This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information. 


Labour lawyers respond to Saskatchewan government's consultation paper

The Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers (CALL) has requested that the Labour Minister meet with major stakeholders to "develop a consultation process much more in keeping with the law, past practice, simple fairness, integrity, good faith and respect."

Regina (20 July 2012) - The Saskatchewan committee of the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers (CALL) released a response to the Saskatchewan government's Consultation Paper on the Renewal of Labour Legislation in Saskatchewan on July 12, 2012.

In a letter to Don Morgan, Minister of Labour, CALL criticized the process established by the Wall government saying that "it is of the opinion that the process envisaged by the paper is anything but consultation" and lays out exactly what constitutes a meaningful process.

The letter credits the government for the framework it has established for consulting with provincial First Nations and Métis and encourages the government to take a similar approach to guide these consultations. Specifically, a framework based on "integrity and good faith, respect, government's duty, reciprocal responsibility, transperency, accountability and communication." The letter outlines several different times in Saskatchewan's history where meaningful consultations have taken place.

By allowing for only written submissions that will be summarized for the recommending body, the government sends the message it is not interested in meaningful dialogue. CALL has requested that the Labour Minister meet with major stakeholders to "develop a consultation process much more in keeping with the law, past practice, simple fairness, integrity, good faith and respect."

More information:

Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers letter to Saskatchewan Minister of Labour

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE