Mr. Van Kesteren, that's correct. It's our estimate that $3 to $4 billion a year is collected by labour organizations in union dues. That's a large amount of money. I've already referred to the $500 million tax benefit that is afforded to labour organizations. I'm informed by tax lawyers and experts that at the present time, unlike you and unlike a corporation or a charity, labour organizations have no obligation under the Income Tax Act to keep records or to disclose information on demand.
This would definitely increase the amount of disclosure required. Let's remember why.
The purpose is to increase the confidence Canadians have that labour organizations are operating with transparency, accountability, and financial integrity.