TRURO, NS – The president of CUPE Nova Scotia has a message for Conservative MP’s and senators from this province.
Danny Cavanagh says, “Bill C-377, the union finances bill, will bring an enormous cost to taxpayers, who should be asking themselves what the real purpose behind this bill is.
“Implementation of this Bill will cost hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and set up a wasteful bureaucracy. CUPE members already have full public disclosure of their union’s finances, which they receive at every national convention,” explains Cavanagh.
“The federal privacy commissioner says the bill is likely unconstitutional and should be withdrawn. The Canadian Bar Association, representing the country’s legal community, suggests several aspects of it are illegal and violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” says Cavanagh.
The bill was passed in the House of Commons but still has to get past the Senate.
It singles out unions and would force every labour organization in Canada to file detailed financial information annually on their spending, including everything from what they pay out to private contractors for janitorial services to snow removal.
Says Cavanagh, “I would encourage all 105 Senators including the ones from Nova Scotia to stop this bill in its tracks and seek a legal opinion on its constitutionality.”
Cavanagh says he is deeply disappointed in a response he received from local MP Scott Armstrong, who is towing the Harper government’s line on C-377. An amendment to include business organizations, whose members enjoy the same tax treatment that union members do, was voted down by the Conservative members of parliament.
For more information:
Danny Cavanagh
CUPE NS President
(902) 957-0822 (cell)
John McCracken
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
(902)880-8057 (cell)