Presented by Ken Georgetti on Sunday, 20 June 2010

(Check Against Delivery)

Thank you Michel, for your invitation to welcome your Bureau to Vancouver and to the International Trade Union Confederation Second World Congress.

The Canadian Labour Congress is very pleased to be hosting this international gathering of trade unionists from around the world.

Trade unionists from around the world are meeting here the same week leaders of the G8 and G20 nations are preparing to come and meet the Prime Minister.

But here in British Columbia, there are no fake lakes.

And there’s no high-priced security costs either.

In fact, I think the entire security bill for the Vancouver Olympics cost less than the costs for a 72-hour meeting in Toronto later this week.

One billion dollars is the latest price tag.

That is how much the CLC’s proposal to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement would cost so the poorest seniors in Québec and Canada can live in dignity.

It’s simply outrageous.

I want to thank Michel and the FTQ for your support for the CLC’s retirement security campaign.

Last weekend, finance ministers met in Prince Edward Island to discuss pensions.

Something very surprising happened.

If you can believe it, most finance ministers supported our position – labour’s position – to expand the Canada and Québec Pension Plans.

Now, it’s not clear how much they support labour’s plan – we want to see benefits double over time.

But the majority of them supported a plan that would actually help working people:

Making public pensions better.

We still have a lot of work to do and we’ll need your help.

We need Québec’s support – because two-thirds of the provinces representing two-thirds of the population have to agree to change the Canada Pension Plan.

And I know we can count on the FTQ to solidify Québec's support.

I don’t want to take up too much more of your time.

I know you have business to discuss this afternoon.

So I just want to say how great it is that the FTQ is here to be part of this week.

There will be a lot happening and we have a lot to show the delegates from around the world about our diverse labour movement.

Enjoy your meeting, and thank you for inviting me today.