Conservative Senator Shocks With Staunch Pro-Union Stance

Speaking in Toronto last week, conservative party senator Hugh Segal praised the role of unions in Canada saying, “Active unions and free collective bargaining are essential to building a prosperous Canada and a stable middle class.”

Earlier this year Sen. Segal led the Senate’s efforts to amend the anti-union Bill 337, which had been endorsed by Prime Minister Harper.  He told the crowd:

“It was bad law, it was unconstitutional,” Segal said, adding that he will continue to oppose the bill if the Harper government attempts to revive it.

“As I stand before you today, I will stand in the Senate and oppose it again.”

Stating that “my Canada is the place where collective bargaining makes Canada stronger and a better place,” the pro-worker conservative pointed out that Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, was also a conservative who believed that collective bargaining was essential to the middle class.