"A free trade deal with Korea offers no tangible benefits to Canada, yet puts some of our most important high-tech industries at risk," says Jim Stanford, CAW Economist, who will make the presentation on behalf of the union.

"Our government is putting ideology ahead of the concrete economic interests of Canadians, by forcing this deal through over the objection of the auto industry and other key sectors of our economy," Stanford said.

The Canadian auto industry has been unanimous - including North American assemblers, Toyota, Honda, parts suppliers, the CAW, and other stakeholders - in condemning the proposed deal, which would allow rapidly-growing Korean exporters (like Hyundai and Kia) to further expand their sales in Canada, but with no guarantees of equivalent Canadian sales into Korea.

Stanford will be joined by Chris Buckley, president of CAW Local 222 in Oshawa, representing 15,000 members in the auto and auto parts industries. "Our plants in Oshawa have just been recognized, again, as the highest- quality, highest-productivity assembly facilities on the whole continent," said Buckley. "Yet our jobs are still in danger, largely because of a one-way flow of automotive imports from Asia. Free trade with Korea will make things even worse."

The GM Oshawa car assembly plant, whose employees are represented by Buckley, recently received a gold medal from J.D. Power and Associates as the highest-quality assembly facility in the Western Hemisphere. The same plant was also ranked second by Harbour Consulting in its recent ranking of all North American assembly plants on average productivity. General Motors has announced it plans to close the plant after the current model expires in 2008, as the company grapples with excess capacity resulting from lost market share and surging imports.

Canada presently has approximately a $3 billion trade deficit with South Korea, which the CAW argues is equivalent to the loss of about 15,000 manufacturing jobs. Based on the experience of other bilateral trade deals which Canada has negotiated (with countries like Mexico, Chile, Israel, and Costa Rica), this deficit will get far worse under a free trade agreement. In automotive products, Canada imports $150 worth of Korean-made automotive products for every dollar we export to Korea. A complex set of measures (including exchange rate, taxation, and non-tariff barrier policies) has restrained imports to Korea, even as Korean exports to Canada and other markets expand strongly.

The Committee hearing will take place from 3:30 through 5:30 in Room 308 of the West Block, Parliament Hill. The CAW will make its presentation at 4:30 p.m.

The facility is located at 60 West Heights Drive in Kitchener, where the CAW represents 180 full time and part time workers.

"The members of CAW Local 302 at Forest Heights feel first and foremost, that residents care will be directly affected by these cuts," said CAW Local 302 president Nancy McMurphy. "We can't possibly deliver the care these residents deserve and need with eight front line jobs eliminated."

Part of the duties of the four day time positions being cut are to ensure that residents have a second bath each week. The cut of four evening positions will reduce the number of health care aides from five to four in each area.

"We welcome our employees back and are pleased to reach this tentative agreement," said Pedro Ferro, vice president and general manager of Braking Systems for ArvinMeritor's CVS business group. "Meeting our customers' requirements remains our top priority throughout this process."

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier $8.8 billion global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to the motor vehicle industry. The company serves light vehicle, commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets. Headquartered in Troy, Mich., ArvinMeritor employs approximately 29,000 people at more than 120 manufacturing facilities in 25 countries. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For more information, visit the company's Web site at: http://www.arvinmeritor.com .

TORONTO - The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006 introduced on June 8 will do little if anything to improve access for international medical graduates (IMGs) in Ontario. "In fact, the legislation does nothing to address the root cause of the physician shortage in this province, and adds a new layer of bureaucracy that may in fact cause delays to College processes," said Dr. Rocco Gerace, Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

The proposed legislation introduces new reporting requirements, costly audit processes, and reduces the flexibility of the current registration process to consider the competence of individual applicants rather than whether or not they have specific credentials.

