CAW retirees occupy MP's constituency office
Group wants to speak with Jeff Watson about old age security
CBC News
Posted: Feb 9, 2012 2:07 PM ET
Last Updated: Feb 9, 2012 9:35 PM ET
A Conservative MP has agreed to meet with a group of Windsor-area CAW retirees after they occupied the MP's office for two hours Thursday.
However, Essex MP Jeff Watson told CBC News he considers the act a political stunt.
"I think that's bad faith on the part of the CAW and its affiliated groups," Watson said. "But beyond that, I guess I'm frustrated. I think there are people who didn't get their EI claims approved today and other things like that."
The group walked into the office of Watson at 1:30 p.m. wanting to speak with him about potential changes to old age security.
The group has concerns about the government possibly of raising the retirement age from 65 to 67. They said it would hurt seniors with limited incomes.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has never definitively said that is going to happen. He did say in an interview with Postmedia News and the National Post the government is exploring the idea of gradually increasing the age threshold for OAS eligibility.
Watson was in Ottawa and his assistant in Essex wasn't able to immediately reach him.
Watson's staff has asked the protesters to leave but the group said it would only leave after Watson heard its concerns.
The demonstration was peaceful but police were called to break it up. Watson's office eventually closed early Thursday — around 3:30 p.m. — after the MP agreed to meet with the group sometime after Feb. 18.
According to organizers, similar demonstrations took place at the offices of 23 other Conservative MPs.
Share Tools
Latest Windsor News Headlines
- Grace mortgagee wants extension to clean site
- The mortgagee of the former Grace Hospital site is seeking an extension to clean up the site and pay back taxes, which totals $900,000. more »
- Striking heavy equipment union alleges bargaining in bad faith
- Three hundred heavy equipment operators who work on projects, including the $1.4-billion Windsor-Essex Parkway, across Essex and Kent Counties are on strike. more »
- New library board members introduced
- The two new Windsor Public Library board members met with the rest of the board Monday for the first time. more »
- General Chemical closer to demolition
- Nearly 1,000 lots, including a 1958 locomotive, were up for auction Saturday at General Chemical in Amherstburg. more »
Top News Headlines
- B.C. police shooting video sparks calls for new probe
- Amateur video of the shooting of a mentally ill Vancouver man five years ago has prompted calls for B.C.'s police complaint commissioner and the Criminal Justice Branch to take another look at the case. more »
- 'Engine shutdown' forced Air Canada jet to land
- A Japan-bound Air Canada Boeing 777 jet had to make an emergency landing at Toronto's Pearson airport on Monday, after one of its engines failed. more »
- CP Rail union, Tories battle over collective bargaining
- The federal Conservatives defended their plan to force striking Canadian Pacific Railway employees back to work as a way to keep the economy on track, while the union representing 4,800 workers said their collective bargaining rights are under attack. more »
- Bullyproof: One classroom confession
- Chadia became physically scarred after incessant teasing. Her story is one of 150 gathered in a video confessional booth at a Quebec school. more »
- Ottawa commits $17M to stop Asian carp invasion
- Striking heavy equipment union alleges bargaining in bad faith
- Chinese student drowns in Niagara River
- Grace mortgagee wants extension to clean site
- Two men killed in overnight St. Thomas crash
- General Chemical closer to demolition
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Teamsters trying to organize parkway truckers
- New library board members introduced
