Monday, July 06, 2015
On June 29, 2015, the Senate approved the controversial Bill C-377 after the Conservative majority initiated and carried out an unheard of procedural act to shut down debate and push through a final vote.
Although the legislation claims to seek transparency for unions and union members, the substance of the bill is not only far and above what other not-for-profit organizations have to comply with, but believed to be an infringement on freedom of association - a right enshrined in the Charter.
Bill C-377 requires unions to disclose any and all spending over $5,000 with the information being posted online by the Canada Revenue Agency.
In order to comply with the bill, AMAPCEO will now have to spend an unnecessary amount of money and hours of labour to produce and process expense reports that will subsequently be reviewed and filed at the taxpayer’s expense.
AMAPCEO, similar to other unions, is already accountable and transparent to members. In fact, every year at the Annual Delegates’ Conference each delegate receives a detailed audited report and our 240 delegates discuss, debate and approve our budget for the next fiscal year.
Our accountability is, and should be, to our members, not to the broader public or the government.
This bill enables anti-union groups and employers to have access to the financial details and inner workings of unions, our campaigns, and information about advocacy work and organizing drives. It is an invasive step in the wrong direction that is clearly aimed at weakening all unions, including our Association.
Seven provincial governments, constitutional experts, the Federal Privacy Commissioner, the Canadian Bar Association, and even the NHL Players’ Association have all expressed concerns about the constitutionality of the bill.
Most, if not all, believe this needless and overreaching legislation will be overturned. However, until such time as it is, the passage of Bill C-377 will serve as another reminder as to why voting in the upcoming federal election, on October 19, is necessary and vital to our collective future.
To learn more about Bill C-377, read the recent submission by the Canadian Labour Congress regarding Bill C-377, “An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act.”