The College is committed to a fair, objective, transparent and accountable registration process. "Our goal," said Dr. Gerace, "is to ensure that our process is accessible, with appropriate rigor and fair to applicants while best protecting the public interest." The recent Thompson Report recommended a number of registration "best practices," the majority of which the College is already practicing.

In addition, as a result of numerous College initiatives which began in 1999 and programs supported by the Ministry of Health, the College has licensed more international medical graduates than Ontario graduates in each of the last two years. For more information about the College's registration statistics, go to

http://www.cpso.on.ca/ Info_physicians/NewsReleaseRegStats.pdf.

The legislation will not increase opportunities for IMGs to fully participate in Ontario's health care system. Instead, the following is needed:

<< - Assess every IMG and if necessary, provide with training;

- Market Ontario as a great place to work for health professionals and

encourage Ontario physicians to return;

- Create a health human resource planning body; and

- Develop and incorporate collaborative care models into our health care system. >>

"We believe that this legislation will have a number of unintended consequences," said Dr. Gerace. "At a time when we desperately need qualified physicians, we should not be adding new layers of bureaucracy, duplication and expense to the process, but looking for changes that will have a positive impact on access to licensure in Ontario and access to quality care for patients."

New legislation would provide better access while keeping standards high

TORONTO - The Provincial Government's response to the Thomson Report's recommendations on providing access to the professions for the internationally trained strikes the right balance between fairness to immigrants and keeping professional standards high, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.

The steps outlined in Ontario's Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, are based on recommendations found in Review of Appeals Processes from Registration Decisions in Ontario's Regulated Professions, a report by National Judicial Institute Executive Director George Thomson that was unveiled in November 2005. They include:

- Establishing a code to regulate fair registration processes, with a Fair Registration Practices Commissioner appointed to oversee the implementation and adherence to the code.

- A Minister's Roundtable on Fair Access to Regulated Professions.

- An Access Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals. >>

"We support helping internationally trained professionals use their skills in Ontario. Our province depends on developing a workforce that reflects the world in which we do business," said Institute President and CEO Brian Hunt, FCA. "We are especially pleased at the careful balance the government has struck between helping newcomers while maintaining the high level of professional standards required to protect Ontarians."

Hunt notes that, in the case of the CA profession, the access process for internationally trained professionals is already at best practice levels. In January 2005, a 'report card' issued by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities ranked the Institute second among 10 professional bodies evaluated, in terms of their response to barriers identified by internationally trained professionals.

The Institute's approach is to provide a fair and transparent career path that provides detailed, step-by-step information on the assessment process, the experience and examination requirements, the costs involved, and a summary of labour market conditions for Chartered Accountants.

<< Other highlights of the Institute's record include:

- Participation in the International Qualifications Appraisal Board, which assesses the qualification standards of accounting bodies in other countries against Canadian CA standards to provide access to qualified applicants

- A transparent registration and appeals processes that includes full participation by public representatives (persons who are not accountants) as voting members

- Working with accounting bodies in other countries - including many in Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim - to help them achieve standards equal to those in Canada. >>

"We all want new Canadians to succeed and we can't afford to waste talent," Hunt concluded. "Let's build on our progress with a realistic system of best practices that identifies achievable goals, while maintaining the level of high, internationally recognized professional standards that have traditionally served Ontario so well."

Water tops services Canadians want kept in public domain

OTTAWA - Nine out of 10 Canadians want their water and sewage services kept public, according to a new poll released on the eve of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) annual conference in Montreal.

"Canadians want local public services kept in public hands, controlled by democratically elected governments, not run by private companies," said Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). "This should encourage all politicians at the FCM meeting to keep water public and tell water profiteers to back off."

The poll found that 93 per cent of Canadians want water services to remain public. The poll also found that Canadians want the following services kept in public hands: street and bridge maintenance (87 per cent), libraries operation (85 per cent), public transit operation (84 per cent), park and rink maintenance (83 per cent), and garbage collection (82 per cent).

Also, about 63 per cent of Canadians want municipalities to get the full share of the federal gas tax now, not three years from now, as currently scheduled, according to the poll.

