OPEN
LETTER to Catherine Swift
Catherine
Swift
President & CEO
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
4141 Yonge Street, Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario M2P 2A6
By
James
Ryan*
Dear
Ms Swift:
Public
servants and employees in the broader public service, such as teachers, do
not give up their right to participate in the democratic process in return
for a pay cheque. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms the
freedom of expression of all Canadians is protected. The Supreme Court of
Canada has said that, "an absolute rule prohibiting all public
participation and discussion by all public servants would prohibit
activities which no sensible person in a democratic society would want to
prohibit."
OECTA
members are paid to deliver educational instruction to our children. Our
members are proud of their work in laying the foundation for the next
generation of doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, construction workers,
software developers and others. Our members, as part of the overall
education system, are seeing more than three quarters of Ontario's
students graduate from high school. Ontario has been recognized
internationally for the quality of the teaching in our classrooms and we
are very proud of that. A high-quality and equitable publicly funded
education system is Ontario's best hope for a prosperous future.
Once
our members are paid they are free to use that money as they see fit. They
may buy a house, invest, take a trip, patronize their local hardware
store. They may even be spending their money at a business owned by one of
your members. The point is that it is their money.
It
is true that OECTA members at an Annual General Meeting passed a
resolution for additional funding for political action. This was the
result of our deeply entrenched democratic processes for decision-making.
Members across the province receive in advance the motions that will be
debated at our provincial annual meeting. Beforehand they can attend local
general meetings to debate these motions and inform their local
delegations of their wishes so these can be expressed at the AGM. At our
most recent AGM, delegates embraced our political action plan,
understanding the need for all our members to become involved in the
campaign as its outcome will affect all aspects of the society in which
they live. Would you deny them that fundamental democratic right? The CFIB
says on its website that "What defines us" is "Strength in
numbers" and "Members vote on issues." Is that right only
for your members?
I
would like to draw your attention to your own homepage. Prominent there is
the heading, "2011 Federal election: lobbying to keep our
victories." With the word "lobbying" as part of its banner,
the CFIB publicly proclaims this to be one of the key activities of your
organization. You enjoin business owners to become members saying,
"There is strength in numbers, and we make your views count."
Surely you are not saying that only those in the "private
sector" are entitled to work together for a common cause in their own
interest? And what is the "private sector"? By your reasoning,
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford, their employees, are not entitled to
engage in the political process because they received taxpayers' bailout
money.
OECTA
members are citizens of Ontario, of Canada. We do not
"interfere" in the election. We exercise our rights as citizens.
And just like your members, we are entitled to campaign and cast our
ballots for individuals and parties that we believe support our core
values.
Sincerely,
"Signed"
James
Ryan
President
JR/lh
c:
Premier Dalton McGuinty
c: Tim Hudak, Leader of the Official Opposition
c: Andrea Horwath, NDP Leader
