OTTAWA — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff joined the chorus of those urging pension reform Tuesday, saying too many Canadians face a bleak future in their retirement years.

Speaking to reporters, Ignatieff said one third of Canadians aren’t saving enough for their retirement years and another third aren’t saving anything for retirement beyond their government pensions.

Added to that are the difficulties faced by pensioners and those on long-term disability whose companies have declared bankruptcy.

Ignatieff said the government should introduce a supplementary Canada Pension Plan (CPP) program to encourage Canadians to save more. He also proposed the CPP step in to help pensioners stranded by bankruptcies by allowing them to pool their company plan with the CPP.

Meanwhile, Liberal Sen. Art Eggleton will introduce legislation in the Senate to make employees on long-term disability plans that their company pays for, like those at Nortel, preferred creditors if a company goes bankrupt.

elizabeth.thompson@sunmedia.ca