Eighty-five per cent said it was important that cities use the money to provide public services directly rather than handing it over to private, for-profit companies and contractors.

The poll was conducted by Vector Research and commissioned by public and private sector unions. Its margin of error is plus or minus 2.9 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The FCM meets in Montreal June 2-5. Paul Moist and CUPE Secretary-Treasurer Claude Généreux will be attending and available for comment.

"For many years I have told our members and whoever else would listen that you have the right to smoke, but not at the expense of the health of others," Hargrove said. The Ontario government's smoke free workplace legislation becomes law on May 31.

The CAW has supported no-smoking municipal by-laws across the country. In CAW organized workplaces the union has been active in supporting no-smoking requirements and has actively participated in wellness campaigns to help members stop smoking.

"As part of our CAW Prevent Cancer Campaign, we have worked hard to rid our workplaces of hazardous cancer-causing substances, including cigarette smoke," Hargrove said. "I support the start of a smoke-free Ontario, especially for workplaces and for public places. No one should be forced to be exposed to second-hand smoke."

All CAW-owned facilities in Ontario are smoke-free and Hargrove said the union is pleased to see other workplaces in the province must now implement this protection from second-hand smoke.

"With the implementation of this new protection, we encourage the provincial government to ensure Ontario workplaces are required to eliminate other carcinogens such as asbestos," Hargrove said.

LONDON - Striking Thames Valley District School Board workers received over $120,000 in donations and pledges when they attended the CUPE Ontario convention in Ottawa over the weekend.

"The donations and pledges we received from CUPE locals, CUPE National and CUPE Ontario, are a reminder that we do not stand alone," said Helena McConkie, spokesperson for CUPE 4222, Unit C. "This is in addition to the ongoing support we receive from our national union for strike pay and other assistance - it really helps us knowing we can sustain our strike with dignity, until we achieve our goals on behalf of the students we serve."

"Delegates from other school board locals attending convention told us they face the same issue in their schools, and it's time for school boards to stop fighting frontline workers and demand the Ministry of Education provide the necessary funding to support our services," said McConkie. "Otherwise school board workers from our sister locals will soon be joining us on the picket lines, demanding adequate time to work with students." The EAs and IAs have been on strike since May 11th, fighting for additional time to complete their work with special needs students. "We are still on the picket line, while the school board lets unqualified scabs attempt to do our work and students are suffering," said McConkie. "It's time for the school board to stop dithering and make a serious move to end this strike."

"The school board has squandered budget surpluses without investing in frontline services for students," said Jennifer Kaufman, CUPE national representative. "The trustees and the board knew about this issue three years ago but chose not to address the real needs of students - it's time for the board to listen to the workers and parents, and end this strike."

Production workers voted 92 per cent in favour at a ratification meeting today and skilled trades voted 97 per cent in support.

"This was a hard fought and very emotional struggle for our members who are concerned about their job security and the future of the plant," said John Scanlon, CAW national representative.

The agreement includes wage increases of 10 cents per hour in the first year and in the third year, as well as continuation of cost of living allowance. There were also gains in job security, including a guarantee of new work.

The bargaining committee unanimously recommended the tentative agreement. Ed Ochej chairperson of the bargaining committee thanked the membership, Local 222 and the CAW national union for their efforts in helping to reach a new contract.

Despite the dispute which started Friday, May 19, no GM assembly operations were disrupted. CAW Local 222 represents approximately 300 active workers at the automotive bumper plant.

Within its total Canadian membership of 288,000 working men and women, the USW represents about 26,000 security officers working for private companies such as Initial, Group 4, Wackenhut, Securitas, Kolossal, Garda, the Corps of Commissionaires, Aerogard and more. About 1,000 Steelworker members provide passenger and baggage screening services at several airports: Montreal Dorval, Quebec City, Mont-Joli, Sept-Iles, Baie Comeau, Ottawa, Regina, Halifax, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Windsor, Sarnia, Moncton, Charlottetown, Sydney NS, Bathurst NB, St. John's, Gander, Deer Lake, Stephenville, Goose Bay, and Wabush, Labrador.

