Human Resources committee  If I may, Mr. Chair, the issue isn't secret ballot. The issue is secret ballot of all the people in the unit or the secret ballot of 50% plus one of those who vote. That is the issue. We are in favour of a secret ballot of 50% plus one of all the votes that are cast, absolutely.

Human Resources committee  Well, Mr. Chair, the issue is this: a person goes away to work in the mine in the Northwest Territories, and he is there for three weeks. Then he comes home and he is home for one week. When he comes home, he has a pile of mail, plus a whole bunch of family obligations to take ca

Human Resources committee  If I may speak to that, this bill is very concerning for us, primarily because of the 50% plus one of an entire unit where people may or may not be present. It's an unfair system. We are in favour of secret ballot votes where possible. I think it makes good sense. Everyone is en

Human Resources committee  I believe it should be 50% plus one of those who vote.

Human Resources committee  Yes, we are in favour of secret ballots. We think that's the right way to go. However, not all circumstances are ideal for a secret ballot vote; as I alluded to, in these remote locations where secret ballot votes simply don't work because of logistics.

Human Resources committee  Yes I do.

Human Resources committee  I'm almost finished. I understand that these are options, but they have not been viable options for us in the north, and we have experienced all of them. I encourage the committee to consider this as you deliberate this legislation. I suggest that the legislation should incorpo

Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and honourable members of the committee, for the opportunity to speak to you today about this bill. The Christian Labour Association of Canada, CLAC, is one of the largest independent unions in Canada and one of Canada's fastest-growing unions. Founded in 19

Human Resources committee  —if the number of voters who chose not to cast a ballot were automatically counted against you? Second, no other labour law in Canada is based on this standard of voting. No other jurisdiction automatically counts non-voters as having voted against certification. Bill C-525, as