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"We believe that this bill would be at odds with reasonable consumer expectations of privacy for their medical and financial affairs. Other evidence, including from the Canadian Bar Association, also raises this concern.” - Ron Sanderson, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc.
Ottawa (19 June 2013) – Have you called your local Senator and told her or him how to vote on Bill C-377? It's not too late!
Legislation targeting unions is back for final Senate debate
Bill C-377, An Act to amend the income tax act requirements for labour organizations, is back for final debate. This bill, which has been widely criticized by detractors for its high financial costs, its unconstitutionality, its violations of privacy and ultimately for its lack of necessity, will be voted on shortly.
The proposed bill would force every labour organization in Canada to file detailed financial information about individuals and also companies doing business with unions, to be posted publicly on a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website. But rather than require all public organizations - or organizations which receive similar tax treatment - to post such financial data, the Conservatives are only targeting labour organizations.
Widespread criticism on the legislation: costly and unnecessary
Many within the Conservative Senate have taken issue with Conservative backbencher Russ Hiebert's private members' bill saying it is an outright attack on labour. Witness after witness at the Senate banking committee, which is holding hearings on the legislation, detailed the serious problems with Bill C-377.
Most recently, officials from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. and the Investment Funds Institute of Canada raised concerns with the sweeping nature of the legislation.
Ron Sanderson, director of policyholder taxation and pensions for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc., a voluntary group whose member companies account for over 99 per cent of Canada's life and health insurance business, told the committee, "We believe that this bill would be at odds with reasonable consumer expectations of privacy for their medical and financial affairs. Other evidence, including from the Canadian Bar Association, also raises this concern.”
Implications of Bill C-377 passing
There are serious implications for Canadians if Bill C-377 passes. This is a disguised attempt to weaken the ability of unions to properly represent our members. This legislation comes at a time when the Conservative government and Conservative party are launching more and more legislative proposals aimed at curtailing any abiltiy the unions have at standing up for the rights of working people in a democractic fashion.
Contact your Senator
You can find your Senator here. Call or write to them telling them not to support Bill C-377.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE