Presented by Marie Clarke Walker on Saturday, 27 March 2010

(Check Against Delivery)

Good morning sisters and brothers, delegates, panelists, and guests.

And thank you panelists for taking time out of your busy schedules to be with us here today.

Welcome to this historical summit.

A summit bringing together a diversity of opinions on the way forward to change our inadequate pension system.

Regardless of your point of view, everyone here recognizes there is ample evidence that the status quo is not an option.

That’s one message we’d like the Government of Ontario to bring to the table when the federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers meet in May.

And today we want to hear the different perspectives.

We will hear from union members, from retirees, from the self-employed, and yes, from small business representatives.

We all share a common interest – and want to hear ideas.

So let’s engage today in a respectful debate.

Controversy is welcome and conflict in ideas is necessary to assess the kind of reform needed, and how to achieve it.
And we can do that by respecting each other’s opinions, and listening to what each has to say.

So again welcome!

And I’d like to now introduce Sid Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour to open this summit.