Hiebert's Union Disclosure Bill Passes First Vote
 

Russ says he's happy his Private Members Bill, C-377, requiring public financial disclosure by labour unions, has now passed its first vote in the House of Commons.

The vote was a ringing endorsement of the principle behind his bill: that organizations that receive public benefits must be transparent about how they spend those benefits.

He noted that the support for his bill was not surprising. He says that Canadians support the principle of transparency generally, and when questioned in a recent Nanos poll, 83% of Canadians, including 86% of those belonging to a union, say they support transparency for labour unions.

The bill passed March 14th, 2012 at its 2nd Reading vote, 154 to 127,  and will now move to the Commons Finance Committee where it will be further scrutinized and possible enhancements will be proposed.

Russ said that labour organizations receive approximately half a billion dollars in public benefits through the tax system every year. And, he noted that charities, which also receive substantial public benefits through the tax system, have been publicly disclosing their finances for the past 35 years.

More information about the bill is available at www.C377.ca

Government Introduces Legislation to Better Protect Canada's Seniors  

TORONTO, March 15, 2012 - The Government of Canada announced today the introduction of legislation which will help ensure that sentencing for crimes against elderly Canadians reflects the significant impact that crime has on their lives. The announcement was made by the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada; along with the Honourable Alice Wong, M.P. for Richmond and Minister of State (Seniors); and Robert Goguen, M.P. for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice.

"Our Government has a responsibility to protect elderly Canadians and to ensure that crimes against them are punished appropriately," said Minister Nicholson. "This legislation will help ensure tough sentences for those who take advantage of vulnerable members of our society."

To read more click here. 

More information about elder abuse can be found at www.seniors.gc.ca.

A Bit of History Behind the
Commonwealth Day Celebration  

Clementina Trenholme introduced Empire Day in Canadian schools in 1898, on the last school day before the 24^th of May, Queen Victoria's birthday.  Empire Day was instituted in the United Kingdom in 1904 by Lord Meath, and extended throughout the countries of the Commonwealth. This day gave the people a chance to show their pride in being part of the British Empire.  In 1958, Empire Day was renamed British Commonwealth Day, before finally becoming Commonwealth Day in 1966.

At the 1975 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, it was the Canadian delegation that proposed that a "simultaneously observed Commonwealth Day would focus attention upon the association and its contribution to a harmonious global environment".  At later meetings, a date of the second Monday in March was chosen, with a deliberate focus on reaching out to young people, a majority of whom would be in term-time.  In 1977, the entire Commonwealth marked the first simultaneous observance of Commonwealth Day.

Commonwealth Day provides us with the opportunity to
 re-commit ourselves to the protection and promotion of the fundamental political values to which the Commonwealth is committed under the 1991 Commonwealth Declaration.  These values include just and honest government, the alleviation of poverty, fundamental human rights, international peace and order, global economic development, the rule of international law, equal rights and representation for all citizens, the independence of the judiciary, and the right to participate in free and democratic political processes.