Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm really pleased to be meeting with you. This is a unique opportunity. The presentation that you made to the government was good, because for the first time they're listening to you, they hear you.
I remember seeing you demonstrate on Parliament Hill. There were folks from Aciers Atlas, Mine Jeffrey, Nortel, and a lot of others were there too. Your stories are important and must be taken into account. At that time, the government said that it wasn't its responsibility, and that the buck stopped with the provincial government of Ontario. The government was blaming everyone else, but everyone knew that it had to do something. Unfortunately, it didn't.
And you've come here now with recommendations and ideas that the government didn't have. I find it interesting that they're open to hearing what you have to say. There have to be additional safeguards to protect pensions. You said that there needs to be serious checks and balances. The kind of checks and balances that you were subject to for 40 years as a taxpayer. The taxman took money out of your wallet over all this time and made sure it was the right amount.
Today, you need help, because there was no rigorous system of checks and balances. You're scrambling, and the house is going up in flames. And they're not sending the firefighters; they're sending decorators instead. But that doesn't fix the problem, and real action is needed right now. We need enhanced bankruptcy laws, that much is clear. We need a pensions act. You talked about reducing taxes when part of your pension is lost, and of taking advantage of these deductions to save money. And I'm really struck by the social impact of all of this. I want to hear what you have to say about that.
When you lose your retirement fund, you get poorer, you have access to less in the way of health care, you can afford fewer things than before. And what's more, you said that it wouldn't cost Canadians a cent. I hope that they're all ears. This is important. They don't need help tomorrow, they needed it yesterday. Time is of the essence.
I'd like to hear your comments on the social impacts and the fact that it won't cost Canadians a cent. Anyone can respond, Ms. Urquhart, Ms. Bernard, or Mr. St-Michel. And if at the same time you want to say more about your ideas, I'd welcome that too.