Media advisory - Brian Topp to join pensioners rally at Brookfield Asset Management (BAM)

When:	Wednesday, February 22^nd, 11am
Where:	Brookfield Asset Management building, 180 Bay St., Toronto

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - A group of Fraser Paper retirees from Quebec and New Brunswick who had their pensions cut by up to 40% when their employer filed for bankruptcy protection are travelling to BAM offices in Toronto to demand justice.  They will be joined by leaders of their union, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, and by NDP leadership candidate Brian Topp, who has made pensions a campaign priority.

"While the top one per cent have been handed billions in tax giveaways, many workers in Canada have been stripped of their pensions," says Topp. "That's why I have proposed restoring fairness to our tax system so that we can renew and improve the Canada Pension Plan."

CEP President Dave Coles says, "Canada's bankruptcy laws legalize stealing from workers, like these Victims of Brookfield, to pay off wealthy creditors." He points to a string of closures including Nortel Networks and St. Mary's Paper where "workers have been forced to hand over their retirement savings."

Michelle Walsh, CEP Communications Director: [phone]; [phone] ext. 222.