HAMILTON - The Board and senior management of OMERS met May 18, at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel with area employers and active and retired members to review plan performance and outline future priorities of the pension plan.

In Hamilton and surrounding area, over 4,400 active OMERS members work for employers such as the City of Hamilton, Children's Aid Society of Hamilton-Wentworth, Hamilton Police Services and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. More than 2,500 retired members live in Hamilton and receive an OMERS pension.

Paul G. Haggis, OMERS President and CEO, will report on the Fund performance for 2005 and the progress of OMERS long-term investment strategy that involves a shift in capital to private equity market investments. The total investment in private market assets will increase to about 37 per cent from the current 19.8 per cent.

For 2005, OMERS reported a total fund return of 16.0 per cent, a top quartile performance that exceeded its benchmark return of 13.2 per cent. "The exceptional returns in private market assets, combined with the continued strength of global equity markets contributed to another strong year," said Mr. Haggis. "Our asset mix strategy is working and we remain committed to increasing our asset allocation in private market investments."

However, the actuarial value of OMERS liabilities exceeded the actuarial value of its assets, with the result that OMERS ended 2005 with a pension deficit of $2.8 billion. "Again in 2005 we've seen strong returns," said David Kingston, OMERS Board Chair, "This marks the third year of positive returns and reflects OMERS commitment to maximize its returns, despite a short-term deficit." Mr. Kingston will also review some of the Board's activities for 2005 and discuss some of the governance initiatives scheduled for 2006.

The University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA) —- an independent association since 1964 — has voted in support of becoming a formal trade union under the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

There were 510 uncontested ballots cast Tuesday, and 65 per cent favoured certification. The faculty association, which has about 830 members, represents faculty and professional librarians.

While certification will mean a more formalized working relationships between the University and UGFA, Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic), says the University has had a long and positive relationship with the faculty association and she expects this to continue.

"We have said along that government must play an active role to ensure that Canadian natural resource industries are developed in a way that enhances the interests of resource communities, not just stock market speculators," said Rick Grylls, President of CAW Local 598 which represents several thousand workers, retirees, and surviving spouses at Falconbridge's Sudbury operations.

Since the initial INCO bid for Falconbridge last fall, the CAW has consistently argued that the eventual winner in the takeover battle must commit to several important conditions to enhance the net benefits to Canada.

The CAW proposed the negotiation of a "merger plan" between the merging companies, the federal and provincial governments, and other stakeholders, that would commit the restructured company to meet targets for Canadian investment, the operation of Canadian facilities, purchases of Canadian supplies and services, and full recognition of pensions and other obligations. The federal and provincial governments can enforce this process through their existing regulatory powers (including the federal competition and investment review divisions, and the provincial development permit process).

"With the entry of Teck Cominco and Xstrata into the fray, the stock market shenanigans have become more complicated, but the basic principles at stake are the same," said Grylls. "We can't trust the investors or executives of any of these companies to do what's right for Sudbury or our industry. They are all trying to fatten their pockets through paper transactions, and it's up to other stakeholders - including government - to hold them accountable to the public interest."

"Every one of these takeover offers must be subject to full public scrutiny of their costs and benefits," Grylls argued. "We need to attain binding commitments that Canadian mines, Canadian smelters, and Canadian jobs won't be harmed - and we need to attain those from whatever company ends up on top."

Grylls is worried that the eventual winner of the battle may be so laden down with takeover-related debt and other obligations, that they will suffer major damage from an inevitable future decline in mineral prices.

"Sky-high metal prices have generated super-profits for the mining companies, thus spurring this drive to acquire," said Grylls. "But we can't lose sight of what's more important in the long-run: the development of Canadian resources in a sensible, beneficial manner."

