Speech (committee meeting)

{
    "time": "2022-10-19 17:35:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Nicolas Lapierre (Area Coordinator, United Steelworkers)",
        "fr": "M. Nicolas Lapierre (coordonnateur r\u00e9gional, Syndicat des M\u00e9tallos)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"7373820\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373821\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Good evening to all the members of the committee, and thank you for your attention.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373822\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The United Steelworkers union represents 225,000 workers across Canada, 60,000 in the province of Quebec alone.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373823\" data-originallang=\"fr\">In 2017, 2018 and 2019, the USW met with more than 250 members of Parliament and senators to raise awareness of the need to amend the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. For six weeks, more than 30 activists were on the Hill to raise awareness. They discussed the discussions and problems that arise when a company declares bankruptcy or goes into receivership.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373824\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The most striking example was Cliffs Natural Resources, a North Shore-based mining company, which placed itself under creditor protection. As a result, 1,700 retired workers and surviving spouses have seen their pension benefits reduced by 21% to 25%. As a result of various legal actions, several million dollars were recovered. Nevertheless, pensioners and surviving spouses suffered a loss of 8% to 10%. For some, this represented about $200 less per month, while for others, the loss was $600 to $700 per month. It is also important to understand that most private plans do not provide for cost-of-living adjustments. In the case of someone who retired in the 1980s, for example, because their benefits were not indexed, the impact of the reduction in 2015 was even greater.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373825\" data-originallang=\"fr\">During the six weeks of lobbying, we listened to you. I personally participated in the discussions. We were sensitive to some of the arguments, one of which was that it might prevent business recovery or prevent banks from granting loans to businesses. We were sensitive to that argument and we changed our position accordingly. Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> proposed by MP Marilyn Gladu provides for just such a change in the order of priority of creditor claims. We would come right after the banks. So the argument that we were going to prevent companies from recovering no longer holds water. We have responded to some political parties who had a concern in this regard. Now, Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> puts us behind the banks, but ahead of school boards and municipalities that want to collect taxes. So it's a significant leap for us and a very structuring gain for workers.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373826\" data-originallang=\"fr\"> By the way, this would be a step forward not only for unionized workers, but also for non-unionized workers who have a defined benefit plan.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373827\" data-originallang=\"fr\">At the United Steelworkers, we believe that, as legislators, you have a role to protect Canadian citizens from a possible loss of income if a company seeks protection from its creditors.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373828\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I appeal to your sense of responsibility, your empathy, your concern for human beings, especially those in their 70s, 80s or 90s. These are human beings who are in distress. Canadian citizens voted for you because they had confidence in you to fulfil your role as legislator. It is now up to you to take advantage of this bill to say that enough is enough. This has been going on for decades. Several bills have been tabled. Moreover, Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a>is the result of a consensus among all political parties.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373829\" data-originallang=\"fr\">In fact, I remind you that in 2021, there was consensus in the committee studying the previous bill. Unfortunately, an election was called, so we didn't get there, but we were very close. But there was a consensus and we did what you wanted. You were concerned that pensioners were coming before the banks. Now they come after the banks, but at least they are ahead of the municipalities. Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> reflects a difficult consensus that takes your concerns into account. Banks come before us and pensioners come after.