Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to urge all Members of this House to vote in favour of this motion. Mr. Speaker, former workers at Giant Mine were notified in mid-February that the pension fund for hourly workers was under funded. That means that as of April 1, 2000, former workers will lose approximately 25 percent of their pension.

Mr. Speaker, this affects 59 workers immediately, and many more who will be affected as they retire. These pension cutbacks will also impact on widows who are beneficiaries of their late husbands' pensions. Mr. Speaker, as this was a non-contributory pension fund, the union had no control over it and no information on the status of the fund.

As well as the pension, Mr. Speaker, there is the issue of the 250 workers who were laid off in October of 1999, who have not yet received a severance package. Mr. Speaker, the way these people have been treated by their former employers is absolutely disgraceful. I think the federal government should be ashamed that their legislation continues and sanctions this treatment.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that with this motion, the federal government will consider the importance of changing federal bankruptcy, labour, and pension laws to ensure that this does not happen to other workers in Canada. There is another issue that brings this even further into focus. I recently became aware, Mr. Speaker, that in 1997, Royal Oak Pension Committee invested funds in Royal Oak shares even though the company was already in trouble at the time. The workers had no idea that this was happening. I think that this indicates that we really do need the Government of Canada to have another look at pension fund legislation.

Mr. Speaker, there is broad public support for the action requested by this motion. Recently, a petition bearing more than 1700 signatures was delivered by the Citizens Support Group to Ethel Blondin-Andrew, and to NDP labour critic Pat Martin.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, Members for Yellowknife, at their constituents meeting, heard from a number of former workers at Giant Mine, how this is going to affect them personally. I think we were all moved by Mary Kosta's action in support of the workers with her hunger strike.

Mr. Speaker, because DIAND facilitated the sale of Giant Mine to Miramar Mine, and knew that the pension fund was under-funded, I believe that the federal government should take some responsibility as requested in this motion, in making up the shortfall. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all Members of this House to vote in favour of this motion. If we can demonstrate unanimous support, perhaps the Ministers responsible, Jim Peterson, who is Secretary of State for Financial Institutions, and Robert Nault, who is the Minister responsible for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, will do the right thing and provide the members of this association, the former workers at Royal Oak Giant Mine, with the support that they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.