Union statement proves labour influence in N.S. election: Liberals
Last Updated: Friday, May 29, 2009 | 5:26 PM ET
The Canadian Press
A news release posted on a national union's website is proof of an attempt by labour to exert "undue influence" over the Nova Scotia election, according to the Liberals.
The web posting by the Canadian Union of Public Employees promotes the union's Better Choice Nova Scotia 2009 campaign, which is aimed at getting the message out to workers about the change offered by Darrell Dexter and the NDP.
"CUPE members working with the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress are pulling out all the stops to ensure an NDP victory in the June 9 provincial election," the release says.
It also talks about CUPE activists booking time off to work on the campaign and a phone and direct mail effort to reach local union members.
Michel Samson, the Liberal member for Richmond, said Friday that while there's nothing wrong with the approach, it raised questions about who an NDP government would be getting its "marching orders" from.
"This truly lifts the veil as to who is truly behind the efforts to make sure there is an NDP government here in Nova Scotia," said Samson. "If this was the same type of effort that was coming from the business community … into electing either the Liberals or Conservatives there would be a public outcry."
He made a point of underlining the fact that union leaders had contributed $2 million to NDP coffers between 1998 and 2007.
Both the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives have portrayed the NDP as untrustworthy with the province's books, especially since recent polls that indicate Dexter is the front-runner for the June 9 vote.
But NDP campaign director Matt Hebb said Samson's accusation was "over the top" and his party was happy to have a wide range of support from individuals and organizations.
He said it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that unions such as CUPE are offering support to the New Democrats because they have done so historically.
"We're pleased to have their support just like we're pleased to have the support of all kinds of other groups because we're trying to run a campaign with broad appeal," said Hebb.
He pointed to a recent endorsement by former Pork Nova Scotia director Herman Berfallo as an example that individuals and organizations besides unions are offering support.
Hebb laughed when asked about the Liberal claim that they had exposed the NDP's union links.
"If the Liberals are surprised that CUPE is supporting the NDP then maybe they haven't been paying very close attention," he said.
CUPE spokesman John McCracken also wondered what veil was being lifted, since the release was publicly posted on the union's website.
As for the support campaign itself, McCracken stressed that things have changed since the governing Progressive Conservatives changed the Elections Act in 2007 to cap political donations.
"The only thing that we can do is talk to our members. It's perfectly legitimate under the act for us to communicate directly with out own members," he said. "Do all of our members support the NDP? Of course they don't."