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373830\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Currently, we are picking up the breadcrumbs, picking up what is left, and that is not acceptable. If pensioners were to make a significant jump in the order of creditors, it would be a giant step for all workers, for all Canadians. Please, for the sake of our seniors, be diligent and put some water in your wine. Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> is not perfect, but it is a very acceptable consensus as well as a giant step forward for workers.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373831\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I could name several situations, among them Cliffs Natural Resources, Sears in 2018, Mabe Canada, White Birch or Atlas Stainless Steel. How many similar situations will it take before we act?</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373832\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I appeal to your sense of responsibility to citizens and your duty of care, and I ask you to endorse Bill <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> quickly, so that we can say once and for all that we have helped the middle class.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373833\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Thank you very much.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"7373820\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Merci beaucoup, monsieur le pr\u00e9sident.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373821\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je salue tous les membres du Comit\u00e9 et les remercie de leur \u00e9coute.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373822\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Le Syndicat des M\u00e9tallos repr\u00e9sente 225 000 travailleurs et travailleuses de partout au Canada, dont 60 000 dans la province de Qu\u00e9bec seulement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373823\" data-originallang=\"fr\">En 2017, 2018 et 2019, le Syndicat des M\u00e9tallos a rencontr\u00e9 plus de 250 d\u00e9put\u00e9s et s\u00e9nateurs pour les sensibiliser \u00e0 la n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 de modifier la Loi sur les arrangements avec les cr\u00e9anciers des compagnies et la Loi sur la faillite et l'insolvabilit\u00e9. Pendant six semaines, plus de 30 militants et militantes \u00e9taient sur la Colline pour sensibiliser les gens. Il \u00e9tait question des discussions et des probl\u00e8mes qui surviennent lorsqu'une entreprise d\u00e9clare faillite ou se met \u00e0 l'abri de ses cr\u00e9anciers.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373824\" data-originallang=\"fr\">L'exemple le plus frappant est celui de la mini\u00e8re Cliffs Natural Resources, sur la C\u00f4te\u2011Nord, qui s'est plac\u00e9e \u00e0 l'abri de ses cr\u00e9anciers. Ainsi, 1 700 travailleurs retrait\u00e9s et conjoints survivants ont vu leurs prestations de retraite diminuer dans une proportion de 21 \u00e0 25 %. \u00c0 la suite des diff\u00e9rents recours juridiques, quelques millions de dollars ont pu \u00eatre r\u00e9cup\u00e9r\u00e9s. Il n'en demeure pas moins que les retrait\u00e9s et les conjoints survivants ont subi une perte de 8 \u00e0 10 %. Pour certains, cela repr\u00e9sentait environ 200 $ de moins par mois, alors que, pour d'autres, la perte a \u00e9t\u00e9 de 600 $ \u00e0 700 $ par mois. Il faut aussi comprendre que la plupart des r\u00e9gimes priv\u00e9s ne pr\u00e9voient pas d'indexation au co\u00fbt de la vie. Dans le cas d'une personne qui avait pris sa retraite dans les ann\u00e9es 1980, par exemple, puisque ses prestations n'avaient pas \u00e9t\u00e9 index\u00e9es, l'incidence de la r\u00e9duction subie en 2015 a \u00e9t\u00e9 encore plus grande.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373825\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Pendant les six semaines qu'a dur\u00e9 le lobbying, nous vous avons \u00e9cout\u00e9s. J'ai personnellement particip\u00e9 aux discussions. Nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 sensibles \u00e0 certains arguments, entre autres \u00e0 celui selon lequel cela pourrait emp\u00eacher la relance des entreprises ou le consentement de pr\u00eats aux entreprises par les banques. Nous avons \u00e9t\u00e9 sensibles \u00e0 cet argument et nous avons modifi\u00e9 notre position en cons\u00e9quence. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> propos\u00e9 par la d\u00e9put\u00e9e Marilyn Gladu pr\u00e9voit justement un changement dans l'ordre de priorit\u00e9 des r\u00e9clamations des cr\u00e9anciers. Nous passerions tout de suite apr\u00e8s les banques. Donc, l'argument selon lequel nous allions emp\u00eacher des relances d'entreprises ne tient plus la route. Nous avons r\u00e9pondu \u00e0 certains partis politiques qui avaient une pr\u00e9occupation \u00e0 cet \u00e9gard. Maintenant, le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> nous place derri\u00e8re les banques, mais avant les commissions scolaires et les municipalit\u00e9s qui veulent recouvrer des taxes. Il s'agit donc d'un bond appr\u00e9ciable pour nous et d'un gain tr\u00e8s structurant pour les travailleurs. