Evidence of meeting #8 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rate.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
That's an impressive number. Roughly, the dues collected a year are...?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
It's up to each local when they must remit some payment to CUPE National. We don't actually know how much is remitted nationally. It goes to the locals.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
I see. Are there financial statements that are prepared by CUPE National for CUPE National?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Yes. They're on cupe.ca, under the treasurer's report, Deloitte and Touche, 2013.
Conservative
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
We're a registered trade union of the Government of Canada. Each provincial jurisdiction requires you to register, so we're a registered trade union and we're treated as such. We pay all taxes—GST, HST—but our members' union dues are tax deductible as determined by the Income Tax Act.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
They are.
According to the financial statements, then, did CUPE National have a profit last year?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
No. We don't operate on a profit basis.
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
No. We have reserved funds for our strike fund. We pay for our photocopiers and we pay for our cellphone plans, but we're not an entity that exists to publish a profit. It's all on the web page at cupe.ca. The last four years of audited statements by Deloitte here in Ottawa are there for any CUPE member to see—or any member. It's not a blocked site.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Okay, fair enough.
What's the mandate, the mission statement of CUPE?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
The mandate is to provide economic and workplace security for all the members we organize and to contribute to the social fabric of the country where part of the debate was to create medicare and CPP, so we have a direct responsibility to our membership and a social responsibility.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
And you played a very significant role in creating our social system. I know the unions have been very important and I commend the union movement, of course. But I'm just a little confused because I'm looking at a number of motions that have been passed by CUPE over the last half dozen years or so, and I'm seeing one that calls for an academic boycott of Israeli academics, another one for supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, and one calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Could you please tell me how that supports or promotes the interests of CUPE workers?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Yes. CUPE National's policy is very similar to that of the Government of Canada. We invest ourselves with the UN resolutions calling for a two-state solution. A decade ago one of our provincial wings got themselves into the debate you reference, but CUPE National has a twelve-year-old policy for a two-state solution very similar to the one Mr. Baird talked about recently.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
You might say that but I would say it's not very true because I've never heard Mr. Baird say in a letter that you wrote to the Prime Minister January 2, 2009, where you claim that Israel is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. I've never heard our government say anything like that. What evidence do you have to say that, Mr. Moist?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Through the chair, CUPE's official policy on the Middle East is a two-state solution.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
No, but I'd like you to answer that question, please. You're a witness here, and I have a right to ask you that question.
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Okay. CUPE National's policy on the Middle East is very similar to the one enunciated by the minister responsible that we need a two-state solution.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
I would suggest that it's absolutely not at all like our government's policy because our government has never said that Israel is guilty of war crimes or crimes against humanity. Could you explain that to me, please?
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Yes. I never said that Mr. Baird had said that at all.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
No, but you accused the Prime Minister of saying that in a letter I have right in front of me, January 2, 2009. It's right here. I can document it here with the committee, if you would like.
National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
Through the chair, as part of the finance committee report, I won't deny that we correspond with government on a range of issues. CUPE National's position, as forged in convention and reaffirmed twice, is for a two-state solution.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
Yes, I heard you say that, but I'm a member of Parliament elected by the people of York Centre to come here and give them the best possible representation I can. You're a witness who chose to be here today, and I'm asking you a question. I'd like a direct answer, please.
Conservative
Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON
What makes you say that Israel is guilty of war crimes or crimes against humanity? I deserve an answer as a member of Parliament, sir.
