North Island-Powell River MP Calls For Worker Protections After Myra Falls Mine Closure

North Island - Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is pushing the federal government to protect workers’ pensions after the closure of the Myra Falls Mine.

Blaney spoke in the House of Commons last week, bringing up the 300 workers in Campbell River who lost their jobs with the mine’s closure in December.

“I have sat down with Unifor Local 3019, which is working hard with all levels of government to protect its workers,” stated Blaney.

“The ask of me was simple: when will the rules finally be fixed in Canada to protect workers’ pensions and local small businesses in our community when big projects shut down?”

Blaney noted that nearly a year ago, the NDP and the Bloc pushed to get Bill C-228 passed, the Pension Protection Act, which was designed to protect members of defined benefit pension plans.

She says so far, there’s been no progress and making changes to the regulations, leaving workers’ pensions vulnerable if their employer declares bankruptcy.

Blaney says workers’ pensions are at the bottom of the priority list and she wants to see that change, calling for the new regulations to be passed.