Response to Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses' Position Against Anti-Scab Legislation

The purpose of this response to your letter is two-fold. Firstly, to point out the importance of passing Bill C-257 - also known as anti-scab legislation. Secondly, to encourage you to stop haranguing Canada's political leaders, and intruding on matters of public business for the sake of your private interests.

There can be no doubt the CFIB, and the individuals you represent, have serious concerns regarding Anti-Scab Legislation. No doubt your interests are served when the interests of working people are squashed, and the more trouble workers have in getting fair wages and working conditions, the more easily your friends can increase their profit margins. Your desire and ability to line your pocket books is your own problem and your own business, not the concern of the body politic. Fairness and social justice is the only proper concern any government should have; therefore leave the debate to our elected representatives, such as they are.

You write that you are concerned about the economy. So are all Canadians. Would it were that your group's economic interests matched that of the citizenry! Do not fall into the error of egotism that makes you mistake your own needs and desires for those of the whole people. You bring up the impact that the CN workers' strike is having on the economy, even though they are not yet protected by anti-scab laws. Your own words cry out against the argument you purport to make. It stands to reason that if you want a smooth-running economy, you should both support and comply with the reasonable and just demands of the people that make it run. Your argument clearly shows that it is in your interest to dis-empower working people and their organizations, despite the strife that it creates in the economy. It is easy in politics to see who is righteous and who is self-serving. The just call for the people to be strong, empowered and united; the selfish long to see them weak, dependent and divided. Where you stand is clear as day.

The NDP and Bloc have stated nobly that they will support Anti-Scab Legislation. There is a major opportunity for all MPs to show themselves true statesmen and stateswomen and vote for this Bill, effectively putting the interests of the many millions of working Canadians - both unionized and non-unionized - ahead of the petty complaints of a mere 105,000 business owners. Anti-scab legislation has been voted down many times before by MPs who calculated it would be bad for the special interests to which they are beholden. The current Parliament has a chance to put good policy ahead of big business, and to remember that the economy is best served when it serves the people best. This means fairness and empowerment to the people who do the work in society, and Bill c-257 is an excellent example of this.

I encourage all Members of Parliament to meet with union representatives and social justice advocates at any available opportunity. I would hope that you can accomplish this in order to discuss the urgent need to pass the Anti-Scab Bill, and to deal with the CFIB, as well as other issues of importance to millions of hard-working Canadians.

Solidarity,

The Citizens' Press