Posted: Monday, 26 September 2011

The Editor
National Post

The Fraser Institute attacks trade unions for an alleged lack of transparency in how we disclose financial information (Open union books). How would they know? We will gladly compare our transparency with theirs any day of the week. Our (owners) members know how and where to get their union’s financial information. I have read the Fraser Institute’s annual report for 2010. It does not provide a financial report, but rather selective “financial highlights”. We know that they took in $10.8 million dollars but they don’t tell us who gave them that money. The Fraser Institute is registered as a charitable organization with many of its donors receiving tax receipts with their thank you letters but the actual list of donors and financial statements are nowhere to be seen. The board of directors, however, is comprised mainly of big business bosses. Might they just have an agenda when it comes to trying to discredit unions? I challenge the Fraser Institute to come clean on who finances their anti‑union agenda.

Ken Georgetti
President,
Canadian Labour Congress