Grylls pointed out that in many cases, executives and shareholders face a "no-lose" proposition in the current takeover battle. Xstrata has already enjoyed a 100 percent return on its $2 billion investment in Falconbridge last summer - whether its takeover offer succeeds or not. And INCO will receive $450 million in break-up fees, even if its takeover bid is ultimately defeated.

"It's outrageous that Falconbridge would pay INCO more money in a 'divorce' settlement, than it spent last year in capital investments in all its Canadian operations," said Grylls. "That's proof that the real interests of our industry are being ignored in all this speculative fever."

The CAW proposal for a merger plan is available on the CAW web site at: www.caw.ca/whatwedo/bargaining/bycompany/falconbridge/CAWJointStatementIncoFalconbridge.pdf

OTTAWA - Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) President Deborah Bourque will announce today whether or not the union will go forward with non-violent civil disobedience to retrieve planning documents from Canada Post.

"Two months ago we launched Operation Transparency and gave Canada Post a 60-day window of opportunity to release their planning documents, stop their plans to close the Québec City mail sorting facility and have a real debate over any plans to reduce, privatize or deregulate our public postal service" said Bourque. "Since then the federal government, the media and the public have shown overwhelming support for the transparency and accountability of Crown corporations. But Canada Post is like a dog that stares at your finger while you're pointing at the door," continued Bourque, "they're ignoring an overwhelming call for a more democratic process."

May 16th isn't just the end of a 60-day window of opportunity for Canada Post, it also marks the one year anniversary of Moya Greene's appointment as President of Canada Post - In the spirit of transparency, the union will present Canada Post Corporation under Moya Greene: A Year in Review, a performance appraisal of the corporation.

TORONTO - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is calling for a moratorium on the opening of any and all new LCBO "agency" stores, pending appropriate public hearings, in the wake of the government's announcement of 20 potential new private liquor outlets on May 15. Locations of "agency" stores are located in underserviced rural destinations.

The union representing about 6,000 LCBO employees says the announcement today represents another broken promise by Premier Dalton McGuinty, who said before the election he would stop expansion of the agency stores program. "The plan to open new agency stores is a direct threat to the LCBO's social responsibility mandate," said Mike Sullivan, acting chair of the union's division representing LCBO workers.

"These stores are private businesses, so there is always a potential conflict between maximizing profits and the best interest of the community. The LCBO has no way to guarantee agency stores won't sell alcohol to minors, people who are intoxicated, or people who may drink and drive."

As well as undercutting social responsibility, agency stores short-change the communities they are supposed to benefit, OPSEU says. "Customers deserve the top quality service and selection that a real LCBO store provides," Sullivan said.

"In most of the 20 communities, there is a public liquor store just a few kilometres down the road. Why not expand these stores' selection and hours of operation rather than undercut them with poorly stocked private stores?" Diverting revenue into agency store profits also jeopardizes the LCBO's ability to generate provincial revenue to pay for health care, education and public services, the union says.

The 20 communities where the LCBO could open new agency outlets are: Amberley, Brigden, Castleton, Chaffey's Lock, Clear Creek, Dashwood, Erieau/Erie Beach, Flesherton/Eugenia, Gobles/Princeton, Lighthouse Cove, Lowbanks/Long Beach, McArthur Mills, McGregor, Melbourne, North Augusta, Oil Springs, Port Franks, Rockton, Walters Falls and White Lake. The new stores could open by late 2006 or 2007, the government announced May 15.

OTTAWA - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada and Bell Canada have reached a tentative settlement of their 14 year-old dispute over pay equity for 4,765 telephone operators. CEP President Brian Payne, in a statement released May 15, said the $104 million settlement "will bring closure to one of the longest fought struggles in the labour movement."

