DEUX-MONTAGNES, QC – As the Liberal Express kicked off its second tour of Quebec this summer, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff criticized Stephen Harper for failing to work with Quebec to help Quebecers save for their retirement and secure their golden years.
“Stephen Harper has given up on Quebec – he hasn’t even made a single public appearance here for 104 days and counting,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “While Conservative policies run counter to the Quebec consensus, we’re here to focus on a serious issue – and that’s poverty among Quebec’s seniors.”
During a town hall meeting with local Hudson seniors today, Mr. Ignatieff will point out that Quebec seniors have one of the highest rates of poverty in Canada, with 9.3% of seniors living below the poverty line.
“Liberals do not think it’s acceptable for our seniors, who have worked hard all their lives to save for their retirement, to have to live on less than $15,000 a year,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “The Liberal Party is committed to working with Quebec to make our plan to improve the Canadian Pension Plan work with the QPP.”
The Liberal Party’s proposed pension reforms include:
- A voluntary Supplementary Canada Pension Plan, to help more Canadians save more through our trusted national pension;
- A stranded pension agency to give employees whose companies have gone bankrupt the option of growing their pension assets through the Canada Pension Plan; and,
- Changes to the Bankruptcy Act to give long-term disability plans better protection.
In addition to proposing major pensions reforms, a future Liberal government would increase support for homecare workers, which will also improve the sustainability of the Canadian health care system and work with Quebec to improve access to homecare and health services.
“During his four years in government, Stephen Harper has failed Hudson’s seniors and all future pensioners by neglecting to sit down with Quebec and discuss pension reform,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff.
“Instead of giving away $6 billion every year in more tax cuts for Canada’s most profitable corporations, like the Conservatives want to do, the Liberal Party wants to use some of that funding to support Canada’s pensioners and caregivers.”
The town hall starts this morning at 9:30. For a live blog, go to:
Web: http://lpc.ca/3uv
Mobile: http://lpc.ca/3uw
