I'll say a couple of quick words, if you don't mind.
First of all, I'll emphasize again that this is something that actually came out of submissions by the MPPAC. I would say that there are some concerns about affiliation and the independence of the organization if it enters into agreements with other organizations, as the way the law is written right now there will be a question about whether a new union can enter into some kind of service contract or other agreement with a union.
However, that is not the case with a commercial lease. We're not asking about the RCMP union renting space from a landlord and thereby putting the independence of that organization in question because they now have a debt to pay to their landlord or something like that. I don't see why it would be different if they're contracting for services with the union. Just because it's another union doesn't create any more conflict of loyalty than with a landlord or other commercial service providers.
The problem with the legislation right now is that it discriminates against other unions as potential offerers of goods or services. Mysteriously, we're not concerned then about contracts with other organizations that may well also wish to exert an influence over that organization. I think there's a serious disjunct there.
I would say in response to the parliamentary secretary that I am frankly less concerned about the RCMP union exerting control over other organizations. That happens in the real world. What's important about these amendments is that they protect the RCMP union, which represents the people who are authorized to use force, from having pressures exerted on them. I do think there's a qualitative distinction there. I think it's the one that Mr. Di Iorio very eloquently put earlier.
If we accept that argument, then it's not a bidirectional road. We're more concerned about how it goes in one direction than in the other. We're more concerned about the organization that represents people who are authorized to use force having pressure exerted on them than pressure through a service agreement or other commercial arrangement that they might be exerting on someone else.
That's my response to some of the other points that were out there.