Description: The Speaker of the House of Commons has ruled that a private member’s bill that would have forced unions to disclose financial information was improperly introduced.

Source: Ottawa Citizen

Date: 11/05/2011

Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Commons+speaker+derails+bill+that+sought+more+financial+information/5661040/story.html

Related links:

• Canadian Labour Reporter story
• Blog post by the law firm Heenan Blaikie
• The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
• Earlier update
• Union economist Jim Stanford on the bill
• The Fraser Institute on the bill

Questions for discussion:

• Why did the Speaker rule the bill out of order?
• How could the bill be reintroduced?
• What would be the political implications of that?
• Why do you think the bill’s opponents attacked it on procedural grounds, rather than its content?
• From what you have read, what do you think are the pros and cons of this proposed legislation?
• Do you think it is required? Why or why not?