agree with Mr. Sproule and Diane Urquhart: Amendments must be made to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and other acts pertaining to business. This, to me, at this time is unjust and bordering on criminal. On September 30—let me repeat—if this government continues to abandon us by not changing the legislation to protect people such as myself, I will have roughly $200 less a month in my hand. That's not much for some people, but that's the difference that, for me, makes ends meet.
Now permit me to address the loss of medical benefits. This issue must not be taken lightly. I am fortunate enough to have no major medical problems at this time. Therefore, I am not counted among the many pensioners with debilitating medical conditions, which are very expensive. I am not to say how long I will live or in what state of health. I could buy private medical insurance later. No, not with the cost, and I will not do so.
The anger, anxiety, and depression—I thought these were my words, but they've already been used today—that many of us are experiencing will lead to serious medical problems, and you can be sure these problems will occur in the not too distant future.
I stand before you today, as others have done many times over and over through the year 2009, requesting enactment of legislation.
I won't go into more than that, but I still say that the deferred wages at Nortel actually belong to us.
I repeat what I wrote many times in my correspondence. If there's anyone here who has not received correspondence from me, I'll be very surprised. Please do not be influenced by anyone opposing our demand for justice through tactics of persuasion.
And yes, I am afraid. I'm a taxpayer; I look towards my government to protect me.
I received Mr. Flaherty's letter, signed by Mr. Flaherty, just a couple of days ago, and his words were “the government's responsibility”. As I lost my envelope, I don't have it with me, but those were his words. Then he mentioned that I did the right thing to send information to Mr. Clement, who I have never heard from.
I am open to your questions and comments.
Thank you for your attention, distinguished members of the committee. I am available to answer your questions. I will allow Gilbert to conclude.
Thank you.