As a quick response, I am sympathetic. Perhaps on other amendments I'll be making a similar argument, an argument that we should leave more interpretive room to the collective bargaining process and to arbitrators. However, in this case, it's exactly because of the types of concerns raised by Mr. Di Iorio and Mr. O'Toole, which I thoroughly respect—that is, the independence of this organization—that I think we do actually need some language.
We wouldn't want the interpretation happening at the arbitration level to permit situations that might actually bring that independence into question. This is a way to give clarity and protect the independence of some future RCMP union, but it would also make it clear that not all kinds of what may be construed as affiliation are impermissible.
I make no apologies for the fact that this amendment does try to define affiliation for the purpose of protecting the independence of that organization and then shows where there is room to engage in other kinds of activities that might otherwise be construed as affiliation.