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Bill taking aim at fair wages

Editor: A sneaky provision was included in the monster omnibus budget bill that Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to pass without a chance for discussion or debate.

Editor:

A sneaky provision was included in the monster omnibus budget bill that Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants to pass without a chance for discussion or debate.

A single line (clause 441) in the bill would repeal the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act. This act mandates the federal government pay overtime to contractors, journeyman and other tradesmen, as well compensate them with a "fair wage" that is defined as "... wages as are generally accepted as current for competent workmen in the district in which the work is being performed for the character or class of work in which those workmen are respectively engaged..."

There is no reason for this repeal: it has existed without complaint since the mid-1980s. The only possible outcome is harm for men and women working in the trades, in Delta and the rest of Canada.

Thus, as a matter of principle, I urge Delta residents to oppose the omnibus bill. Our MP's email is KerryLynne.Findlay@parl.gc.ca.

Evan Rankin