Re: Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle’s column “Putting politics before accountability,” which appeared in the Jan. 15 edition of Northern Life.

It is disappointing that Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle has not read the amended version of Bill C-377 which was passed by the House of Commons in December and imposes new public reporting requirements on labour organizations.

Had Mr. Gravelle read the amended bill, he would have seen that most of his concerns with this piece of legislation detailed in his Jan. 11 column have been addressed.

For example, no “sensitive medical and financial information” about individuals will be disclosed.

Mr. Gravelle also grossly overstates that compliance costs for labour organizations under Bill C-377, which are not onerous and will be easy to implement with even the most basic accounting practices.

If this bill is passed by the Senate, it will bring Canada’s financial disclosure regime for unions and other labour organizations in line with those of Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Ireland, the UK and the US.

Finally, while Mr. Gravelle may believe unions already operate in a transparent manner, this is not reflected in public opinion.

A 2011 Nanos poll found that 83 per cent of Canadians and 86 per cent of union members support greater financial transparency for labour organizations.

Terrance Oakey
president, Merit Canada