CEP filed its claim for pay equity on behalf of the largely female operators, dining service and house services workers in 1992 with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The case was referred to a Tribunal but has been the subject of extensive legal challenges, including a challenge to the Supreme Court, over the years.

At the urging of the Commission, the parties agreed to mediation late last year. The proposed settlement, covering the years 1993 to 1999, was reached in mediation. Current and former employees affected by its terms will vote on acceptance or rejection at a series of meetings during May and June across Ontario and Quebec. Results are expected in mid-June.

"This is a very good settlement made possible by the strength and determination of CEP members over many years. We think it serves justice and provides fair monetary compensation to our past and present members at Bell Canada," Mr. Payne added.

The settlement provides compensation in three specific categories: settlement money; payment for pain and suffering (tax exempt); and adjustments to pensions.

For instance, an operator currently working at Bell Canada and who worked the full period covered by the settlement will receive $16,500 in settlement payment; $6,000 in pain and suffering (tax exempt); and a maximum of additional pensionable earning of $13,530.

The minimum payment will be $1,000 to those employed for less than one full year but more than six months.

OTTAWA - On May 9, the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada) filed an Application for Judicial Review with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to address longstanding concerns regarding the structure and processes of the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB).

"CPAB - the body set up by governments and securities regulators to oversee the auditing of reporting issuers in Canada - is fundamentally flawed," said Dany Girard, FCGA, Chair of CGA-Canada's Board of Directors. "Because of CPAB's close relationship to the profession it oversees, CGA-Canada believes that CPAB is unable to make independent decisions and lacks the procedural safeguards necessary to protect against institutional bias."

"Until recently, we believed that CPAB would effect the changes in its structure and processes to begin addressing concerns that we and others have expressed since its creation in 2002. We have been patient. But recent actions clearly demonstrate that CPAB does not have the public interest at the centre of its preoccupations," said Girard.

The decision to challenge the work and composition of CPAB comes after months of discussion and ongoing consultation with CPAB in regards to CGA-Canada's independence standard. As a result of corporate malfeasance, accounting organizations across the world developed a new type of standard -- independence standards - to address the public's concerns that accounting firms be independent in both appearance and fact, and that they be able to conduct engagements and provide an audit opinion free from client influence or other conflicts of interest.

Despite ongoing collaboration with CPAB and CPAB's acknowledgement that the CGA independence standard is equivalent to the one CPAB has already recognized, CPAB has deferred its approval of the CGA independence standard and has not given effect to the required rule change.

"By virtue of legislation, CGA-Canada has the responsibility to set standards for its members," explained Girard. "Our provincial and territorial affiliates have the obligation to enforce standards. Our members are required to adhere to those professional standards. This is a matter of public interest. We would be shying away from our professional responsibilities by simply adopting other standards. CPAB actions have in effect interfered with our professional obligation to our members and the public."

<< The legal action undertaken by CGA-Canada seeks to have the Court rule that:

- CPAB is a public body and its composition must be representative of all accounting organizations who are affected by its decision-making;

- CPAB must discharge its mandate in accordance with the principles of natural justice and fairness;

- The decision to defer a rule change proposed to recognize the CGA independence standard is unreasonable because it discriminates against CGAs and is made in bad faith for reasons that are not in the public interest.

Ever since the creation of CPAB in 2002, CGA-Canada has maintained that in order to fulfill its mandate, the oversight body requires:

- A fully transparent process for deliberations and decisions;

- Procedural safeguards to ensure an arms-length relationship between the CPAB board and the accounting/auditing profession itself;

- Broad representation on the CPAB board;

- Broadly-based funding; and

- Legislative accountability.


"Canadian governments believe that it is in the best interests of the public to have multiple accounting designations in the marketplace. They have adopted legislation to enact this. Therefore, the accounting profession in Canada exists as a multi-jurisdictional landscape. CGAs have worked collaboratively with CPAB since it was formed in 2002. Despite this, CPAB has failed to recognize the jurisdiction of all accounting bodies to undertake professional standard setting as set out by Canadian legislation. We would be failing in our responsibility to the public if we don't act," concluded Girard.

