Bail Out The Bay NOW - Government Must Save Jobs at HBC

The Bay department store chain, also known as HBC (Hudson's Bay Company), is nearly $1 billion in debt and those debts are getting called in by the creditors. As a result, Canada's oldest department store began liquidating 90 of its 96 stores last month, triggering widespread distress among its workforce and affiliated small businesses. As well, HBC will pay up to $3 million total in retention bonuses to 121 managers and executives — but will not pay severance to its more than 9,300 workers, most of whom will soon lose their jobs. Also at stake are pensions, health benefits and long-term disability supports, according to Andrew Hatnay, a lawyer representing employees. This affects a group of people that are "extremely vulnerable as they cannot work and are highly dependent on their long-term disability benefits for their livelihoods."