Labour Relations Code Review (December 1)
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government recently had two Edmonton lawyers quietly conduct a review of the Labour Relations Code at the urging of a coalition of antiunion employers in the construction sector.
It was reported that the findings of that review were supposed to be provided to the relevant minister by the end of October. I take umbrage with the term “relevant.” It’s “appropriate.”
To the Minister of Human Services: can he confirm receipt of that report and advise this Assembly on its principle finding?
Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I’m offended that he doesn’t consider me to be relevant anymore. I’ve just about had 15 years in this Assembly, next March 12, and I’ve always considered myself to be relevant if not always on point.
To answer his question: I haven’t received it yet. I had a meeting arranged to meet with the two gentlemen in question. It turned out to be on a day when I was going to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at a school in my riding, so we postponed the meeting. I anticipate meeting those two gentlemen, actually, Monday of next week.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the same minister – and I do appreciate his relevance, and I know he considers me irrelevant – will he table the report in this Assembly so that Albertans can draw their own conclusions as to the validity of its claims and the objectivity of its authors?
Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I can’t make a commitment to table any report right now. What I’m anticipating is some advice to a minister with respect to a number of questions with respect to productivity issues that may or may not be raised in the labour code. I have no idea at this point in time whether any action will be taken relative to that. If action is taken relative to issues that have been raised by any party in respect to productivity issues relative to the labour code, there will be a full discussion with the affected parties.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. To the hon. Minister of Human Services: can you provide us with any type of a timeline when this report might be tabled or discussed in committee? Before the election? After?
Mr. Hancock: What I can tell the hon. member is that I have just actually received today the first report that the two gentlemen were engaged to produce on MERFing, and I have anticipation of perhaps even reading that today. Once I read it and determine whether or not the policy that was put in place by this government with respect to MERFing is actually effective or not, I will be able to bring forward some changes if we need to with respect to MERFing.
With respect to the brief that was presented by Merit Contractors and others relative to productivity, that was one that bore looking into. We looked into it, and when I get the report, I’ll advise the hon. member what we’re going to do with it.
Alberta Hansard, December 1, 2011