The Winnipeg New Democrat, a former union organizer, has a well-documented tendency to use intemperate — occasionally profane — language when the government angers him. It happens often.
But since Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled his 452-page budget implementation bill two weeks ago, Martin has kept his temper in check, using sarcasm — nothing stronger — to express his outage.
It took all his self-disciple to stifle his fury when he discovered that the legislation contained a provision abolishing the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act. The 27-year-old law requires federal contractors to pay workers the prevailing wage in the region.
“Why, deep down within the bowels of Bill C-38, do we find this little jewel?” he asked.
Conservative backbencher Stephen Woodward, a Kitchener lawyer, popped to his feet to answer. The president of the Canadian Construction Association, he pointed out, had praised the budget; hardly a surprise, given that his industry would soon be free to cut wages. “I know the honourable member opposite is not that concerned about creating jobs and prosperity for Canadians, but the government is,” he added unctuously.
Martin let the slight go, bided his time and tried again. “I am a journeyman carpenter,” he said. “I spent my whole life in construction. I know the margins that construction contractors play with.”
They are extremely tight and competition is fierce. But slashing wages was off limits until now. Under Flaherty’s legislation, contractors would no longer be obliged to pay the prevailing wage (roughly $20 to $30 an hour). They would merely have to pay the provincial minimum wage (which ranges from $9.27 an hour in Yukon to $10.25 an hour in Ontario).
The provision would affect public works, telecommunications infrastructure, railroads, airports, First Nations projects and pipelines that cross provincial or national boundaries. It would cover 820,000 workers.
“The government is dragging down the standard of living for the largest industry sector in the country,” Martin argued. “It is opening the door for foreign temporary workers to eat our lunch on the biggest construction projects in the history of North America.”
This time, a seasoned Tory, Edmonton MP Lawrie Hawn, responded. “I always enjoy the performance of my thespian friend from Winnipeg,” the former fighter jet pilot said. “But I would like to make the connection to something his boss (NDP leader Thomas Mulcair), who is in favour of shutting down the oilsands, said. If his boss had his way, there would be nobody in Alberta buying cars. There would be no workers building, not just in Alberta but in other parts of the country.”
Apart from correcting Hawn’s egregious error — Muclair has never said he would shut down the oilsands — Martin shrugged off the cheap hit. Later in the debate, he tried a third time to raise the issue, but got nowhere.
This is what passes for debate in Canada’s House of Commons. And there are dozens of hidden “jewels” — some still unknown — in Bill C-38. Most of these changes will never be discussed.
On May 3 the government imposed “time allocation” on the debate. This meant MPs had seven days to raise their concerns before the legislation was sent to the Tory-dominated finance committee and its counterpart in the Senate. Both are expected to report back next month in plenty of time for a final vote before Parliament adjourns for the summer.
In truth, it wouldn’t have mattered if Martin had let his temper rip. There is nothing he — or any other opposition MP — can do to stop Stephen Harper’s majority government from ramming its legislation through Parliament.
But Martin is playing a longer game. He is on his best behaviour now so Muclair can lead a credible government-in-waiting into the 2015 election.
Original Article
Source: Star
Author: Carol Goar
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