GUELPH, ON - Ontario's livestock farmers applaud Prime Minister Harper's government for its financial commitment to agriculture, delivered in last week's federal budget. The Ontario Cattlemen's Association (OCA), Ontario Cattle Feeders' Association (OCFA), Ontario Pork (OP), Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency (OSMA), and the Ontario Veal Association (OVA) want to ensure that farmers are aware of and appreciate the financial contribution which the federal government has just made to Ontario's livestock farmers in the federal budget.

On Tuesday May 2nd, The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, announced an additional $1 billion in "new" money for agriculture. The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, had already initiated discussions with the provinces to overhaul the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program.

"Prime Minister Harper and the federal government should be applauded and recognized for moving so quickly," says OCA President, Ian McKillop. "The province's beef farmers are pleased that the government is retroactively changing the inventory valuation used in the CAIS program." Curtis Royal, OCFA President also agrees that "this is exactly the kind of approach we have been asking for."

The Budget included commitments to agriculture in the following areas:

- providing more responsive income stabilization

- creating new and innovative support for farm family incomes

- enhancing disaster assistance and separating it from income stabilization; and

- investing in future opportunities in the sectors, such as: biomass science; support for a biofuels strategy; and new opportunities for agriculture through value-added products

"At a time when Stephen Harper's government has so many 'spending priorities', an investment in rural Canada is a very wise move for this new Cabinet," comments John Hemsted, Chair of OSMA.

"We look forward to working with both the federal and the provincial governments in their efforts to support and sustain integrated and vital agriculture industries. This budget is a great first step," adds Judy Dirksen, OVA Chair.

Livestock farmers have been pleasantly surprised by the government's readiness to listen and respond in such a short period of time.

"The signal that this government is sending to farmers is that it is ready to help and willing to listen," says Curtiss Littlejohn, Chair of Ontario Pork. "Ontario's 35,000 livestock farmers wish to thank Ministers Strahl and Flaherty, and indeed all of those federal and provincial members of parliament who recognize the importance of supporting agriculture."

The Nova Scotia NDP resolution parallels wording in an April CAW Council resolution that facilitated withdrawal of the CAW from the NDP. A clause in the CAW resolution reads, "Urge the federal party and provincial and territorial party organizations to . . . amend NDP constitutions to accept and respect that labour leaders and others will act in accordance with the democratic decisions made by their unions or organizations."

The Ontario arm of the party expelled CAW president Buzz Hargrove for carrying out the federal election strategy adopted by 900 workplace leaders at the CAW Council meeting in December.

The CAW's federal election strategy called on CAW members to stop a Stephen Harper majority government by supporting the candidate in their riding who had the best chance to defeat the Conservative candidate.

"The Nova Scotia resolution is a first step in the process of change that is needed in the NDP," said CAW president Buzz Hargrove. "The NDP must respect that for labour leaders, the needs of our members and decisions made by our union must come first."

The Nova Scotia NDP resolution includes the following key points: "That the Nova Scotia NDP recognizes that each affiliated labour organization exercises its own best judgement through their own internal democratic process to advance the interests of its members in public affairs as well as in collective bargaining, social justice, political action and other responsibilities - without interference from the NDP.

That this Convention urges Party representatives and affiliated labour organizations to continue the relationship of mutual respect, good communication and cooperation on our shared goal of a better life for working families in Nova Scotia, based on the legitimate independent roles of both the Party and its affiliated organizations.

That the Nova Scotia NDP recognizes and accepts that labour leadership who are also NDP members may, in carrying out the democratically decided positions of their membership, at times be in conflict with NDP objectives and strategic direction."

The CAW Council is the parliament of the 265,000 member CAW. CAW Council meets three times a year. Delegates to CAW Council meetings are elected by their co-workers.