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Transparency is a two-way street, Mr. Harper

Conservatives must explain why transparency should apply to union activity but not to slush funds operated by the Conservative Party

Editor:

Bill C-377, currently before the Senate finance committee, proposes that all union books be open to the public. Conservative proponent MP Russ Hiebert argues that labour organizations should not be worried if they have nothing to hide, and that taxpayers deserve access to this information because union dues are tax deductible.

But taxpayers also support direct contributions to political parties. Conservatives must explain why rules for transparency and accountability should apply to union activity but not to secret slush funds operated by the Conservative Party of Canada out of the Prime Minister's office? Could Conservatives have something to hide?

Larry Kazdan, Vancouver