Status of Women committee  I'd like to say something, Madam Chair. The key issue here is that the proposed legislation forces unions to negotiate with the government and to use fundamental rights such as the right to pay equity as a bargaining chip to secure other advantages for their members. It forces u

Status of Women committee  I have never found myself in that situation. This is truly one of the deplorable and unacceptable aspects of this legislation, because we have a duty to defend our members. Sanctions of this nature are really unacceptable. I've never experienced anything like that.

Status of Women committee  I cannot predict what will happen, but as Ms. Roy stated, we have already filed an application with the court to declare the legislation unconstitutional. Constitutionally speaking the legislation is unacceptable in light of our responsibility to represent our members.

Finance committee  The International Labour Organization has adopted Convention No. 87, which deals with the collective bargaining of contracts between employers and employees. So this is already enshrined in international law. Further, the Supreme Court has ruled that collective bargaining is part

Finance committee  Thank you, Ms. Hall Findlay. Our position is that this legislation will attract litigation. I'm not saying that we will undertake litigation or that anyone else necessarily will, but I suspect it will attract litigation. I suspect that litigation will go to the constitutionali

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. McCallum. It's an important question. I've heard of two-handed economists, and there are two-handed lawyers as well, but in this case we aren't two-handed. I think it's very clear in the context of the B.C. Health Services case, which dealt with very similar legis

Finance committee  I'm just going to say thank you very much.

Finance committee  Can I just conclude then, Mr. Chairman?

Finance committee  It is our considered view with respect to part 11 that it is not only unconstitutional, but it also creates an unworkable, self-defeating morass in which the concept of pay equity will not only not prosper and advance but will wither and die. This ought not to be the intent of Pa

Finance committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'm sure you're all aware of the fact that we're going through a very difficult time. Only this weekend we appointed an acting president, who is present today. I hope you'll take the opportunity to meet with him during the break: Mr. Gary Corbe