Q&A

Q. Isn’t Merit trying to import a right-wing, American, right-to-work agenda into Canada?

A. Merit is standing up for our rights as protected by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As a matter of fact, 60 per cent of Canadians opposed the granting of government contracts only to unionized bidders.

Q. Won’t open tendering lead to lower wages and safety standards?

A. This is a common Big Labour lie and it is false. Merit open shop construction companies pay prevailing wages, competitive benefits and meet all applicable labour and safety standards.

Q. Isn’t Merit just union bashing?

A. This legislation is about affirming the Charter right of Canadians to not be compelled to join or contribute to a union as a condition for earning a living.

Q. Labour claims that only they can guarantee labour stability and predictable costs? Are they wrong?

A. Yes. By unnecessarily limiting bidders and following outdated and inefficient union work rules, they consistently and unnecessarily drive up costs on projects between 12 and 18 per cent when compared to similar projects not subject to union-only conditions. And, as a matter of fact, unions cause many project delays through organizing and disputes on job sites. In contrast, Merit members do not strike.

Q. Doesn’t Merit have a pro-Conservative/PC, anti-NDP political agenda?

A. Absolutely not. Sixty percent of Canadians oppose governments awarding contracts only to unionized bidders.