The Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization wishes to
thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission to post the following article by
Business Reporter Steve Arnold published in the February 19, 2004 edition
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Feb. 19, 2004. 12:41 AM |
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Bryden urges Stelco pension aid |
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Independent MP says he hopes to accomplish more for
pensioners now that he's abandoned the Liberals |
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By Steve Arnold |
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Renegade MP John Bryden wants the federal government to open the public vault to help Stelco retirees facing sharp cuts in their pensions. On his first day as an independent Member of Parliament after breaking with the governing Liberals, Bryden said he hopes he'll be able to accomplish more for Stelco's 13,000 pensioners now that he's free of the leash of party discipline. "I really believe that the key to this is to get federal money for the people whose pensions are compromised," Bryden said. "I think there are some positive things we can do, but they will come from the backbenchs." Bryden's call for action adds another voice to the chorus of people outside the circle of power who want federal action to help an industry in crisis. Other members of that choir include Conservative leadership candidate Belinda Stronach, NDP leader Jack Layton and leaders of two major unions. Since Jan. 29, when Stelco filed for court protection from its creditors, the federal government has been noticeably absent from the debate over how to ensure Canada has a viable steel industry. Hamilton cabinet ministers Stan Keyes and Tony Valeri have declared Stelco must solve its own problems, but they have also formed a special committee to monitor the situation and have met with Industry Minister Lucienne Robillard, the government's lead minister on the steel file. Robillard's only comment as been to say Stelco's problems are global and the company has not asked for specific federal aid. Outside the cabinet, Hamilton East MP Sheila Copps has publicly backed a private member's bill, from an NDP MP, which seeks to protect pensions and benefits for workers in the case of bankruptcy. Despite the shattering silence from Ottawa, union leader Lawrence McBrearty hasn't given up hope that help will be provided when it's needed. "We haven't had any action yet from either the federal or provincial governments on Stelco, but I'm sure they're going to be there when we're ready," the Canadian director of the United Steelworkers of America said. "We still have to go through our court issues so we really haven't asked them for anything yet." On the broad issue of support for the steel industry, McBrearty said Ottawa has agreed to back a strategic review of the sector "to look at the survival of the industry and decide where we're going for the next five or 10 years." Union leaders have offered some specific policies for that discussion, including changes in Canadian trade law that would use tariffs to slow the flow of cheap foreign steel into Canada and make it easier for government to act against countries accused of dumping steel here. Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, said government action is needed on all of Canada's economic problems, but nothing is likely to happen until the current sponsorship crisis is settled. "That debate has taken everything else off the public agenda and I don't see that changing in the medium term," he said. "Hopefully this crisis will eventually sort itself out and we can get some attention for these other issues." sarnold@thespec.com 905-526-3496 |