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373826\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Soit dit en passant, ce serait une avanc\u00e9e non seulement pour les travailleurs syndiqu\u00e9s, mais \u00e9galement pour les travailleurs non syndiqu\u00e9s qui profitent d'un r\u00e9gime \u00e0 prestations d\u00e9termin\u00e9es.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373827\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Au Syndicat des M\u00e9tallos, nous pensons que, en tant que l\u00e9gislateur, vous avez le r\u00f4le de prot\u00e9ger les citoyens canadiens d'une possible perte de revenus si jamais une entreprise se place \u00e0 l'abri des cr\u00e9anciers.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373828\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je fais appel \u00e0 votre sens des responsabilit\u00e9s, \u00e0 votre empathie, \u00e0 votre souci des \u00eatres humains, particuli\u00e8rement ceux de 70, 80 ou 90 ans. Ce sont des \u00eatres humains qui vivent une d\u00e9tresse. Les citoyens canadiens ont vot\u00e9 pour vous parce qu'ils avaient confiance en vous pour remplir votre r\u00f4le de l\u00e9gislateur. C'est maintenant \u00e0 vous de prendre la balle au bond et de profiter de ce projet de loi pour dire que c'est assez. Cela dure depuis des d\u00e9cennies. Plusieurs projets de loi ont \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9pos\u00e9s. De plus, le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> \u00e9mane d'un consensus entre tous les partis politiques.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373829\" data-originallang=\"fr\">En effet, je vous rappelle qu'en 2021, il y avait consensus au sein du comit\u00e9 charg\u00e9 d'\u00e9tudier le projet de loi pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent. Malheureusement, des \u00e9lections ont \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9clench\u00e9es, alors nous n'avons pas pu atteindre notre but, mais nous en \u00e9tions tout pr\u00e8s. Il y avait pourtant consensus et nous nous \u00e9tions pli\u00e9s \u00e0 votre volont\u00e9. Vous \u00e9tiez pr\u00e9occup\u00e9s du fait que les retrait\u00e9s passaient devant les banques. Maintenant, ils passent apr\u00e8s les banques, mais, au moins, ils sont devant les municipalit\u00e9s. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> est le reflet d'un difficile consensus qui tient compte de vos pr\u00e9occupations. Les banques passent avant nous et les retrait\u00e9s passent apr\u00e8s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373830\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Actuellement, nous ramassons les miettes de pain, nous ramassons ce qui reste, et ce n'est pas acceptable. Si les retrait\u00e9s faisaient un bond appr\u00e9ciable dans l'ordre des cr\u00e9anciers, ce serait un pas de g\u00e9ant pour tous les travailleurs et travailleuses, pour tous les Canadiens. De gr\u00e2ce, pour nos a\u00een\u00e9s, soyez diligents et mettez de l'eau dans votre vin. Le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> n'est pas parfait, mais il constitue un consensus tr\u00e8s acceptable ainsi qu'un pas de g\u00e9ant pour les travailleurs et les travailleuses.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373831\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je pourrais vous nommer plusieurs situations, que ce soit celle de la mini\u00e8re Cliffs, celle de Sears en 2018, celle de Mabe Canada, celle de la White Birch ou celle des Aciers inoxydables Atlas. Combien de situations semblables faudra-t-il avant d'agir?</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373832\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je fais appel \u00e0 votre sens des responsabilit\u00e9s envers les citoyens et \u00e0 votre devoir de diligence, et je vous demande d'ent\u00e9riner le projet de loi <a data-HoCid=\"11527631\" href=\"/bills/44-1/C-228/\" title=\"An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies\u2019 Creditors Arrangement Act and the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985\">C\u2011228</a> rapidement, afin qu'on puisse dire une fois pour toutes qu'on a aid\u00e9 la classe moyenne.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"7373833\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Merci beaucoup.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/committees/finance/44-1/62/nicolas-lapierre-1/",
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    "source_id": "11861854",
    "document_url": "/committees/finance/44-1/62/",
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        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fcommittees%2Ffinance%2F44-1%2F62%2F"
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